The Boc Group, Inc.

Ohmeda Inc.

Chmeda Inc.

Robert J Koch

David A Gloyd

Emigdio A Uribe

Harry E Belsinger, Jr

Christopher A Dykes

Anthony D Buttitta

Michael H Mackin

A heated humidifier for an infant incubator wherein the water in the water reservoir is heated by an active heater located above the surface of the water and a heat exchanger that transfers heat from the active heater and which extends downwardly to a point beneath the water surface to heat the water. In the preferred embodiment, the heat exchanger is an extruded member in the shape of an I-beam to transfer the heat from an electric heater above the surface of the water to heat the volume of water in the reservoir to create water vapor.

Heated humidifier for incubator

An in bed infant scale for use with an infant care center and which may be slid underneath the infant platform of the infant care center while the infant is positioned within the center and which causes little disruption to the infant. The infant scale is thus movable from infant care center to infant care center conveniently. The infant scale is easily slid into the infant care center and raises the infant platform on which the infant is positioned such that the infant platform is raised off of its position on its supporting frame and becomes fully supported on the infant scale. Thus the infant scale can weigh the infant platform and the infant resting on that infant platform.

In bed infant scale

An infant incubator is disclosed having a hood that encloses the infant compartment. In the base of the incubator is the heating air and ducting means and which provides heated through an ever open outlet in the base and which heated air passes from the base through a flow path formed by the hood that circulates around the infant and re-enters the base through an inlet. That heated air is thus introduced into or along the access door in the front of the hood from the outlet and travels through or along the access door and through or along the hood around the infant and is returned to the base for recirculation. The hood itself is pivotally attached to the base at the rear of the incubator so that it can be opened from the front for complete access to the infant. The access door in the front of the hood is pivotally attached to the incubator base and can also be opened for access to the infant. When the access door is in its closed position, it forms part of the air path for the heated air. The heated air from the access door continues to pass along the flow path formed by the hood. When the access door is opened, it pivots out of the way of the air flow from the ever open outlet in the base and the flow of heated air continues over the area normally occupied by the access door when in its closed position forming an air curtain to protect the environment of the infant compartment. The flow of air thereafter enters the flow path formed by the hood in the same manner as the path of the air flow when the access door is closed and eventually re-enters the base through the inlet.

Infant incubator with air curtain

A heater traverse mechanism used with an infant care center is disclosed. The traverse mechanism allows the heater that is focused on or about the infant positioned on the infant care center to be moved aside for better access to the infant, yet, as the heater is moved, the traverse mechanism automatically adjusts the heater such that its focus remains on the infant so that even at various points along a locus, the footprint of heat on or about the infant remains relatively constant.

Heater traverse mechanism for infant care center

A handhole for use on an incubator is disclosed and which comprises only two main components, an injection molded frame attachable to the incubator by hand tightened screws and an injection molded door that is hingedly attached to the frame to pivot between open and closed positions. A bump or projection is formed on the side of the door or flange between the door and frame such that when the door is in its closed position, the bump is caught between the frame and door to cause bending of the door. By location and size of the bump, the amount of bending can be determined such that, when unlatched, the door will spring open a predetermined amount. Thus, the door's flexibility causes initial opening thereof without the need for springs or other accessories. As an added feature, the injected molded frame may include a flange for attaching a conventional wristlet thereto.

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Ellicott City, MD, United States of America

Robert J Koch