Infant support thermal control system and method
First Claim
1. An incubator/warmer comprising:
- an infant support, a canopy to provide an enclosure about the infant support and an infant residing on the support when the incubator/warmer is in an incubator configuration, the canopy being retractable to place incubator/warmer in a warmer configuration, a convective heater system comprising an air heater, a blower and passageways through which air is circulated by the blower to provide heated air to the enclosure, a radiant warmer positioned to warm the infant on the support when the canopy is retracted and the incubator/warmer is in the warmer configuration, and a control system configured to rapidly bring air in the enclosure to a target temperature when the incubator/warmer transitions from the warmer configuration to the incubator configuration, the control system comprising;
a priming stage algorithm that maintains air in the passageways of the convective heater system at a priming temperature by controlling power to the air heater and speed of the blower to operate the air heater and the blower while the incubator/warmer is in the warmer configuration; and
an infusion stage algorithm that controls the blower to drive air from the passageways into the enclosure to rapidly warm the enclosure after transition of the incubator/warmer to the incubator configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system and a method for controlling an infant support configurable in a closed configuration in which a canopy contributes to formation of an enclosure about an infant support surface, and an open configuration is disclosed. The controlled infant support includes an air heater, a blower, and duct work communicating with the air heater, blower and enclosure. To facilitate bringing the air temperature within the enclosure quickly to a desired temperature whereby the temperature of an infant in the enclosure is controlled, power is supplied to air heater when infant support is in the open configuration to generate a heat reservoir. Upon the infant support assuming the closed configuration the controller controls power to the blower to increase air flow and infuse heat from the heat reservoir into the enclosure.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. An incubator/warmer comprising:
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an infant support, a canopy to provide an enclosure about the infant support and an infant residing on the support when the incubator/warmer is in an incubator configuration, the canopy being retractable to place incubator/warmer in a warmer configuration, a convective heater system comprising an air heater, a blower and passageways through which air is circulated by the blower to provide heated air to the enclosure, a radiant warmer positioned to warm the infant on the support when the canopy is retracted and the incubator/warmer is in the warmer configuration, and a control system configured to rapidly bring air in the enclosure to a target temperature when the incubator/warmer transitions from the warmer configuration to the incubator configuration, the control system comprising;
a priming stage algorithm that maintains air in the passageways of the convective heater system at a priming temperature by controlling power to the air heater and speed of the blower to operate the air heater and the blower while the incubator/warmer is in the warmer configuration; and
an infusion stage algorithm that controls the blower to drive air from the passageways into the enclosure to rapidly warm the enclosure after transition of the incubator/warmer to the incubator configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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- 14. A control system for an infant support of the type capable of assuming and transiting between an incubator configuration wherein an enclosure is defined around an infant support surface and a warmer configuration, the infant support having a radiant heater supplied with power in the warmer configuration, a convective heater, a blower and duct work communicating with the enclosure, convective heater and blower, the control system comprising a convective heater controller controlling the power to the convective heater while the infant support is in the warmer configuration so as to prewarm portions of the duct work past which air to be infused into the enclosure will pass, and a blower controller controlling the power to the blower to provide a reduced air flow while the support is in the warmer configuration and to provide an increased air flow while the infant support is in the incubator configuration.
- 31. A control system for an infant support of the type capable of assuming and transiting between a closed configuration wherein an enclosure is defined around an infant support surface and an open configuration, the infant support having a convective heater, a blower and duct work communicating with the enclosure, convective heater and blower, the control system comprising a convective heater controller controlling the power to the convective heater while the infant support is in the open configuration so as to prewarm portions of the duct work past which air to be infused into the enclosure will pass, and a blower controller controlling the power to the blower to provide a reduced air flow while the infant support is in the open configuration.
- 43. A method of controlling the temperature of an infant in an incubator/warmer of the type having an open configuration for operating as an infant warmer, a closed configuration forming an enclosure for operating as an incubator, a housing supporting an infant support, an air temperature sensor positioned to be within the enclosure when the incubator/warmer is in the closed configuration, a radiant heater, and an air heating system including an air heater, a blower and duct work located in the housing below the infant support, said duct work being in fluid communication with the enclosure, the method comprising the steps of operating the air heater and the blower while the incubator/warmer is in the open configuration to generate a heat reservoir and infusing the heat from the generated heat reservoir into the enclosure upon incubator/warmer attaining the closed configuration.
Specification