Abstract: Body function measuring apparatus which provides: (1) an indication of the body function being measured, and (2) a loose probe condition by determining that the difference between the rate of change of a first body function signal, developed by a first sensor in the probe, and the rate of change of a second body function signal, developed by a second sensor in the probe, exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An infant incubator in which the heater for heating the air circulated through the incubator and the speed of the fan which forces air across the heater to circulate through the incubator are controlled to increase the temperature of the heated air and delivery of the heated air to the space in which an infant has been placed for treatment when an access door of the incubator has been opened. The increase in temperature and delivery of the heated air is caused by a sensor which senses when the access door is opened.

Abstract: A infant radiant warmer having a bassinet assembly which includes a plurality of optically transparent electrothermal side panels surrounding a mattress assembly upon which a infant can be placed. The side panels serve both as radiant shields which reduce radiant heat losses from the infant and as sources of radiant heat which add to the warmth provided by an overhead infrared heater to the infant. This infant radiant warmer also has an optically transparent draft shield assembly which serves to maintain the environment of the bassinet assembly by inhibiting the effects of drafts, air-conditioning and disruptive temperatures in the atmosphere outside the bassinet assembly. Preferably, a humidifier is provided for humidifying the atmosphere within which the infant is placed.

Abstract: A infant radiant warmer having a bassinet assembly which includes a plurality of optically transparent electrothermal side panels surrounding a mattress assembly upon which a infant can be placed. The side panels serve both as radiant shields which reduce radiant heat losses from the infant and as sources of radiant heat which add to the warmth provided by an overhead infrared heater to the infant. This infant radiant warmer also has an optically transparent draft shield assembly which serves to maintain the environment of the bassinet assembly by inhibiting the effects of drafts, air-conditioning and disruptive temperatures in the atmosphere outside the bassinet assembly. Preferably, a humidifier is provided for humidifying the atmosphere within which the infant is placed.

Abstract: A thermal probe for measuring and controlling the temperature of a transparent, multi-panel assembly in which one of the panels has an electrically conductive coating which serves as a radiant heat source. A sensor, urged against the panel having the coating, senses the temperature of this panel and controls a power source which powers the coating. A compressible spacing member, fitted between the sensor and the other transparent panel, urges the sensor into proximity with the panel being measured and controlled.

Abstract: An infant incubator humidifier having a heater within a heater tower which, in turn, is in heat transfer disposition with a metal sleeve mounted within a water reservoir through which air which is to be humidified is passed. The metal sleeve has a wick disposed on its outside surface and water in the reservoir is wicked along the wick, whereby air introduced into the reservoir is humidified upon contact with the wick.

Abstract: An infant incubator in which the controls and displays are provided in a module which is in proximity to but spaced from and above the hood of the incubator at generally the eye-level of a standing adult.

Abstract: A thermal probe for measuring and controlling the temperature of a transparent, multi-panel assembly in which one of the panels has an electrically conductive coating which serves as a radiant heat source. A sensor, urged against the panel having the coating, senses the temperature of this panel and controls a power source which powers the coating. A compressible spacing member, fitted between the sensor and the other transparent panel, urges the sensor into proximity with the panel being measured and controlled.

Abstract: A radiant heater in the form of an overlay for an incubator hood. The heater has an optically transparent, radiotransparent and phototherapy transparent electrically conductive coating, preferably indium tin oxide, and includes appropriate retaining hook structure for retaining the heater on an incubator hood.

Abstract: An infant incubator mattress positioning assembly having a pair of pneumatic lift mechanisms spaced apart on the deck of the incubator. Each lift mechanism is individually controlled to selectively raise or lower the ends of a mattress support which rest on the lift mechanisms. To prevent twisting or turning of the mattress support about its long axis as external forces are applied to the mattress support, each lift mechanism has transverse stabilizing means.

Abstract: An infant incubator having a humidifier in which water, used to humidify the air circulated to the hood of the incubator, is supplied to a shallow, heated evaporation tray from a larger unheated water reservoir in regulated amounts. The humidifier is located in the base of the incubator and is arranged such that the reservoir, which is removably carried by a pivotally mounted door, and the evaporation tray, which is slidable into and from the humidifier when the humidifier door is open, can be easily removed for refilling of the reservoir and cleaning or maintenance of the water reservoir, the evaporation tray and other components of the humidifier.

Abstract: An infant incubator having structure for humidifying filtered inlet air prior to the filtered inlet air being introduced into the air circulation path through which air is introduced into the incubator hood and recirculated upon leaving the incubator hood.

Abstract: A system and method for transducing, recording, and displaying information relating to cardiac and respiratory functions of an infant. The system and method allows immediate detection of apnea events and of bradycardia associated therewith, as well as presentation of historical charts of such events.

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: A system for mounting various pieces of equipment at selected locations along the length of a support member. A clamping unit, releasably mounted on the support member for adjustable positioning of the clamping unit, is fixed in place by the action of locking means which draw a protrusion on a clamping piece into intimate contact with opposed contact surfaces in a groove running along the length of the support member. The opposed contact surfaces of the groove form an acute angle transverse to the length of the support member. With the support member formed as an open channel, cables from the equipment being mounted can be positioned within the channel and clips snap-fitted into the opening in the channel close off the opening in the channel at selected locations and form smaller openings through which the cables pass.

Abstract: A fetal heart rate counting system which includes a transducer element for transmitting an ultrasound signal into the fetal heart while the fetus is in utero and for receiving a returning Doppler signal frequency shifted by action of the fetal heart. The returning Doppler signal is processed to produce a forward heart movement Doppler signal, a reverse heart movement Doppler signal and the complete Doppler signal, from each of which fetal heart rate data is obtained. A composite fetal heart rate data is then produced from the three processed Doppler signal which is more accurate and complete than the data from any one signal individually.

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: Apparatus for detecting the presence of gas bubbles passing through an infusion tube (10). Sensing means (24, 26) responsive to fluid flow through the infusion tube develop a signal having a characteristic representative of a gas bubble to start a counter (28) which counts timing signals which also drive the pumping means (12, 14, 22) which force infusion liquid through the infusion tube. After a predetermined number of timing signals have been counted corresponding to a gas bubble having a size which may cause injury to a patient being infused, an alarm (30) is actuated.

Abstract: Infusion pumping apparatus having shaped rotor fingers (22, 24, 26) which pick up an infusion tube (18) as the rotor (20) rotates to load the tube in the pumping apparatus automatically.