Side-vented microcradle for prenidial incubator
First Claim
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1. A prenidial incubator having a side-vented microcradle, comprising:
- a fluidic circuit assembly, the fluidic circuit assembly comprising a fluidic circuit board populated with components to provide intensive medical care in a controlled environment for a human embryo or hatchling patient who is enclosed in the microcradle, the fluidic circuit board, comprising;
substantially planar layers bonded together, the planar layers, forming the microcradle having side vents and associated microfluidic channels for fluidic ventilation of the patient, a clear bottom flooring layer for visualization of the patient via a vertical path for optics, and an open top for easy access to the patient who is cradled in the microcradle, wherein the microcradle is formed by a hole made through all planar layers except the flooring layer, the hole forming sidewalls for the microcradle, and wherein the side vents are formed by the microfluidic channels making fluidic communication with the microcradle via ventilation ports located on the sidewalls of the microcradle, whereby the patient in the microcradle is fluidically ventilated by means of urging a selectable protocol of gentle fluid flow through the side vents via the microfluidic channels making fluidic communication with the microcradle.
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Abstract
The invention relates to an incubator for babies. It is of special value for the treatment of premature infants as an intensive care unit at any time during life from creation to implantation. A cradle is sided with ports to enable fluidic ventilation. Advantageously the incubator includes an optical path for imaging the patient via a clear bottom and open top. The incubator is provided with easy access and various accessories required for an intensive care unit.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A prenidial incubator having a side-vented microcradle, comprising:
- a fluidic circuit assembly, the fluidic circuit assembly comprising a fluidic circuit board populated with components to provide intensive medical care in a controlled environment for a human embryo or hatchling patient who is enclosed in the microcradle, the fluidic circuit board, comprising;
substantially planar layers bonded together, the planar layers, forming the microcradle having side vents and associated microfluidic channels for fluidic ventilation of the patient, a clear bottom flooring layer for visualization of the patient via a vertical path for optics, and an open top for easy access to the patient who is cradled in the microcradle, wherein the microcradle is formed by a hole made through all planar layers except the flooring layer, the hole forming sidewalls for the microcradle, and wherein the side vents are formed by the microfluidic channels making fluidic communication with the microcradle via ventilation ports located on the sidewalls of the microcradle, whereby the patient in the microcradle is fluidically ventilated by means of urging a selectable protocol of gentle fluid flow through the side vents via the microfluidic channels making fluidic communication with the microcradle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- a fluidic circuit assembly, the fluidic circuit assembly comprising a fluidic circuit board populated with components to provide intensive medical care in a controlled environment for a human embryo or hatchling patient who is enclosed in the microcradle, the fluidic circuit board, comprising;
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11. A method of patient care for use in a prenidial incubator, comprising:
- urging a fluid flow for treatment purposes so as to water massage a patient or lift the patient off of a microcradle flooring, the microcradle forming an enclosure for the patient, wherein the fluid flow is urged by a microfluidic means via any combination of side vents or flooring vents in fluidic communication with the microcradle.
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12. A temperature measurement test pattern to calibrate a radiometer for use in a prenidial incubator, the radiometer being sensitive to radiation over a range of wavelengths, such that a temperature of a patient or incubator component is measured by means of non-contact microthermography employing the calibrated radiometer, comprising:
- a backing having first and second regions visible thereon, the first and second regions emitting radiation at respective short and long wavelengths within the sensitivity range of the radiometer and being substantially transparent to radiation elsewhere within said range, whereby a temperature-dependent ratio of radiation emitted from first and second regions and detected by the radiometer correlates by lookup to an actual temperature.
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13. A variable focus liquid lens assembly for use in a prenidial incubator, comprising:
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a microfluidic means of filling the assembly with one or more liquid lenses;
a hydraulic means of articulating lens focus; and
,a charged electrowetting means of articulating lens focus;
such that a filling of the assembly with one or more liquid lenses is articulated by the microfluidic means, and such that a changing of lens focus is articulated by any combination of the hydraulic means and the charged electrowetting means, whereby a patient or patient care devices are optically focused upon inside the incubator;
wherein the assembly is formed by substantially planar layers laminated together;
said planar layers containing a lens chamber and a plurality of microfluidic channels formed by microfabrication, at least two of said microfluidic channels being in fluidic communication with said lens chamber;
wherein the microfluidic means comprises means of urging fluids to flow in fluidic communication with the lens chamber via associated microfluidics, such that in operation said lens chamber is filled with alternating liquid layers consisting of type A and type B fluids, type A fluids being polar and conducting, type B fluids being non-conducting, and adjacent type A and B fluids being immiscible, such that a given liquid lens is formed at a meniscus interface formed between adjacent type A and B fluids having different indices of refraction, thereby filling the assembly with one or more liquid lenses;
wherein the hydraulic means comprises means of urging fluids to flow in fluidic communication with the lens chamber via associated microfluidics, such that in operation lens focus is articulated hydraulically by moving the meniscus interface forming the given liquid lens by means of hydraulic pressure urged via selected microfluidic channels in fluidic communication with the lens chamber, thereby changing lens focus by way of changing a lens position; and
,wherein the charged electrowetting means comprises an electrically insulated electrode with a hydrophobic surface deposited annularly on selected sidewall regions of the lens chamber by means of conformal chemical vapor deposition on selected planar layers, said insulated electrode forming an electrolytic capacitor when a direct current voltage is applied via conductive traces with respect to an uninsulated electrode placed in contact with a selected type A fluid layer inside the lens chamber, such that in operation lens focus is articulated by means of charged electrowetting as capacitive spreading causes the selected type A fluid layer to change a shape of the meniscus interface forming the given liquid lens by spreading over the surface of the insulated electrode, thereby changing lens focus by way of changing a lens shape. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A digital microfluidic system for use in a prenidial incubator, comprising:
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means to urge a droplet of fluid according to the art of electrowetting by turning a series of electrodes on and off in a progression to move the droplet; and
,a self-scooting circuitry to control the urging means;
the self-scooting circuitry comprising;
a series of liquid contact type electrical switches, wherein an electronic circuit is completed by a droplet of electrolyte such that a liquid forming the droplet bridges a gap between electrical conductors forming the switch; and
,means of electronic circuitry, wherein a number of electronic circuits controlling the electrodes are successively completed in a predetermined sequence, responsive to a droplet movement over electrical contacts formed by the switches;
such that the droplet movement progresses in a self-sustaining way over the series of electrodes until a predetermined break in the electronic circuitry is encountered, whereby the droplet is urged between areas of the incubator or between patient care devices associated with the incubator. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification