US 2026/0137573 A1Published application

Heat engine assembly and air ducting system for incubator

AssigneeGE Precision Healthcare LLC

InventorsRodney H. Nicoson, Helge B. Klockow, Steven M. Falk

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Abstract

Described herein are systems and methods for operating and cleaning an incubator heating system. A heat engine assembly and an air ducting system of the incubator heating system are removably coupled to a base at a first end. The air ducting system comprises a first side duct, a second side duct, and a central duct, each having a vent opening. The heat engine assembly comprises an air mover positioned between a first heater and a second heater. The air mover is configured to pull air into the central duct, direct air from the central duct past each of the first heater and the second heater to heat the air, and direct heated air through and out of each of the first side duct and the second side duct.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An incubator heating system, comprising:

a base comprising a fresh air inlet;
an air ducting system that extends along a base length of the base, wherein the air ducting system comprises a first side duct, a second side duct, and a central duct, and each duct of the air ducting system comprises a vent opening;
and
a heat engine assembly removably coupled to the base at a first end, opposite a second end of the base at which the fresh air inlet is positioned, where the heat engine assembly comprises a fan positioned between a first heater and a second heater along a first axis that is perpendicular to the base length, and wherein the fan is configured to pull air into the central duct via the fresh air inlet and the vent opening of the central duct, direct air from the central duct past each of the first heater and the second heater to heat the air, and direct heated air through the first side duct and the second side duct and out of each of the vent opening of the first side duct and the second side duct.

1 more element

An incubator, comprising:

an infant enclosure defining an infant compartment;
an incubator heating system pneumatically coupled with the infant compartment, where the incubator heating system comprises:
a heat engine assembly positioned in a base of the infant enclosure at a first end of the infant enclosure, where the heat engine assembly comprises a heat element configured to heat air, and an air mover configured to facilitate transfer of heat through air to selectively transfer heat to the infant compartment;
an air ducting system comprising:
a fresh air inlet positioned at a second end of the infant enclosure;
a central duct being in fluid communication among the fresh air inlet, the infant compartment, and the heat engine assembly via an inlet, an outlet, and a vent opening of the central duct;
and
a first side duct and a second side duct each being in fluid communication between the heat engine assembly and the infant compartment via a vent opening of each of the first side duct and the second side duct;
and
a controller operatively coupled to the incubator heating system, wherein the controller is configured to control a temperature of the heat element and a speed and direction of the air mover in response to changes in an air temperature of the infant compartment.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.