Abstract: An infant care apparatus having a canopy movable vertically with respect to an infant platform. The canopy has a lower edge mating with upper peripheral edges of a plurality of vertical walls forming an infant compartment. At least one of the vertical walls is a door pivotally affixed to the infant platform and rotates between open and closed positions. A seal is located on the lower edge of the canopy to seal against the upper peripheral edge of the vertical walls. An elongated flange of the seal is affixed to the canopy by hardware and a cover flap extends downwardly from the upper edge of the flange to cover the hardware. A sealing flap extends downwardly and inwardly toward the infant compartment from the lower edge of the flange. A flexible material is co-extruded with the seal for the sealing flap and a hinge between the flange and the cover flap.

Abstract: Infrared microthermography for human embryos and hatchlings. Body temperature is monitored using an infrared camera attached to a microscope. Body temperature is maintained by passing body temperature data through a feedback loop that serves to control body temperature. Keeping the baby's fluid incubation medium lower than an optimum body temperature ensures that cooling can occur if the body becomes overheated. An added source of heat is provided by one or more infrared light emitting diodes focused on the body as tiny heat lamps. The heat lamps are cycled on and off or varied in intensity in accordance with indications (data) from body temperature measurements.

Abstract: An infant care unit of the type comprising means for controlling the environment in which the infant resides includes one or more sensors spaced apart from the infant to sense a physiological parameter and provide a sensor output, the controlling means being responsive to the sensor output to change the environment or provide an alarm or other indication of the parameter. The sensors include one or more of an infrared sensor for sensing the infant's temperature, cameras coupled to video processing software for sensing respiration rate, heart rate or skin perfusion, microphones coupled to audio processing software for sensing respiration rate, breathing difficulty, or infant distress. Speakers are provided for cancelling noise or providing audio signals to the infant. The camera, microphone and speakers are capable of being coupled to a computer network for remote monitoring of the infant.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating an infant including an upper radiant element integrated with the hood and a lower radiant element integrated with the mattress. The upper radiant element comprises a resistive ink printed on the underside of the hood. The mattress is transparent to infra-red wave length radiant energy, and includes a temperature sensor on its topside. The hood includes a liquid crystal panel for controllably viewing the infant, whereas the rest of the hood is opaque.

Abstract: An infant care unit comprising a platform upon which an infant rests, a radiant heater mounted on the care unit, disposed relative to the platform, and having a central position from which it is effective to warm the infant on the platform by radiation, the heater while mounted on the care unit being movable from the central position to a position spaced therefrom which spaced position of the heater is ineffective to warm the infant, and a mechanism for locating the heater in its central position when it is returned from the position spaced therefrom.

Abstract: This invention is a humidifier for a patient support apparatus. The humidifier includes a vaporizer and a container. The container defines a reservoir. It is movable relative to the vaporizer between a first position operably coupled to the vaporizer and a second position spaced apart from the vaporizer.

Abstract: A control system and a method for controlling an infant support configurable in a closed configuration in which a canopy contributes to formation of an enclosure about an infant support surface, and an open configuration is disclosed. The controlled infant support includes an air heater, a blower, and duct work communicating with the air heater, blower and enclosure. To facilitate bringing the air temperature within the enclosure quickly to a desired temperature whereby the temperature of an infant in the enclosure is controlled, power is supplied to air heater when infant support is in the open configuration to generate a heat reservoir. Upon the infant support assuming the closed configuration the controller controls power to the blower to increase air flow and infuse heat from the heat reservoir into the enclosure.

Abstract: An infant care unit includes an infant-support platform, a canopy, and a mounting assembly that couples the canopy to the platform. The mounting assembly allows movement of the canopy about a vertical axis between a plurality of positions, one of which is a central position having the canopy overlying the platform.

Abstract: An infant support for use with an incubator or a warmer or a combination thereof comprises a support surface having a head end and a foot end and a driver engageable with the head and foot ends. The driver comprises a first elevator and a second elevator. The first elevator is engageable with the head end and the second elevator is engageable with the foot end. The driver is movable to cause the head and foot ends to move between raised and lowered positions.

