GB2438821A

GB2438821A - Neonatal swaddler

Info

Publication number: GB2438821A
Application number: GB0611410A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christine Freya Pearson; William Yonge
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-06-09
Filing date: 2006-06-09
Publication date: 2007-12-12
Also published as: GB0822800D0; WO2007141490A1; GB0611410D0; GB2452001A

Abstract

A neonatal swaddler (10) comprises an envelope (14) having front and rear panels (18,12) and an open end (20) through which a newborn baby's torso and limbs can be inserted into the envelope between the panels, and a flap (16) extending from the rear panel at the open end of the envelope so that the flap forms, or can be formed into, a hood (50) for the baby's head. At least one portion (32,34,36,38) of the front panel of the envelope is delineated by a line (40) of weakness along which the front panel can be readily torn such that, when the front panel is torn along at least part of the line of weakness, an opening (56) is formed to provide access to the baby in the region of its umbilical stump (52). By providing a specific portion of the front panel with this feature, access can easily be obtained to the baby's umbilical stump, but without substantially weakening the remainder of the envelope, and with reduced risk of injury to the baby.

Description

2438821

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Neonatal swaddler DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a neonatal swaddler.

Immediately before a baby is born, it is wet and its temperature throughout is generally equal to its mother's core temperature, i.e. blood heat, about 37°C. Immediately after birth, the baby is subjected to the cooling effect of its new, lower temperature surroundings, for example 5 at a room temperature of 20°C, by convection, conduction and radiation. Also, if the baby is left naked and wet, it is subjected to a significant cooling effect as its skin dries due to the latent heat of evaporation. The cooling effects of convection and evaporation are accentuated if the baby is in a draught. A newborn baby's temperature regulation system may be underdeveloped, especially if it is born prematurely. Cold stress can harm a newborn baby, in that energy 10 requirements can cause low blood sugar, acidosis and reduced production of lung surfactants, leading to poor adaptation from intra-uterine to extra-uterine life and a worse long-term developmental outcome especially, but not solely, for premature babies. It is therefore important to keep the baby warm. A prematurely born baby will therefore often be taken from its place of birth to an incubator immediately after birth. While it is being carried to the 15 incubator (and, if the incubator is not already up to temperature, while the incubator warms up), it is particularly important to maintain the baby's body temperature. When accessing a baby in an incubator, it is also important not to have the incubator open for long periods of time so that the incubator temperature drops, unless other steps are taken to keep the baby warm.

To assist in maintaining a newborn baby's body temperature, a neonatal wrap has been 20 proposed in patent document US3739399. That wrap comprises a specially-shaped sheet of plastics bubble-wrap material that has slits cut in it so that it has a central area from which a number of flaps extend. In use, as soon as possible after birth the baby is placed supine on the central area of the sheet, and the flaps are then folded over the baby and held in place by Velcro® fasteners. Once all of the flaps have been folded over and attached, the wrap is 25 intended to cocoon the baby's torso and limbs and forms a hood for the baby's head. The baby can be kept in the neonatal wrap while it is being taken to an incubator, and for its first few hours in the incubator while the baby's temperature regulating system stabilises. However, a problem with the neonatal wrap of US3739399 is that, if a wrap that is sized to accommodate a

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large baby is instead used for a relatively small baby, significant gaps are likely to be formed between adjacent flaps so that the baby is not so well protected as might be. A further problem with that wrap is that, being made from bubble-wrap material, it does obscure the baby to some extent. If access is required to the baby, for example to its umbilical stump to inject a drug or 5 take a blood sample, one of the flaps can be folded back after its fastener has been undone, but a relatively large expanse of the baby's skin is then exposed.

A swaddler has also been proposed in patent document US3636566. That swaddler comprises an envelope of plastics bubble-wrap material that has an open end through which a newborn baby's torso and limbs can be inserted into the envelope, and a flap extending from the 10 open end of the envelope so that the flap forms, or can be formed into, a hood for the baby's head. Like the wrap of US3739399, a problem with the swaddler of US3636566 is that, being made from bubble-wrap material, it obscures the baby to some extent. It is said in US3636566 that the material of the swaddler is rupturable and relatively easily torn to enable ready access to any portion of the baby's body. However, it should be noted that a sheet of bubble wrap is 15 formed by two layers, each of which must be sufficiently strong to maintain its integrity, but that both layers would need to be torn in order to penetrate the sheet. It is therefore expected that if the material is made sufficiently strong to maintain its integrity, it would be difficult to tear it and that there would be a risk of hurting the baby in the process.

