Heater control for infant warmer
First Claim
1. A method of controlling the energy to a radiant heater for supplying heat to an infant contained in an infant apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. measuring the skin temperature of an infant in the infant apparatus, b. inputting a set temperature desired for the infant, c. generating an error signal indicative of the difference between the input set temperature and the skin temperature of an infant to obtain a patient temperature gradient (PTG), d. providing a source of a first pouncer level to the radiant heater, and e. making an incremental adjustment to the first power level to the radiant heater to provide a second power level to the radiant heater by adding or subtracting to the first power level an incremental level of power that is determined by the magnitude and sign of the PTG.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A heater control system for use with a radiant heater of an infant warmer. The system utilizes a patient skin temperature and a set temperature inputted by a user and initially subtracts the patient temperature from the set point temperature to arrive at a differential signal identified as the Patient Temperature Gradient (PTG). That PTG is the used to directly control the power to the radiant heater by modifying the power to the heater depending upon the sign and the magnitude of the PTG. Thus, the method of the present invention is not a proportional control system but seeks and finds its own level of power that is not governed by any specific temperature difference and will adjust the heater power where the resulting heater power adjustment may be different for a variety of conditions.
10 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the energy to a radiant heater for supplying heat to an infant contained in an infant apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
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a. measuring the skin temperature of an infant in the infant apparatus, b. inputting a set temperature desired for the infant, c. generating an error signal indicative of the difference between the input set temperature and the skin temperature of an infant to obtain a patient temperature gradient (PTG), d. providing a source of a first pouncer level to the radiant heater, and e. making an incremental adjustment to the first power level to the radiant heater to provide a second power level to the radiant heater by adding or subtracting to the first power level an incremental level of power that is determined by the magnitude and sign of the PTG. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
−
0.3 to −
0.15 C.;
subtract 5% from the last heater power−
0.15 to 0.05 C.;
use last heater power.05 to 0.15 C.;
add 1% to the last heater power0.15 to 0.25 C.;
Add 5% to the last heater power0.25 to 0.35 C.;
add 10% to the last heater power0.35-0.50 C.;
add 15% to the last heater power.
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Specification