FR2473305A1 - INCUBATOR HAVING A HOT AIR CURTAIN AT THE OPENING LEVEL - Google Patents

Abstract

A newborn incubator which comprises a base structure 10 having a newborn support 12 and three air flow passageways, the first two of which are located at opposite ends of the newborn support and the third 18 is on the front side of this support; a cover forming an enclosure, the front wall of which has an access door 22; a source of conditioned air located inside the base structure 10 below the support 12; means allowing the conditioned air to circulate in the incubator by preventing the passages forming air flow paths and members reacting to movements of the access door so as to close the third passage forming the path air flow 18 when the door is closed and to open this third passage when the door is open. (CF DRAWING IN BOPI)

Description

Incubator with a curtain of warm air at

the access opening.

  The present invention relates generally to

  incubators and, in particular, a neonatal incubator which is arranged to reduce the effect of opening an access door within the enclosure of the incubator while 'it's about putting

  a newborn baby free from outside influences.

  A newborn incubator is a medical device

  cal which provides a conditioned environment for a newborn baby

  matured or otherwise be of delicate health or

  sickly. The incubator protects the newborn from

  outside atmosphere which could be a source of infection

  or be unable to help the newborn to overcome his or her difficulties.

  Many newborn incubators are equipped with

  ways to access the newborn to help

  der and to look after the newborn during his stay in

  the incubator. Typically, such means can include

  armholes or access openings provided in one or more sidewalls of the enclosure enclosure of the incubator and through which those who treat

  the newborn can slide their hands and arms to

  dye the newborn. In some cases, when it comes to treating a newborn who is more or less seriously ill,

  it is desirable to provide for more

  only to the use of an armhole-style access opening. This can be done by providing an access door in the enclosure cap. Normally the opening of an access door will not produce significant physiological effects on the newborn if the door remains open for a period of time.

  relatively short time. However, in the case of certain

  some interventions requiring longer durations

  access to the newborn, the environment within the

  You may be affected by the length of time the access door is kept open.

  Accordingly, the present invention creates an incu-

  unpublished and advanced bateur which is equipped with means to reduce the effect produced by the opening of a door

  access inside the enclosure of the incubator.

  It is furthermore according to the present invention to create an incubator whose means for reducing the effect produced by the opening of an access door inside the enclosure are of a simple construction and increase

  relatively little of the total cost of the incubator.

  An incubator constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a basic structure comprising a newborn support and three passageways

  air flow to allow air to flow through

  be the space below the newborn support and the space above the newborn support. The first two passages forming air flow paths are

  find at opposite ends of the support for new-

  born and the third passageway forming airflow path

  is on the front side of the newborn support. Linen-

  cubicator also includes a speaker-forming cap

  placed on the basic structure and able to enclose a new

  calf-born resting on the support. The front wall of the enclosure cap is provided with an access door which can be brought alternately into a closed position and an open position. In addition, the incubator includes a source of conditioned air located within the base structure and below the newborn support.

  as well as means enabling the conditioned air to circulate

  from below the newborn support in the

  surrounded by one of the first two

  man airflow channels and through the third pass

  forming an air flow path and returning to the

  pace below the newborn support by the way

  through the other of the first two pathways

  air flow. The incubator also includes

  responding to movements of the access door

  to seal the third

  mantle airflow path when the door is in the closed position and to discover the third passage forming

  air flow path when the door is in the

open.

  The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1a and 1b are front and side views respectively of a preferred embodiment

  an incubator built in accordance with this

  vention, the access door being closed; Figures 2a and 2b are respectively front and side views similar to Figures la and lb, the access door being open; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1b;

  FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of an incu-

  constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

  Figure 5 represents on a larger scale a

of Figure 4.

  Reference is made to US Pat. No. 3,357,133.

  for the description of different elements that are part of

  an incubator and the details of which are not the subject of

the present invention.

  As shown in Figures 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b, a

  incubator according to the present invention comprises a structure

  base 10 comprising a support 12 for neonates and three passages foriiant air flow paths for

  allow air to flow between the space

  under the newborn support and the space

  above the newborn support. The basic structure contains different devices that create the desired medium

  inside the incubator. The support 12 for new-

  born can include a mattress support and a mattress on which a newborn can rest. For more details about a newborn support that can be used

  and how this support can be mounted on the structure

  basic information, please refer to the US patent

No. 3,335,713.

  Airflow pathways can

  to include apertures 14 and 16 located respectively

  at the ends on the head and foot ends of the structure

  base 10 and the newborn support 12 and a

  third opening 18 located on the front side of the structure

  base and newborn support, the latter

  opening being represented most clearly on the

  Figure 2b. The openings 14, 16 and 18 are narrow and elongated openings which extend around three sides of the support 12 for novelty. The openings 14, 16 and 18 communicate the spaces above and below

  of support 12 for newborn freely between them, allow-

  so a flow of air between these spaces. The breed

  US Patent No. 3,335,713 provides additional details.

  concerning openings 14 and 16, while the opening

  Ture 18 will be studied in more detail later.

