Fail safe device for infant-support apparatus

#The present invention relates to infant-support apparatus or incubators which have air circulation systems provided with air warmers, and, more particularly, to the provision of such a system with a fail safe device for the air warmer.

#It is well known in the infant care industry to provide incubators with air circulation systems for controlling the environment within which an infant resides. Such an infant-support apparatus is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,694 to Goldberg, et al., the disclosure of which is herein expressly incorporated by reference. Typically, the environment is established by a canopy structure placed over a platform upon which the infant rests. Air is drawn into the environment by the air system and, typically, it is heated and moistened to provide a desired and controlled environment. To reduce the CO2 level in the environment, a certain amount of the air is removed from the enclosure and air is drawn in from the room in which the infant resides. The control of the temperature of the air is very important and, in some cases, critical to the well being of the infant. Typically, the air is heated to the desired level by a heat exchanger of the type shown, for example, in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,006 to Skulic, (“the Skulic '006 patent”) issued Jan. 13, 1998, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. The Skulic '006 patent shows a heat radiator for heating the air circulating through an incubator. The radiator has a plurality of radially extending fins carried or mounted on a heater cartridge. The heater of the present invention, however, provides an improvement over the heater disclosed in the Skulic '006 patent. The improvement is a fail safe device for such a heater.

#In accordance with the present invention, the air warmer or air heater comprises a heater element, a plurality of air-contacting fins associated with the heater element, and a sensing element in contact with at least a portion of the fins. The sensing element is separate from the heater element. In embodiments of the present invention, the heater element is an elongated element or heating cartridge with a proximal end and a distal end. The plurality of fins are spaced apart along the heater element. The sensing element extends longitudinally alongside and separated from the heater element to contact the fins.

#The illustrative device will be described hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings which are given as non-limiting examples only, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heating cartridge configured for an infant-support apparatus;

#FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a fail safe assembly including the heating cartridge from FIG. 1;

#Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates an embodiment of the apparatus and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of this disclosure in any manner.

#The present disclosure contemplates that an infant-support like an incubator or warmer will include a control system that will react to a variety of sensors to control a heater assembly 2 that is designed to warm an infant. (See FIG. 1.) One of such sensors will be a fail safe sensor described in detail herein, i.e., a sensor which detects the temperature of heat transfer members which contact and heat the air that warms the infant. In the following disclosure, reference is made to a primary temperature sensor which is associated with the heater assembly. Though the illustrative embodiment shows one temperature sensor which provides control for the heater cartridge, it is contemplated that several such temperature sensors may be used.

#Referring specifically to the drawings, heater assembly 2 of fail safe device 6 provides a mounting plate 10 and a heater cartridge 14 extending through the center of the mounting plate 10, as shown in FIG. 1. (See also FIG. 2.) Heater cartridge 14 includes a thermocouple 15 that monitors the temperature of heater cartridge 14. A gasket 12 having a hole 13 disposed therethrough, as shown in FIG. 2, is placed adjacent mounting plate 10, and is positioned between mounting plate 10 and base plate 30 within chamber 46 of platform tub 44, as discussed further herein below. Extending adjacent, but spaced apart from, heater cartridge 14 is a heat sensor pipe or rod 16 which is illustratively formed from aluminum to serve as a sensor or sensing element. A thermostat 18 is mounted at the base (proximal end) of the sensing element 16. Thermostat 18 is connected to appropriate wiring so as to control energization of heater cartridge 14. An electrical connector 20 which receives wires from heater cartridge 14 and thermostat 18 is provided, as also shown in FIG. 2.