Abstract: A system for controlling the heating and temperature monitoring of infant incubators and infant warmers is provided with an incubator or infant warmer space, a heater for heating the space as well as a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor. An input device for input of one or more control setting works in conjunction with a control device connected to the heater and to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor. The control device forms a control temperature from an input first skin temperature target control setting for a first patient and an input of a second skin temperature target control setting for a second patient and further patients if present and controls the heater based on a difference between the control temperature and an actual temperature value based on a first actual temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor and a second actual temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor.

Abstract: An infant incubator of the type having an enclosure within which the infant is held and an air circulation system with a heater and a motor driven blower is disclosed. An adaptive motor speed controller having a sensor providing an indication of the stability of the temperature of the infant is coupled to the blower motor and controls the motor speed at least in part based on the stability of the temperature of the infant. While the infant's temperature is stable, the motor speed is reduced within limits.

Abstract: A patient care apparatus and method where the apparatus has an audible sound producing device that sounds an audible alarm when a particular alarm condition is sensed with respect to a patient or the apparatus itself. The apparatus includes a non-hand contact alarm silence switch that can be activated to silence the audible alarm. That non-hand contact alarm silence switch can be activated by various means that do not involve an object or person actually contacting the switch by any portion of the care provider that would be expected to remain in sterile conditions. Various technologies can be used for the non-hand contact alarm silence switch including proximity sensing, optical sensing, temperature sensing, air pressure sensing or voice command, any one of which can activate the switch without the need to make physical contact of the alarm silence switch by a person or object. In one embodiment, the apparatus has a foot-operated alarm silence switch.

Abstract: A process and system is provided for regulating the air temperature in an incubator (3), which accommodates a patient, especially a premature or newborn infant, and which is part of a so-called hybrid device. When the function of the hybrid device is changed over between the two device types of “closed incubator” and “open care unit,” the problem arises that the air temperature set point cannot be maintained and the patient cools down as a consequence. The process uses a heat radiation source (1), which is located outside the incubator (3), which can be closed with a hood (2) that is transparent to the radiated heat. The corresponding value measured by an air temperature sensor (5), which is used as an actual air temperature value, is evaluated by an evaluating and control unit (4) along with a value measured by a body temperature sensor (7).

Abstract: A patient support apparatus comprises a frame and a deck that is laterally movable relative to the frame between a central position and extended positions away from the central position. The patient support apparatus may further include a mounting mechanism that is configured to secure the deck to the frame. The mounting mechanism allows lateral movement relative to the frame to the extended positions away from the central position.

Abstract: An incubator arrangement and radiofrequency (RF) coil are provided for use in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system. The incubator arrangement comprises an enclosure adapted to support a subject in a magnet of the MRI system during imaging and a radiofrequency coil disposed within the enclosure. The RF coil is adapted to provide visual and physical access to the subject, and further adapted to obtain a selected signal to noise ratio.

Abstract: An infant support for an incubator or an infant warmer or a combination thereof is disclosed. The support comprises a frame, a mattress tray disposed above the tray, an x-ray tray and one or more weight cells having an actuator supporting the mattress tray above the frame. The x-ray tray is received in a space below the top surface of the mattress tray. The support is configured to be received on a tilt mechanism of the incubator or an infant warmer or a combination thereof to provide an inclination to the mattress tray. The support is configured to permit x-rays to be taken of an infant supported above the mattress tray and to provide an indication of the weight of the infant supported on the mattress tray regardless of its inclination.

Abstract: In this incubator, the door rotation restricting means in the operating state restrains the rotation of the door in the opening direction beyond the operating angle. Thus, in the case that the door rotation restricting means is in the operating state, even if the door is pushed by the accommodated baby from the inside of the hood under the state wherein the door is not fixed by the door fixing means in a closing state, the door does not rotate in the opening direction beyond the operating angle and the angle of the door does not exceed the operating angle. Therefore, even if opening and closing operation of the nursing window is not securely performed, at least the environment inside the hood hardly deviates from the physiological environment appropriate for the accommodated baby.