  The incubator according to the present invention also comprises an enclosure cap 20 placed on the

  basic structure 10 and able to lock up a newborn baby

  posing on the support. As shown, the enclosure cap 20 has a rectangular section. the anterior wall portion of the cap 20 has a door

  22 can be brought alternately in a po-

  closed edition illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 1b and a

  open position illustrated in Figures 2a and 2b. In the meantime

  currence, the access door 22 is mounted so as to

  see tilt around a horizontal axis. the door swings down when opened and upwards when closed. The cap 20 can be mounted on the structure

  base 10 so that the cap can be

  seems to be raised by tilting around an axis of

  along the upper part of the rear wall of the base structure. For details

  additional information concerning the cap and the fitting of that

  please refer to US patent nO

3,335,713.

  An incubator constructed in accordance with the present invention also includes a source of conditioned air located within the base structure 10 and

  under the support 12 for newborn. In the American patent

  No. 3,335,713 is shown a device which can be

  used to create the desired medium inside the

  cubateur. In short, this device includes an air inlet,

  filters, heating equipment, a means of

  oxygen, a humidifier and other means of producing conditioned air with the temperature,

  correct oxygen content and humidity.

  The incubator shown in Figures 1a, 1b, 2a and

  2b further comprises means allowing the conditioned air to

  to travel from the space below

  support 12 for newborn in the enclosure 20 and back-

  in the space below the support for new-

  born through openings 14 and 16. Such means may include, as shown in US Patent

  No. 3,335,713, appropriate equipment such as ventilators,

  ducts, ducts, etc. by means of which air conditioning

  Born is pushed upwards in the enclosure 20 through the opening 14 and sucked down into the base structure 10 through the opening 16, as shown by arrows 21 in Figures la and 2a. In addition,

  the air conditioning is directed towards the opening 18, as

shown in Figure 2b.

  In addition, an incubator constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises. organs reacting to

  movements of the access door 22 so as to close

  the opening 18 when the door is in the closed position shown in Figures la and lb and so as to discover the opening 18 when the door is in

  the open position shown in Figures 2a and 2b.

  Figures 3, 4 and 5 show in detail how the air conditioning is brought to the opening 18 and the organs

  who are responsible for closing this opening in an

  24733a5 and discover it. Air conditioning is forced through a number of slots 23 in a platform 24 to enter a chamber 26 below the newborn support 12. The flow of air through the opening 18 is controlled by an organ

  which, presented in the form of an elongated ribbon 28, is de-

  placable so as to selectively discover and close the

  18, and by a connecting mechanism associated on the one hand with the ribbon 28 and on the other hand with the access door 22. In fact, the elongated ribbon 28, whose shape and dimensions are approximately equal to those of the opening 18,

  extends along the front side of the support 12 for new-

  born and is mounted so as to rock along

  one of its longitudinal edges at a longitudinal edge

  As long as the ribbon 28 occupies the position shown in FIG. 4 and shown in full lines in FIG. 5, the opening 18 at the outlet of the chamber 26 is closed in a sealed manner and the conditioned air in the chamber 26 is prevented from passing through the opening 18. When the ribbon 28 passes to the position shown in phantom in Figure 5, the opening 18 is found and the air conditioning

  passes from the chamber 26 through the opening 18, as

  shown by arrows 30 in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 5.

  At the same time, conditioned air continues to flow between the base structure and the enclosure through

  the openings 14 and 16, as shown in Figure 2a.

  The position of the ribbon 28 is controlled by a mechanism

  which, associated on the one hand with the ribbon and secondly on the access door 22, is actuated by the latter. In

  effect, when the access door 22 occupies the closed position

  a cantilevered arm 32 of a hinge 34, on the

  which bracket 22 is fixed, relies on a strong element

  spring 36 so as to push this element downwards in order to maintain it in the position shown in FIG.

  Figure 4 and illustrated in solid lines in Figure 5.

  The spring element 36 is secured by its other end.

  placed on the lower side 38 of the newborn support. The éIé-

  The spring member 36 carries a hook 40 which engages with a hook 42 provided on the ribbon 28. As long as the spring member 36 is held in the position shown in Fig. 4, the ribbon 28 is able to close the opening 18 in a sealed manner. When opening the access door 22 and the hinge 34 passes in the position shown in phantom in Figure 5, the cantilever arm 32 no longer relies on

  the spring element 36, thus enabling this element

  to occupy the position shown in phantom in Figure 5. This movement has the effect that the

  hook 40 of the spring element 36 comes into contact with

  tact with the underside of the ribbon 28 so as to tilt

  the ribbon, about an axis 44, in the position represented

  Figure 5. This allows the air conditioning to pass from room 26 through

  the opening 18 so as to form a curtain of air conditioning

  born at the opening of the door. The ribbon 28 is arranged to promote the flow of air in order to

  to form this curtain. Some of the air conditioning

  both through the opening 18 out of the incubator, as shown in Figure 2b, while the remaining part that remains in the incubator joins the main stream flowing up through the opening 14 and to the

down through the opening 16.

