1. Temperature Monitor and Control for Infant Incubators
Team Members: Kristin Donato and Qingwen Kawaji

2. Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
Who Needs Incubators?
Temperature regulation is one of the most important factors affecting survival in newborn infants.
Premature infants are at an even greater disadvantage because of the larger skin surface area to body mass ratio, decreased subcutaneous fat, and low supplies of brown fat. Also, the normal surge in metabolic rate that occurs after birth is reduced in preterm infants, resulting in limited heat production.
[Antonucci, R., et al. The infant incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit: unresolved issues and future developments. Journal of Perinatal Medicine. 37(6): ]
In developing countries, neonatal complications including prematurity and low-birth weight are common, and thus the use of infant incubators may considerably contribute to reducing infant morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, the limited access to modern, high-tech incubators along with the lack of infrastructure and replacement parts render such devices worthless in these regions.

3. Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
Why Incubators?
Infants typically lose heat to their environment in four different ways: through conduction, convection, radiation, and evaporation.
Premature brain cannot provide adequate temperature regulation.
[Dr. Van Hemel. HEBI-incubator.org]
Studies have shown that creating an environment of ideal temperature for infants increases the survival rate.
[Day, Richard L., et al. Body Temperature and Survival of Premature Infants. Pediatrics 34.2 (1964): ]
One of the very first incubators, invented by Stéphane Tarnier in the late 19th century, reportedly reduced mortality among infants with birth weights between 1200 and 2000 g from 66% to 38%.
[Auvard, A. De La Couveuse Pour Enfants. Archives de Tocologie des Maladies des Femmes et des Enfants Nouveau-nés. 10: , October 1883.]

4. Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
Giraffe Incubator
Most recent product of GE Health Care
Advantages:
Precise temperature control
Minimizes external stress such as light, sound and touch.
Built in scale
X-ray can be taken from the canopy
Built in rotating mattress & for pressure point release (Patented Baby Susan)
Humidifier tested to avoid the spread of pseudomonas aeruginosa. (common pathogen linked to use of ambient relative humidity)
Disadvantages:
Needs professional personnel: Need to take a class provided by GE in order to be qualified to use the incubator. (cost: $3185)
Very expensive: $30,000-40,000
Vendor’s Site:

5. Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
“Car Part” Incubator
Advantages:
Made from readily available parts
Moderately cheap ($1,000)
Glass is more “baby safe”
Disadvantages
Difficult to assemble
New design with no study on infection rates
No sleeves for contact with the infant
No fine temperature control
Center for Integration of Medicine & Innovative Technology (CIMIT) Global Health Initiative and Design that Matters project from 2008
Vendor’s Site:

6. “Car Part” Incubator Made from: How it works:
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
“Car Part” Incubator
Made from:
Exterior metal and windows
Heater and fan system
Battery
Lights and alarm system
How it works:
Automotive parts are capable of being repurposed to produce heat, light, air convection, a power reservoir, as well as auditory and visual alarms.
Vendor’s Site:

7. HEBI (Hemel Baby Incubator)
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
HEBI (Hemel Baby Incubator)
Advantages:
Relatively Cheap (about $600 USD)
Reliable (oldest incubators are still operational w/o any serious maintenance)
Includes hygrometer for humidity control
Excellent infection control
Sleeves for unlimited contact
Assembly takes only about an hour for an untrained person
Disadvantages:
Does not have a motor
No fine temperature control
Consumes 150 Watt/hr
Must be shipped by plane from the Amsterdam airport
First built in Uganda in About 25 new incubators are supplied each year, and the basic model comes as a construction kit. They are manufactured with aid from many sponsors.
Vendor’s Site:

8. HEBI (Hemel Baby Incubator)
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
HEBI (Hemel Baby Incubator)
Made from:
Light bulbs
Container to hold water (for humidity)
Thermostat
Perspex and Wood
How it works:
Light bulbs heat air in the bottom part of the incubator. The air passes over a container with evaporating water, so that its humidity increases. The warm, humid air then flows upwards (chimney effect) into the baby compartment. A thermostat in an exit hole compares the air temperature with the desired temperature. If it is too high, the light bulbs will be switched off; if it is too low, the bulbs will be switched on. The baby can be viewed through Perspex and it can be handled via two armholes with sleeves. The Perspex front and top can be hinged back for full access.
Vendor’s Site:

9. Kangaroo Mother Care Started in Bogota, Columbia. Advantages:
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
Kangaroo Mother Care
Started in Bogota, Columbia.
Advantages:
Allows interact with mother.
Allow early and exclusive breastfeeding
Psychological and mental support between mother and baby.
Babies stabilize faster on skin to skin care
Easy to assemble
Free
Disadvantages:
Increase risk of infectious disease due to mother infant contact.
Cumbersome for the mother
Cannot get a full naked view of the baby
Site:

