Method for controlling the operating parameters of an incubator
First Claim
1. A method for determining the operating parameters of an incubator influencing the thermal metabolism of an infant placed in the incubator, the infant having temperature zones on the body at which temperature can be sensed with the aid of respective sensors including:
- a first temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the main organs, a second temperature sensor for measuring the skin temperature, a third temperature sensor for measuring the peripheral temperature; and
, a fourth temperature sensor being provided for measuring the ambient temperature, the incubator having a control unit for adjusting said operating parameters, the method comprising the steps of;
applying the outputs of at least two of said temperature sensors to a data processing unit for processing the outputs to actuating variables for influencing said operating parameters;
computing a first value matrix by evaluating the outputs of at least two of said temperature sensors;
the data processing unit including;
a first multi-dimensional table;
a dimension determined by selected variables referred to the infant; and
, table elements including condition desired values determined from experience;
determining a second value matrix from said first multi-dimensional table after inputting said selected variables, the matrix having condition desired values for the various temperature zones for said infant;
determining a difference value matrix by comparing said first value matrix with said second value matrix in a first comparing unit; and
,making a comparison in a second comparing unit between said difference value matrix and a second multi-dimensional table containing the tolerances for the description of the different temperature conditions (such as too cold, normal, too warm) in combination with the condition actual values to define the infant in its thermal condition (main organs in normal condition, skin too cold, periphery too cold, etc.) and the difference between said deviation matrix and said second multi-dimensional table, resulting from said comparison, setting said operating parameters anew via said control unit.
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Abstract
The invention is directed to a method for controlling the operating parameters of an incubator influencing the thermal metabolism of an infant placed in the incubator. The method provides that the control takes place based on the complete defined thermal metabolism of the infant. For this purpose, at least two of four temperature sensors are present for different temperature zones referred to the body of the patient, namely, a sensor for the measurement of the temperature of the main organs, for the measurement of the skin temperature, for the measurement of the temperature of the periphery of the body and for the measurement of the ambient temperature. The output values of the sensors are supplied to a data processing unit which contains a first multi-dimensional table. This table includes table elements comprising condition desired values determined from experience. From the first table and after inputting of selected variables referred to the infant, a matrix is determined for the infant special condition desired values for the different temperature zones and from a comparison to a second multi-dimensional table, the infant is defined in its thermal condition in data called up from a decision matrix. The second multi-dimensional table contains the tolerances for the description of the different temperature conditions (for example, too cold, normal, too warm and the like).
23 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for determining the operating parameters of an incubator influencing the thermal metabolism of an infant placed in the incubator, the infant having temperature zones on the body at which temperature can be sensed with the aid of respective sensors including:
- a first temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the main organs, a second temperature sensor for measuring the skin temperature, a third temperature sensor for measuring the peripheral temperature; and
, a fourth temperature sensor being provided for measuring the ambient temperature, the incubator having a control unit for adjusting said operating parameters, the method comprising the steps of;applying the outputs of at least two of said temperature sensors to a data processing unit for processing the outputs to actuating variables for influencing said operating parameters; computing a first value matrix by evaluating the outputs of at least two of said temperature sensors; the data processing unit including;
a first multi-dimensional table;
a dimension determined by selected variables referred to the infant; and
, table elements including condition desired values determined from experience;determining a second value matrix from said first multi-dimensional table after inputting said selected variables, the matrix having condition desired values for the various temperature zones for said infant; determining a difference value matrix by comparing said first value matrix with said second value matrix in a first comparing unit; and
,making a comparison in a second comparing unit between said difference value matrix and a second multi-dimensional table containing the tolerances for the description of the different temperature conditions (such as too cold, normal, too warm) in combination with the condition actual values to define the infant in its thermal condition (main organs in normal condition, skin too cold, periphery too cold, etc.) and the difference between said deviation matrix and said second multi-dimensional table, resulting from said comparison, setting said operating parameters anew via said control unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- a first temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the main organs, a second temperature sensor for measuring the skin temperature, a third temperature sensor for measuring the peripheral temperature; and
Specification