  When the access door 22 is brought into the position

  closed, the cantilever arm 32 of the hinge 34 rests on the spring member 36 so as to

  bring it back to the position shown on the

  In the downward movement of the spring member 36, the hook 40 is pulled downward. The hook in turn pulls the hook 42 downwardly so as to bring the ribbon 28 to the position where the opening 18 is

  tightly closed. At an appropriate stage of the movement

  ribbon 28 the hooks 40 and 42 emerge one from

  the other and the ribbon 28 is brought into the iron position.

  sealed under the effect of gravity.

  It should be noted that the preferred embodiment illustrated and described in detail does not exhibit any

  limiting character and that various changes and modifications

  can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. o

Claims (9)

  1 - Incubator, characterized in that it comprises - a base structure (10) comprising a support (12)   for neonates and three passageways   air to allow air to flow between the   pace below the newborn support and the space   this located above the support for newborn, the first two passages forming air flow paths being   disposed at opposite ends of the support for new   born and the third passageway forming an air flow path being disposed on the front side of the newborn support;   an enclosure cap (20) placed on the structure   base (10) and able to lock up a newborn   on the support (12), the front wall of the front cover   sensing an access door (22) which can be brought alternately   natively in a closed position and an open position   you; - a source of conditioned air located inside the basic structure (10) and, by reference, below the newborn support.   means for allowing the conditioned air to flow from below the newborn support into the enclosure (20) through one of the first two air flow path passages and through the third passage forming   way of airflow and return to the space if-   killed under the newborn support through   the other of the first two passages air; and   - sealing devices reacting to movements   access door (22) to seal the third air flow passageway when the door is in the closed position and to discover   this third passage forming an air flow path when   that the door is in the open position.   2 - Incubator according to claim 1, characterized   characterized in that the three air flow path passages respectively comprise elongated openings (14, 16, 18) in the base structure (10) and extending respectively along the opposite ends.   and the front side of the newborn support (12).   3 - Incubator according to claim 1, characterized   characterized in that the third airflow pathway includes a chamber (26) located below the neonatal support and communicating with the conditioned air source.   4 - Incubator according to claim 2, characterized   in that the sealing members comprise: - an elongated strip (28) whose shape and dimensions   are about the same as those of the allo-   which extends along the front side of the newborn support and is pivotally mounted along a longitudinal edge of the ribbon at an edge   longitudinal axis of this opening (18) extending along the   says front side; and a control member (36) associated with the elongate ribbon (28) and on which the access door (22) bears when this door is in the closed position, thereby allowing   to keep the elongate ribbon (28) in a position to close   the extended opening (18) extending along the front side of the newborn support, as long as the control member (36) is in contact with the access door, and ribbon (28) to discover the elongate opening (18) extending along the front side of the newborn support, when the control member (36)   find more in touch with the access door.   Incubator according to claim 4, characterized in that the third flow path passage   of air comprises a chamber (26) located below the support   neonate port having an inlet communicating with the source of conditioned air and an outlet communicating with the opening (18) located at the front side of the newborn support.   6 - Incubator, characterized in that it comprises - a base structure (10) having a support (12) for a newborn; an enclosure cap (20) which, placed on the base structure and capable of enclosing a newborn lying on the support (12), has its walls arranged at a certain   distance from the newborn support so as to obtain more   airflow pathways between the   pace below the newborn support and the space above the newborn support, the   having an access door (22) and one of the   mant airflow channels extending along this door; a source of conditioned air located inside the base structure (10) and below the support (12) for newborn; - means allowing the air conditioning to circulate between the spaces below and above the support for newborn through the passages forming air flow paths; and - airflow regulating members (28, 36, 40,   42, responsive to movements of the access door of   to close the air flow passageway extending along the access door (22) when this   door is closed and to open this passage forming a way of   of air extending along the door when it is open.   7 - Incubator according to claim 6, characterized   in that the access door (22) is mounted so that it can tilt about a horizontal axis, preferably   downwards by opening and upwards by closing.   8 - Incubator according to claim 5, characterized   in that the enclosure cap (20) has   a rectangular section and in that two of the   Airflow pathways are located at opposite ends of the cap and, preferably, in that conditioned air is directed upwardly through one of the flow path passages of the each at one end of the cap and through the air flow pathway extending along the access door and is sucked down through the other of the two airway passages. air flow located   each at one end of the cap. - 12 -   9 - Incubator according to claim 8, characterized   characterized in that the air flow path passages are elongated openings (14, 16, 18) and preferably that the base structure (10) comprises a chamber (26) located below the infant support (12) and having an inlet communicating with the conditioned air source and an outlet communicating with the air flow passageway extending from the along the access door.   Incubator according to claim 9, characterized   characterized in that the air flow regulating members comprise: a tiltably movable member (28) for selectively opening and closing the air flow path passageway extending along the air flow gate; access (22); and a mechanism (32, 36, 38, 40, 42) associated on the one hand with the member (28) and on the other hand with the access door (22) and reacting to movements of the door of to open the airflow passageway extending along the access door when this door is open and to close the air flow pathway extending   along the access door when this door is closed.