Portable neonatal intensive care unit
OwnerMarc R Nadeauinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a portable, self-contained, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) providing heating (or cooling) for the patient by controlled exchange of thermal energy between a transparent enclosure that houses the infant and an internal reservoir. The invention has no requirement for electrical power. The internal reservoir utilizes water that is heated (or cooled) by an external source. The micro-environment inside the transparent enclosure for the infant and the water inside the internal reservoir are thermally and acoustically isolated in order to minimize heat and sound exchange with the ambient environment.
Claims17
A neonatal intensive care unit apparatus, comprising in combination:
- a support structure having a top platform and a bottom platform;
- conduits for fluid flow;
- a pump connected to the conduits and affixed to the support structure;
- a reservoir containing fluid;
- a heat exchanger support mounted to the bottom panel of the support structure;
- a heat exchanger positioned on the heat exchanger support, and the heat exchanger being operatively connected to the pump;
- a mattress mounted on the top platform of the support structure, whereby the mattress is in fluid connection with the heat exchanger;
- and
- a transparent enclosure having a top wall, side walls, a back wall and front doors defining a chamber therein, mounted on the support structure and enclosing the mattress, and further whereby the side walls and the back wall each are comprised of an inner panel and an outer panel, the panels having a uniform distance therebetween.
A transparent enclosure for use in a neonatal intensive care unit apparatus, comprising in combination:
- a covering comprising an inner panel having a top portion, side portions, a back portion, and a front portion, and an outer panel having a top portion, side portions, a back portion, and a front portion, whereby the inner panel and the outer panel are spaced at a uniform distance;
- a seal connecting the inner panel of the top covering and the outer panel of the top covering at bottom peripheral edges;
- and
- at least one panel spacer having a top edge, a bottom edge substantially opposed the top edge, and a pair of parallel side edges between the top edge and the bottom edge, mounted between the inner panel and the outer panel of the top covering.
A neonatal intensive care unit apparatus, comprising in combination:
- a support structure having a top platform and a bottom platform;
- conduits for fluid flow;
- a pump connected to the conduits and affixed to the support structure;
- a reservoir containing fluid;
- a heat exchanger support mounted to th bottom panel of the support structure;
- a heat exchanger positioned on the heat exchanger support, and the heat exchanger being operatively connected to the pump;
- a mattress retainer affixed to the top platform of the support structure;
- a mattress mounted on the mattress retainer, whereby the mattress is in fluid connection with the heat exchanger;
- a transparent enclosure having a top wall, side walls, a back wall front doors defining a chamber therein, mounted on the support structure and enclosing the mattress, and further whereby the side walls and the back wall each are comprised of an inner panel and an outer panel, the panels having a uniform distance therebetween;
- and
- at least on panel spacer having a top edge, a bottom edge substantially opposed the top edge, and a pair of parallel side edges between the top edge and the bottom edge, mounted between the inner panel and the outer panel of the enclosure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.