Abstract: An infant warming apparatus that functions both as an infant incubator as well as an infant warmer. The apparatus has a heater that moves vertically with respect to an infant support during the change in function between an infant incubator and an infant warmer. The heater also has a door or doors that are open when the heater is at or nearing the upper position so that the heater can direct energy toward the infant to warm the infant when acting as an infant warmer and close at or shortly after the heater commences movement to the lower position. When closed, the doors isolate the heater to prevent the inadvertent touching of the heater by the infant or attending personnel and prevents the further radiating of infrared energy toward the infant.

Abstract: An infant apparatus having a base, a vertically movable hood and a plurality of walls that form an infant compartment. The apparatus has lateral side walls and a front end door that can be individually opened. There is an interlocking engagement between the upper periphery of the lateral walls and hood by a plurality of pins on the hood that engage brackets located at the top of the front and rear end walls. A latching arrangement allows all three doors to be opened. The side lateral doors are latched by a movable latch member that enters an opening in brackets affixed to the front and rear end walls. The front end wall can be moved vertically upwardly to disengage its latching arrangement to enable it to pivot downwardly. An alignment mechanism is also provided to insure that the movable latch members correctly align with the openings in the brackets.

Abstract: A patient-support apparatus is provided, the patent-support apparatus having a patient support deck, a lowered central portion of the patient-support deck, and an x-ray tray carried by the central portion of the patient-support deck beneath the mattress support and between tray-guiding walls. The x-ray tray is slidable relative to the patient support deck.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating an infant including an upper radiant element integrated with the hood and a lower radiant element integrated with the mattress. The upper radiant element comprises a resistive ink printed on the underside of the hood. The mattress is transparent to infra-red wave length radiant energy, and includes a temperature sensor on its topside. The hood includes a liquid crystal panel for controllably viewing the infant, whereas the rest of the hood is opaque.

Abstract: An infant care unit and method include providing a base, providing an infant-support on the base, providing a canopy and providing a mounting assembly coupling the canopy to the base. The mounting assembly includes a pivot mechanism.

Abstract: An incubator for premature or weakly infants having a base section which serves as a support for both the infant in the incubator chamber and a protective top section made of a substantially transparent material. The incubator chamber is surrounded by an inner and an outer shell. The temperature and humidity of the air in the incubator chamber is controlled by introducing conditioned air into the incubator chamber and withdrawing it between the inner and outer shells.

Abstract: This Invention Patent refers to an air sterilization system for child incubators. The object of this Patent is to provide the child with air which is less polluted or free from pathogenic microorganisms that might put its health at risk or prolong its stay in the incubator and/or clinic or hospital, and that of the other persons or patients that might come into contact with the air exiting the same incubator in the case of a child with an infectious manifestations.

Abstract: An infant care unit is provided having a patient support platform, an overhead arm and a mounting assembly. The overhead arm is located generally above the platform. The mounting assembly couples the overhead arm to the platform for pivoting movement relative thereto. The pivoting movement is in a second plane that is generally parallel to a first plane which is defined by the platform.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an incubator system provided with a temperature control system comprising a chamber that is suitable for housing a substrate, and at least one wall that is partially or wholly transparent, characterized in that the incubator system comprises a heater, a system for providing a thermal flow, and a thermal resistance barrier that provides at least some insulation between the chamber and the partially or wholly transparent wall.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enclosed humidified environment for an infant positioned on the mattress of an infant warmer open care bed. It includes an “A” frame structure which supports a flexible and transparent cover similar to a tent, which may be folded substantially flat when not in use or prior to use. The tent is designed to be compatible with an infra-red radiant heater, such as might be used in a infant warmer open care bed to heat the infant. The tent includes provisions for inflow of humidified gases and accessibility to the infant by health care workers. In addition, the present invention may be provided as a disposable item thereby reducing the possibility of transferring medical problems between infants.