10. Comparison of Incubators
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
Comparison of Incubators
Specifications
Giraffe
Car Part Incubator
HEBI
Kangaroo
Our Project
Cheap X
Preventing infections
TBD
Easy to use
Infant visibility
Accuracy of temperature control
Low maintenance

11. Incubator Basics What does it do: How does is work:
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
Incubator Basics
What does it do:
Keep an infant’s core temperature stable at 37˚C
Additional features:
Humidify
Increase oxygen supply
Provide a sterile environment
How does is work:
The mattress is usually enclosed by a clear plastic canopy
Temperature in the incubator is increased by a heater element below the mattress
Motor driven fan draws in fresh air through a filter and blows it past the heater, warming the air.
Air is directed up through slots in to the area above the mattress and circulated around.
Air temperature is monitored by temperature sensor and adjusted by controlling the current to the heater.
Humidity is increased by water baths (passive) or dripping water on a heated element (active).
The baby is cared for through special access doors called arm ports.
Flinders University School of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering.

12. Design Specifications for Consideration
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
Design Specifications for Consideration
Low-cost
Low power consumption
Well-insulated
Sterile
Humid
Allows for infant visibility
Allows for infant accessibility
Easy monitoring and control of temperature
Easy to build and use
Accessibility of materials in third world countries

13. Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
Project Goal
Design an incubator with the given specifications using previous case studies of incubators, the EWH temperature control alarm legacy project, and current research as examples.
Depending on time, research and modify this to make it more cost and energy efficient.
If completed, work to deploy the incubator to needed areas for use.
Top that will open for easy access
Main compartment for infant with front and top panels of sterile, insulating film
24”
Humidifying Compartment with Circulator Fans
24” 6”
36”

14. Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
Material
Details
Unit Price
Plywood
(0.5“ or thicker)
1- 36”x30” panel (back)
2- 30”x18” panels (sides)
”x18” panel (main comp. bottom)
1-36”x6” panel (front bottom)
1- 36” x 18” panel (humidity comp. bottom)
FREE! (< $30)
Support Wood
(1.5” x 1.5” in width)
2-36” length (front and back top- for access frame)
4- 15” length (top sides for access frame and main frame)
2-35” length (front and back top- for main frame)
1-31.5” length (front bottom- for main frame)
4-22.5” length (up-and-down corner supports for main frame)
2-5.5” length (front bottom for humidifying compartment)
$ (Home Depot)
Hinges (2 sets)
For access frame
$ (Home Depot)
ULINE Polyethylene Window Insulator
In place of plexiglass ” thickness, clear polysheeting ” thickness used to further insulate walls.
FREE! (< $10)
Power Supply
12 V/ 16.7 A
$100
Heater
Car Heater – 12 V, 150 W $9
PC Fans (2)
12 V/ 0.13A
FREE!
Temperature Control System
MX052 digital temperature controller
$39.99
Water Pan to Maintain Humidity
Baking pan from any local store
< $2
Electrical Supplies (wire, electrical tape, etc)
Available in Clark 223
< $5
Misc (screws, double-sided tape, etc)
Available in Clark 223 or readily available from personal supply
Total
< $215

15. Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
Results of the Project
An working infant incubator made of common or readily available parts
Less than $215
Very easy to construct
Easy to use

16. Future Improvements (for commercial incubators)
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
Future Improvements (for commercial incubators)
Factor
Unresolved Issues
Possible Solutions
Temperature control
Heat loss from the newborn
Eddies around the newborn
To develop advanced temperature control systems
To use double-walled incubators
Appropriate air temperature (22–26˚C) in the NICU
To develop advanced air circulation systems
Noise environment
High noise levels inside the incubator (external and internal sources)
To attenuate environmental sound
(acoustical foam, sound absorbing panels)
To reduce the noise generated within the incubator (motor)
To reduce human-related sources (NICU staff) of noise
Light environment
Continuous lighting and bright light (NICU environment)
To promote circadian lighting
To reduce the amount of light within the incubator (covers)
Electromagnetic Fields
Relevant EMF levels within the incubator
To redesign the position of various incubator components
To implement ferromagnetic panels
To increase the distance between incubator and electronic equipment
[Antonucci, R., et al. The infant incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit: unresolved issues and future developments. Journal of Perinatal Medicine. 37(6): ]

17. Future Improvements (for our incubator)
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
Future Improvements (for our incubator)
low internal noise level (below the 60 dBA limit during normal operation)
attenuation of environmental noise and noisy incubator reverberating effects
low level of EMFs at extremely low frequencies within the incubator baby compartment
oxygen connector which allows delivering supplemental oxygen to the baby, if necessary