INFANT INCUBATORS

(INFANT INCUBATOR)

An infant incubator is used mainly to keep a baby’s core temperature stable at 37 degrees Celsius. Most incubators also humidify the air and can add extra oxygen.

(INFANT INCUBATOR WITH BABY)

NEED OF INFANT INCUBATORS

The core temperature of the human body needs to be kept at a constant temperature of 37 degrees Celsius. If the temperature goes too high or too low, then the organs can be damaged and illness or death can result. Premature babies (babies born before they are due to be born) have undeveloped nervous systems and also lack the energy to regulate their own temperature, so their temperature needs to be maintained by an incubator. We can only give small babies a small amount of food for growing. We want them to use all of their energy for growth rather than wasting it on keeping warm, so sometimes we use the incubator to help them grow faster.

WORKING OF INFANT INCUBATOR

The mattress where the baby lies is completely enclosed by a clear plastic canopy. The temperature in the incubator is increased by a heater element below the mattress. A motor driven fan near the heater draws in fresh air through a filter and blows it past the heater, warming the air. The air is directed up through slots into the area above the mattress and circulated around. The air temperature is monitored by temperature sensors and is adjusted by controlling the current to the heater. The incubator can also monitor the baby’s skin temperature by using a skin temperature probe, which is stuck onto the skin. The user can either set the incubator to control the temperature of the air or to control the temperature of the baby’s skin (servo control mode). Supplementary oxygen can be taken in by an oxygen inlet connection where it is mixed with the fresh air through the filter. The humidity can be increased by the use of water baths (passive humidification) or by dripping water on a heated element (active humidification). The baby is cared for through special access doors called arm ports.

UNITS

Temperature: degrees Celsius
Total gas intake: L/min
Relative Humidity %
Oxygen concentration: %

RANGE OF VALUES

Air Temperature: 32 to 38 C°
Baby skin temperature: 34 to 36 C°
Total gas intake: 35 L/min
Relative humidity: 50-100%