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 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 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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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.