Method and Apparatus for Providing a Portable Neonatal Transport Incubator

• US 20130204074A1
• Filed: 03/04/2011
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BiosTek Engineering, LLC
• Original Assignee: Harold Dean IV
• Inventors: Belval, Jeffrey C., Brox, Phillip T., Dean, Harold IV, Raver, Brett P.
• Application Number:
  US13/582,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20130204074A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 1/042 Suspension means
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/00 Baby-incubators; Couveuses
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/008 tiltable about a horizontal axis, e.g. oscillating
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/009 with hand insertion windows, e.g. in the walls

Abstract

Disclosed is a transport incubator capable of housing and maintaining a neonate in a controlled environment while being transported for medical care. The incubator comprises straps to secure the neonate, a battery-operated heater, a fan to circulate the warmed air, a source of humidity and at least one portable oxygen bottle. Capable of being worn by a user like a backpack, the incubator is portable and is useful for transport through difficult terrain. After making contact with a designated transport vehicle, the incubator can be disengaged from the backpack and mounted to a housing platform in the transport vehicle, the platform comprising a suspension system to minimize vibrations on the neonate. It is contemplated that the incubator system can accommodate an AC-powered battery during vehicular transport of the neonate to a medical care facility. A control unit displays data relevant to the controlled environment of the incubator and the neonate.

Claims

1. A neonate transport incubator comprising:

an arcuate transparent casing having a double-walled construction, said casing further comprising a pair of covered portholes;

a base assembly having one or more supports capable of holding and restraining a neonate;

said base assembly further comprising an air delivery unit and a temperature control system;

said casing being fastenable to said base assembly to form a closed microenvironment for a neonate housed therein; and

wherein said air delivery unit and said temperature control system provide controlled heat, humidity and oxygen to sustain conditions for the benefit of the neonate.

2. The incubator of claim 1 further comprising a transport assembly having a strap system attachable to said incubator, whereby said strap system may be carried on a user'"'"'s back in a backpack format.

3. The incubator of claim 1, wherein said casing further comprises an air space capable of minimizing thermal and radiative heat losses and reducing noise.

4. The incubator of claim 1 further comprising buckles to fasten said casing to said base assembly.

5. The incubator of claim 1, wherein said covered portholes can be hingedly opened to provide access therethrough,

6. The incubator of claim 1, wherein one of said one or more supports of said base assembly can be reclined.

7. The incubator of claim 2, wherein said transport assembly further comprises storage.

8. The incubator of claim 1, wherein said air delivery unit further comprises at least one oxygen source for feeding controlled amounts of oxygen thereto.

9. The incubator of claim 1 further comprising a support assembly having a suspension system to reduce vibrations transferred to said neonate during a vehicular transport phase.

10. The incubator of claim 1 further comprising a control mechanism to control and display conditions within said microenvironment, body temperature and blood oxygen saturation data relating to said neonate and system power.

11. The incubator of claim 9 further comprising a control mechanism to control and display conditions within said microenvironment, body temperature and blood oxygen saturation data relating to said neonate and system power.

12. A support assembly to receive a modular transport incubator, said assembly comprising:

a bracket housing a pedestal;

said pedestal having a receptacle for receiving a base assembly of a neonatal transport incubator;

a neonatal transport incubator removably mounted in said receptacle, said neonatal incubator having an arcuate transparent casing and further comprising an air delivery unit and a temperature control system; and

said bracket having a plurality of suspension mechanisms, each of said plurality serving to limit vibrations encountered by a neonate housed in said incubator during a vehicular transport phase.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein one or more of said plurality of suspension mechanisms further comprises a dual component system, a first component positionable adjacent an inner wall of said bracket, a second component positionable adjacent an inner wall of said pedestal.

14. The assembly of claim 12, wherein one or more of said plurality of suspension mechanisms comprises springs and/or elastomers.

15. The assembly of claim 12 further comprising a control mechanism to control and display conditions within said incubator including body temperature and blood oxygen saturation data relating to said neonate and system power.

16. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said bracket further comprises at least one oxygen source for feeding controlled amounts of oxygen to said air delivery unit.

17. A modular neonate transport incubator system comprising:

an arcuate transparent casing having a double-walled construction, said casing being fastenable to a base assembly to form a transport incubator unit for a neonate housed therein, said base assembly having one or more supports capable of holding and restraining a neonate, said base assembly further comprising a source of controlled heat, humidity and oxygen;

a transport assembly having a strap system attachable to said incubator unit, whereby said strap system may be carried on a user'"'"'s back in a backpack format;

a support assembly having a suspension system to reduce vibrations transferrable to said neonate during a vehicular transport phase; and

a control mechanism to display and control an internal incubator temperature, system power, and body temperature and blood oxygen saturation data relating to said neonate.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said control mechanism is in removable engagement with said transport assembly in combination with said incubator.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said control mechanism is in removable engagement with said support assembly in combination with said incubator.

20. A method for providing a modular neonate transport incubator system, the method comprising the steps of

providing a transport assembly having a strap system capable of being carried by a user in a backpack format;

removably mounting to said transport assembly a neonatal transport incubator having an transparent double-walled casing and a base assembly, said base assembly having one or more supports capable of holding and restraining a neonate, said base assembly further comprising a source of controlled heat, humidity and oxygen;

disengaging said transport assembly from said neonatal transport incubator; and

removably mounting said neonatal transport incubator to a support assembly having a suspension system to reduce vibrations transferrable to said neonate during a vehicular transport phase.