Abstract: The invention is directed to a transport incubator for accommodating prematures and newborns in a compartment wherein the temperature is controlled by means of an energy store which is in thermal contact with the compartment. The transport incubator is improved in that the energy store is made as small and as light as possible and does not have to be supplied with energy continuously in the operating condition. In addition, the transport incubator can be produced at low cost while utilizing environmentally friendly materials. The energy store is configured as an adsorption vessel containing an adsorption material. For generating the heat to be supplied to the infant compartment, the adsorption vessel can be connected to a supply vessel which contains a fluid which is adsorbing on the adsorbing vessel while giving off adsorption heat.

Abstract: An infant warmer is provided with a heating element for directing radiant heat onto an infant support surface and a temperature sensing probe attachable to the skin of an infant. A heater control which, in an automatic mode, supplies a control signal to a heater power control which includes a component responsive to the difference between the actual temperature and a set temperature and a component which is added or subtracted in incremental amounts depending on whether the actual temperature is above or below the set point. The control also operates to reduce the power to the heater when the total energy supplied to the heater exceeds a maximum amount over a predetermined time interval. In manual mode, the power level is reduced when a preset temperature is reached or if the temperature is not reached after a predetermined time has elapsed. In addition, the heater power is interrupted whenever the control signal or the current to the heater exist independent of the other.

Abstract: A handhole latch is disclosed for use with an infant incubator and which is damped by one or more elastomeric O-rings to reduce noise and vibration that could startle the infant. The O-rings are positioned between a moving piston latch and a housing such that the O-rings are sandwiched between the moving piston latch and the housing as the piston latch snaps, by spring bias, into its position holding the handhole door closed.

Abstract: A microfilter (4) for fitting into a filter-box of an infants incubator comprises a pad (22) of non-woven filtering material enclosed in an envelope (21) of water-repellent cohesive and non-woven material which is highly permeable to air and oxygen. The envelope prevents the escape of fibrous particles from the pad and has one side colored differently from the other to reduce the risk of being replaced back-to-front in the filter-box. The envelope may be placed in a similar envelope. It may also have one face of multilayer construction with the layers individually removable so that they can be discarded when dirty.

Abstract: A radiant heater is provided, which can be in the form of an overlay on an existing incubator hood or integrated in an incubator hood. The heater has an optically transparent, radiotransparent and phototherapy transparent electrically conductive coating, preferably indium tin oxide.

Abstract: A door assembly in which an elastomeric roller, carried by a door, rolls against a latch member to pivot the latch member in one direction until the roller reaches a detent and then pivots in an opposite direction to lock the roller in the detent and the door in a closed position. The door is opened by pivoting the latch member in the first direction to release the roller from the detent.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an incubator for infants wherein air is supplied from an air supply opening arranged between the side walls of the incubator hood and the supporting member defining a supporting surface for accommodating the infant. The air flows upwardly along the side walls of the incubator hood to form an air curtain arranged in surrounding relationship to the infant. An air return channel conducts the air from the vicinity of the top wall of the incubator hood to an air return space below the supporting member. A blower moves the air through the air return channel and into the air return space from where the air can flow upwardly through the air supply opening. Because of the air curtain, there is a temperature gradient only in the vertical direction; however, in the horizontal direction, the temperature gradient is virtually zero so that all regions of the body of the infant lying on the supporting surface are warmed by air at a uniform temperature.

Abstract: An apparatus setting forth a therapy apparatus for newborn infants, including a cabinet member mounting life monitoring equipment and storage compartments therewithin, including a planar top surface mounting a chamber, with the chamber including transparent side panels and an extensible and contractable cover housing to permit ease of access to the infant, with the housing including slot members hingedly mounted together and securable within opposed lateral tracks, with the tracks further including photo-therapy illumination members extending longitudinally of the slats, and further including a support cushion positionable upon a floor of the cavity.

Abstract: A microsurgical forceps, particularly for biopsy, comprises a tube, a shaft therein connected to a hollow rod which is coaxial therewith and is axially displaceable by one of a pair of pivotally connected handles. A fluid cleaning agent can be conducted under pressure through the rod end into a space between the tube and shaft to flush the forceps.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for monitoring physiological parameters associated with the ventilation of infants during assisted ventilation. The infant is placed in a plethysmograph and various sensor means are used to measure flow of gas into and out of the plethysmograph and infant respiration. The outputs of the sensor means are supplied to a microcomputer system for processing. A unique calibration system is provided which constantly corrects for changing system parameters such as plethysmographic chamber air leaks, compliance and the like. Additionally, a heating system which exhibits radiant as well as convective heating properties is provided to maintain the infant in a constant temperature environment with a minimal amount of temperature fluctuation. From this data, ventilator breaths are discriminated from infant breaths.

Abstract: An apparatus for the infrared heating and warming of post-anesthetic surgical patients is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of infrared heat lamps controlled by plural patient temperature sensors in a closed-loop control system for providing safe, controlled warming of a patient following anesthesia and surgery. Signals from the temperature sensors are averaged and compared against an average temperature setpoint to provide control signals for the heat lamp control network. Low and high temperature alarms are provided for patient safety.

Abstract: An infant incubator is disclosed having a hood that encloses the infant compartment. In the base of the incubator is the heating air and ducting means and which provides heated through an ever open outlet in the base and which heated air passes from the base through a flow path formed by the hood that circulates around the infant and re-enters the base through an inlet. That heated air is thus introduced into or along the access door in the front of the hood from the outlet and travels through or along the access door and through or along the hood around the infant and is returned to the base for recirculation. The hood itself is pivotally attached to the base at the rear of the incubator so that it can be opened from the front for complete access to the infant. The access door in the front of the hood is pivotally attached to the incubator base and can also be opened for access to the infant. When the access door is in its closed position, it forms part of the air path for the heated air.

Abstract: An infant incubator mattress positioning assembly having a pair of lift mechanisms spaced apart on the deck of the incubator. Each lift mechanism includes a scissor linkage which is operated by a lead screw mechanism. The mattress tray, positioned on the free ends of the links of the scissor linkages, is moved by turning a crank in the lead screw mechanism of each lift mechanism.

Abstract: An incubator for maintaining a warm environment for infants includes a substantially elongated resting or bed surface which is surrounded by a hood. At least one side wall of the front side has closable access openings. An air outlet for supplying air into the hood and an air inlet for carrying air away from the hood are provided at the peripheral region of the resting surface. In the incubator, the air is guided to maintain a stable incubator air temperature to reduce heat losses from convection and radiation with the hood closed and, with the front side opened, the buildup of a stable warm-air curtain is promoted. For this purpose, the air outlet is disposed along the front side, and the air inlet is disposed along the rear side opposite this front side.

Abstract: A heater traverse mechanism used with an infant care center is disclosed. The traverse mechanism allows the heater that is focused on or about the infant positioned on the infant care center to be moved aside for better access to the infant, yet, as the heater is moved, the traverse mechanism automatically adjusts the heater such that its focus remains on the infant so that even at various points along a locus, the footprint of heat on or about the infant remains relatively constant.

Abstract: An incubator comprises an incubating chamber for accommodating an infant, and air supply means for supplying conditioned air into the incubating chamber. The air supply means comprises a dry passage and a wet passage which are partitioned from each other by a partition wall. The dry passage and the wet passage communicate by means of a first opening and a second opening, respectively, with the incubating chamber. The wet passage communicates by means of a connecting passage having an opening formed in a wall of the dry passage extending along the direction of air flow through the dry passage with the dry passage. A water tank containing water for humidifying air is provided in the connecting passage. A restricting means is provided at least for the first opening to regulate the flow rate of air that flows through the first opening.

Abstract: An incubator has a transparent covering hood having at least one side wall on which two flaps are mounted for closing access openings formed in the side wall. The flaps are each provided with a hinge and closure element. The flaps and access openings are so configured that the maximum possible freedom of movement is provided for the person treating the patient while at the same time the smallest possible outlet area is attained to prevent heat and oxygen losses from within the incubator to the ambient. For this purpose, the access openings are configured to be elongated and so that their respective longitudinal axes conjointly define an upwardly facing obtuse angle. To improve visibility for observing the premature infant and to improve ergonomically correct actuation of the operating elements, both the hinge and the closure element are located together on one side of the flap.