Abstract: A process and system is provided for regulating the air temperature in an incubator (3), which accommodates a patient, especially a premature or newborn infant, and which is part of a so-called hybrid device. When the function of the hybrid device is changed over between the two device types of “closed incubator” and “open care unit,” the problem arises that the air temperature set point cannot be maintained and the patient cools down as a consequence. The process uses a heat radiation source (1), which is located outside the incubator (3), which can be closed with a hood (2) that is transparent to the radiated heat. The corresponding value measured by an air temperature sensor (5), which is used as an actual air temperature value, is evaluated by an evaluating and control unit (4) along with a value measured by a body temperature sensor (7).

Abstract: A incubator door having a double walled construction where two parallel walls, an inner and an outer wall are spaced apart to form a passageway therebetween. The inner wall is easily removable from the door for cleaning of the interior of the walls by means of a hinge affixed to the outer wall that holds both of the walls together and which has sockets formed therein. The inner wall has tabs at its bottom that fit into the sockets to hold the bottom of the inner door pivotally to the hinge. There is a slot formed in each of the sockets of a sufficient size to allow the thickness of the inner wall to pass through the slot to be removed from the hinge. The other transverse dimension of the tab is larger and does not pass through the slot. Thus, by pivoting the inner wall so that it aligns with the slot, the inner wall can be readily removed from the outer wall. The upper portion of the inner wall is also held from pivoting by a resilient latch that holds the inner wall in position to the outer wall.

Abstract: In this incubator, when the angle of a door to a nursing window of a hood is smaller than a rotation restricting angle, door rotation restricting means restrains the rotation of the door in an opening direction. Because of this reason, when the angle of the door is smaller than the rotation restricting angle, the door is not rotated in the opening direction beyond the rotation restricting angle and the angle of the door does not exceed the rotation restricting angle, even if the door is pushed by an accommodated baby from the inside of the hood under the state wherein the door is not fixed in the closing state by a door fixing device. Therefore, even if opening and closing operation for the nursing window is not securely performed, the environment inside the hood hardly deviates from the physiological environment appropriate for the accommodated baby to say the least.

Abstract: An infant care unit of the type comprising means for controlling the environment in which the infant resides includes one or more sensors spaced apart from the infant to sense a physiological parameter and provide a sensor output, the controlling means being responsive to the sensor output to change the environment or provide an alarm or other indication of the parameter. The sensors include one or more of an infrared sensor for sensing the infant's temperature, cameras coupled to video processing software for sensing respiration rate, heart rate or skin perfusion, microphones coupled to audio processing software for sensing respiration rate, breathing difficulty, or infant distress. Speakers are provided for cancelling noise or providing audio signals to the infant. The camera, microphone and speakers are capable of being coupled to a computer network for remote monitoring of the infant.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for rapid gas recovery in a controlled gas atmosphere enclosure, which are particularly suited for maintaining incubator gas concentration levels, include the formulation of algorithms utilized for this purpose. The algorithms are included in the firmware for an embedded controller and operate gas solenoids that have inputs defined as specific gases at a defined pressure. An application of the rapid gas recovery method and apparatus to incubators is also disclosed.

Abstract: An infant-support heater assembly having a heater element a radiator associated with the heater element and a sensing element in contact with at least a portion of the radiator. The sensing element is separate from the heater element.

Abstract: A control system and a method for controlling an infant support configurable in a closed configuration in which a canopy contributes to formation of an enclosure about an infant support surface, and an open configuration is disclosed. The controlled infant support includes an air heater, a blower, and duct work communicating with the air heater, blower and enclosure. To facilitate bringing the air temperature within the enclosure quickly to a desired temperature whereby the temperature of an infant in the enclosure is controlled, power is supplied to air heater when infant support is in the open configuration to generate a heat reservoir. Upon the infant support assuming the closed configuration the controller controls power to the blower to increase air flow and infuse heat from the heat reservoir into the enclosure.

Abstract: An infant care apparatus is provided that includes an infant support for underlying the infant. A drawer is provided beneath the infant support and which has a center position where it is generally aligned with the infant support and which is movable bidirectionally from that center position so that it can be moved in either direction. Thus, the caregiver can sit at either lateral side of the infant care apparatus and be positioned close to that apparatus and have room for the knees by pushing the drawer out of the way. In addition, the base is configured to have generally C-shaped base members having ends that extent outwardly to provide stability for the apparatus but allow a chair to be positioned next to the infant care apparatus without hitting or being obstructed by the base.

