Disposable cover for use in an incubator for premature infants

• US 8,188,332 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Essity Hygiene and Health Aktiebolag
• Original Assignee: SCA Hygiene Products AB
• Inventors: Fernfors, Ingemar, Doverbo, Anna-Gerd
• Primary Examiner(s): Hand, Melanie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Craig, Paula
• Application Number:
  US12/447,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20110152641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,985 Days
• Field of Search: 604/356, 604/358, 604/361, 531/312, 600/309, 600/362
• US Class Current: 604/358
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/48 Devices for preventing wetting or pollution of the bed
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 11/00 Baby-incubators; Couveuses

Abstract

The invention refers to a disposable cover for use in an incubator for premature infants comprising a moisture-pervious surface layer and a preferably moisture-impervious back sheet, wherein the total weight of the cover before use is communicated to the caregiver by indication on said cover, a label accompanying said cover or on the package for said cover. The cover may further be provided with a wetness indicator.

Claims

1. A packaged disposable cover for an incubator for premature infants, the packaged disposable cover comprising a package and at least one disposable cover, the package enclosing the disposable cover prior to use, the disposable cover being dimensioned and configured for use in an incubator for premature infants, the disposable cover comprising a moisture-pervious surface layer intended to face the premature infant during use and a back sheet, wherein the total weight of said disposable cover before use is communicated to a caregiver by indication on said cover, wherein said disposable cover has a width of 5-40 cm and a length of 10-60 cm;

said disposable cover has a defined weight within a tolerance of ±

1 g;

the total weight of said disposable cover is printed, marked, or embossed onto said cover; and

the total weight is the actual weight of the individual disposable cover.

2. The disposable cover according to claim 1, wherein the total weight of said disposable cover before use is printed onto said cover.

3. The disposable cover according to claim 1, wherein the total weight of said disposable cover before use is embossed onto said cover.

4. The disposable cover according to claim 1, wherein the disposable cover comprises a wetness indicator.

5. The disposable cover according to claim 4, wherein said wetness indicator comprises a colorant changing colour upon wetting.

6. The disposable cover according to claim 5, wherein said colorant is a pH-indicator.

7. The disposable cover according to claim 1, wherein the disposable cover comprises a sensor indicating the presence of proteins in the urine, blood in the urine or unwanted bacteria in the urine.

8. The disposable cover according to claim 1, wherein said cover is a laminate of the moisture pervious surface layer and the back sheet, wherein the moisture-pervious surface layer is an apertured plastic film or a nonwoven material and the back sheet is moisture-impervious.

9. The disposable cover according to claim 1, wherein said cover is a laminate comprising the moisture pervious surface layer and the back sheet, wherein the moisture-pervious surface layer is of synthetic fibers or an apertured plastic film and the back sheet is moisture-impervious.

10. The disposable cover according to claim 1, wherein said disposable cover has a defined weight within a tolerance of ±

0.5 g.

11. The disposable cover according to claim 1, wherein said disposable cover has a length of 12-50 cm and a width of 6-30 cm.

12. The disposable cover according to claim 1, wherein said disposable cover has a length of 15-45 cm and a width of 7-25 cm.

13. The disposable cover according to claim 1, wherein the disposable cover comprises a sensor indicating the presence of albumin, in the urine.

14. The disposable cover according to claim 1, wherein the disposable cover comprises a sensor indicating the presence of blood in the urine.

15. A method of monitoring basal functions of a premature infant, comprising:

individually weighing a disposable cover before use for an incubator, the disposable cover comprising a moisture-pervious surface layer intended to face the premature infant during use and a back sheet;

indicating the individual before use weight of each said disposable cover on said cover, a label accompanying said cover or on a package for said cover;

placing the disposable cover in the incubator with the premature infant; and

weighing the disposable cover after use.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the disposable cover includes a wetness indicator and the disposable cover is weighed after the wetness indicator indicates that the disposable cover has become wet.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the disposable cover is individually weighed by a manufacturer and wrapped in a moisture impervious package prior to use.

18. A method of monitoring basal functions of a premature infant, comprising:

determining the weight of a disposable cover before use for an incubator, the disposable cover comprising a moisture-pervious surface layer intended to face the premature infant during use and a back sheet;

indicating the individual before use weight of each said disposable cover on said cover, a label accompanying said cover or on a package for said cover;

placing the disposable cover in the incubator with the premature infant; and

weighing the disposable cover after use.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the disposable cover includes a wetness indicator and the disposable cover is weighed after the wetness indicator indicates that the disposable cover has become wet.

20. The disposable cover according to claim 18, wherein the determined weight is the actual weight of the disposable cover.