Infant support thermal control system and method

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 prior to the infant support assuming the incubator 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 a blower to provide a slight air flow prior to the infant support assuming the incubator configuration and to provide an increased air flow upon the infant support assuming the incubator configuration.

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 prior to the infant support duct work assuming the closed 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 slight air flow prior to the infant support assuming the closed configuration.

A method of control ling t he 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 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.