Abstract: A heater control system for use with a radiant heater of an infant warmer. The system utilizes a patient skin temperature and a set temperature inputted by a user and initially subtracts the patient temperature from the set point temperature to arrive at a differential signal identified as the Patient Temperature Gradient (PTG). That PTG is the used to directly control the power to the radiant heater by modifying the power to the heater depending upon the sign and the magnitude of the PTG. Thus, the method of the present invention is not a proportional control system but seeks and finds its own level of power that is not governed by any specific temperature difference and will adjust the heater power where the resulting heater power adjustment may be different for a variety of conditions.

Abstract: Controlled atmosphere entry/exit lock unit (10) for association with a controlled atmosphere cabinet (80), the lock unit (10) having two controlled access means (13; 30) both usually operable alternatively for sealing and communicating, one (30) relative to said cabinet (80) and the other (13) relative to outside, the lock unit further having atmosphere control means (70-78) operable for achieving internal atmosphere conditions compatible with what may be prescribed for said cabinet (80), the one access means having movable door means (30) and related powered actuation means (50; 30A, B) including for sealing relative to access with said cabinet (80).

Abstract: Disclosed is a phototherapy device for treating icterus in new-born patients, comprising a light box with at least one light source arranged in the box for illuminating the patient and a support for the patient to be placed upon which is at least partially transparent or tinted as to allow the light from the light box to expose the patient from below with respect to its direction of gravity, making it possible to expose areas having a high bilirubin concentration which tend to follow the direction of gravity.

Abstract: An infant incubator of the type having an enclosure within which the infant is held and an air circulation system with a heater and a motor driven blower is disclosed. An adaptive motor speed controller having a sensor providing an indication of the stability of the temperature of the infant is coupled to the blower motor and controls the motor speed at least in part based on the stability of the temperature of the infant. While the infant's temperature is stable, the motor speed is reduced within limits.

Abstract: A sensor module for an incubator or other patient support includes a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the air within the interior of the hood of support, a humidity sensor for determining the relative humidity of air drawn from the hood, a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the air sensed by humidity sensor, and a correlator for adjusting the sensed relative humidity to provide an indication of the relative humidity within the hood.

Abstract: An infant thermal support device which provides convective heat transfer similar to an incubator yet which allows for unlimited care provider access to the infant without compromising the infant's thermal environment. The device has an infant support with head and foot ends and lateral sides, and provides a heated curtain of air traveling over an infant on the support to maintain the temperature of the infant at an appropriate level. Vertically oriented curtains of air travel upwardly from the lateral edges and at least one end of the support. The device provides warmth to the infant on the support by virtue of the heated air curtain, and the vertically oriented air curtains reduced perturbations of the heated air curtain caused by physical disturbances adjacent to the device such that a canopy enclosing the device is not required. The device further comprises a raisable and lowerable canopy and infrared heater, such that the device can function as either an infant radiant warmer, an incubator or both.

Abstract: A safety system that is used with an infant care apparatus comprising an infant platform with a planar surface for supporting the infant and a canopy that is vertically movable over the planar surface. A powered lifting mechanism operated by an electric motor causes the canopy to be selectively moved upwardly or downwardly by the user to enclose or open the space surrounding the infant. The safety system provides a continuous monitor of the torque of the motor and, when the torque exceeds a predetermined amount, the system disables the motor so that it terminates any further movement of the canopy. Thus, if the canopy encounters an obstacle in its travel upwardly or downwardly, the motor torque will increase as the motor tries to overcome that obstacle and the system will immediately disable the motor and terminate any further movement of the canopy to prevent damage to the obstacle or to the powered lifting mechanism.

Abstract: A process for operating an incubator particularly suitable for a certain type of care (“kangaroo care”) is disclosed. The process is activated by device of an input element at a time t0. A measuring and control unit controls the heating device as a function of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor, of which there is at least one, in the interior space of the incubator such that the temperature measured in the interior space of the incubator during a preceding time period t0-t1 is used as the set point for the temperature in the interior space of the incubator. The skin temperature of the patient, which is determined by the second temperature sensor is compared with preset upper and/or lower temperature limit values for the skin temperature and an alarm is triggered by the measuring and control unit when these limit values are overshoot and/or undershot.

Abstract: An incubator for use in caring for an infant having an infant platform underlying the infant and a plurality of sides extending upwardly from the infant platform and having a cover to form therein an infant compartment surrounding the infant in a controlled environment. A convective heating system is located in a heating and air moving compartment located beneath the infant and which serves to force heated air into the infant compartment to heat the infant and to withdraw return air from the infant compartment for re-circulation. The heated air is forced into the infant compartment through openings formed in the infant platform along both of the longitudinal sides of the generally rectangular infant compartment and then through double walls to emerge generally at the top of the infant compartment. The return air leaves the infant compartment through opening formed in the infant platform along both of the ends of the infant platform.

Abstract: An infant care apparatus is provided that includes a support for underlying the infant within the apparatus for providing care to that infant. The infant care apparatus includes a base, a generally rectangular infant platform supported on said base and has walls that extend upwardly from the base and covered with a hood to form an infant compartment for containing an infant in a controlled atmosphere. The hood is specially configured so as to have a lower edge that interfits over the walls in forming that infant compartment and has side panels that extend upwardly and inwardly from the sides of the hood and front and rear panels. The panels form an upper top surface that is also a flat, planar surface that preferably tapers outward toward the front panel and also is inclined downward at a slight angle toward the front panel.

Abstract: A calibration system for use with a radiant heater of an infant apparatus such as an infant warmer or an infant incubator. The system includes an electrical circuit that is used to sense the temperature of the infant by means of a thermistor and to provide a digital signal representative of the temperature. An automatic calibration system avoids the use of potentiometers by inputting two known voltages into the circuit by means of a voltage divider and recording the digital output for each voltage input. The two known voltage inputs and the known digital outputs are used in two equations to solve for the span and offset constants in those equations. Once determined, those constants are used to calibrate the system.

Abstract: An infant warmer has a bed assembly for supporting a baby born prematurely and a heat source with controls capable of maintaining the infant's body temperature within a desired range. The bed assembly is suitably supported to hold the infant at a convenient elevation. A light shield rests on the bed assembly and is adapted to block light from directly entering the eyes of the infant.

Abstract: An infant care apparatus includes a base, a patient-support portion carried by the base, a canopy situated above the patient-support portion, and a mechanism for vertically raising and lowering the canopy relative to the patient-support portion. A convective heating system is operable to provide heated air into a space defined between the patient-support portion and the canopy. A radiant heater is coupled to the canopy and is operable to direct radiant heat toward the patient-support portion. A control system controls the operation of the convective heating system and the radiant heater.

Abstract: An incubator, especially adapted for premature infants, and supporting system to control, monitor, and communicate data and images to remote locations. The incubator has been modified by the inclusion of a ventilation system, weight scale, plural cameras, microphone/speaker means, and X-ray means. Externally, the incubator includes a control console, touchscreen display panel with processor and a primary display panel. Operation of the incubator is controlled by a hub interface, a central server and modem, and an internet server with modem.

Abstract: A treatment unit with at least two heat sources and a lying surface (4) for a patient (2) is provided such that the ratio of the heat outputs of the heat sources in relation to one another can be set in a simple manner. A heater (5) with a first temperature control circuit (9) for setting a predetermined temperature on or in the environment of the patient (2) is provided along with a heater (3) at the lying surface (4). A second temperature control circuit (12) is provided for the lying surface heater (3). A logic circuit (15) is operatively connected between the first temperature control circuit (9) and the second temperature control circuit (12), which receives the temperature actual value or the temperature set point of the first control circuit (9) as a command variable and sends a tracking value as a lying surface temperature set point to the second temperature control circuit (12) via a temperature logic function (17).