An aim of the present invention, or at least of specific embodiments of it, is to provide 20 an improved neonatal wrap or swaddler that provides sufficient protection to the newborn baby, that can accommodate babies of different sizes satisfactorily, that is easy to fit to the baby, that enables ready access to the baby's umbilical stump and other parts of the baby's body, that enables the baby's body to be seen clearly, and that is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

25 In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a neonatal swaddler that, like the swaddler of US3636566, comprises an envelope having front and rear panels and an open end through which a newborn baby's torso and limbs can be inserted into the envelope between the panels, and a flap extending from the rear panel at the open end of the envelope so that the flap forms, or can be formed into, a hood for the baby's head. However, 30 by contrast to the swaddler of US3636566, in the swaddler of the present invention, a portion of the front panel of the envelope is delineated by a line of weakness along which the front panel can be readily torn such that, when the front panel is torn along at least part of the line of weakness, an opening is formed to provide access to the baby in the region of its umbilical

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stump. By providing a specific portion of the front panel with this feature, access can easily be obtained to the baby's umbilical stump, but without substantially weakening the remainder of the envelope, and with reduced risk of injury to the baby.

Preferably, there is a series of such portions, so that the swaddler can be used with 5 different sizes of baby. A clinician can then choose which portion of the front panel to tear around in order to obtain the most convenient access to the baby's umbilical stump.

For simplicity of manufacture, the or each portion is delineated preferably by perforations through the front panel of the envelope.

The line of weakness for the or each opening preferably forms a generally closed loop. 10 In use, it is unnecessary for the clinician to tear all the way along the line of weakness to that the portion becomes detached from the remainder of the envelope. Instead, the clinician can tear part way along the line of weakness so that the portion forms a flap which can subsequently be folded back down over the baby.

The or each portion has an area preferably not exceeding about 10 cm2, and more 15 preferably about equal to about 4 cm2, so that only a relatively small portion of the baby's skin is exposed when the opening is formed.

At least a portion of at least one side edge of the envelope preferably also has a line of weakness such that, when the envelope is torn along at least part of that line of weakness, a slit is formed to provide access to a limb of the baby. Preferably, the side edge line of weakness 20 extends along substantially the whole length of the side edge. Also, the end of the envelope opposite the open end may have a line of weakness extending along substantially the whole length of that end. These latter lines of weakness facilitate removal of the baby from the swaddler once it is no longer required.

At least the front panel is preferably substantially transparent and/or is provided by a 25 single layer of material, so that the baby's body can be seen clearly through the front panel.

The end of the envelope opposite the open end may gusseted.

The envelope may be of any suitable shape, but is preferably generally square in shape. The envelope may be of any suitable size, but preferably the length and/or width of the envelope is between about 25 cm and 32 cm.

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A supply of neonatal swaddlers of the first aspect of the invention may be stored in hospital maternity ward, a baby care unit, a midwife's bag, a general practitioner's bag or a paramedic's bag.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to the use of a neonatal swaddler of the 3 first aspect of the invention to swaddle a neonatal human or animal immediately after birth.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a neonatal swaddler; and

Figure 2 is a front view of the swaddler of Figure 1 after a baby has been inserted, but 10 before the hood has been fully formed; and

Figure 3 is similar to Figure 2, but after the hood has been fully formed and a flap to provide access to the baby's umbilical stump has been produced.

Referring to Figure 1, the neonatal swaddler 10 is made from two films of optically-clear plastics material, such as polyethylene, having a film thickness between about 25 pm and 15 35 pm. One of the films has a height HI of about 380 mm and a width W1 of about 280 mm and forms a back panel 12 of an envelope 14 and a flap 16 for the envelope 14. The other film has a height H2 of about 270 mm and a width W1 of about 280 mm and forms a front panel 18 of the envelope 14. The films are welded along their bottom, left and right edges to form the envelope 14, such that the envelope 14 has an open end 20 and so that the flap 16 protrudes 20 beyond the open end 20.

Bands 22 of adhesive are applied along the side margins of the flap 16 on the front surface of the flap 16 and are covered by peelable protective strips 24, part of the left strip 24 being shown peeled away in Figure 1.

One or both of the front and back panels 18,12 is formed with lines 26,28,30 of 25 perforations along its or their left and right sides and their bottom where the front and back panels 18,12 overlap.

In the example shown in the drawings, six generally-square portions 32-37 of the front panel 18 are delineated by lines 40 of perforations. The portions 32-37 are arranged in an abutting sequence extending parallel to the side edges of the envelope 14 without reaching the

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top or bottom edge of the envelope 14. Each portion 32-37 has a width W2 and a height H3 each of about 20 mm, and therefore an area of about 4 cm2.

Each perforation line 26,28,30,40 may be formed by a series of aligned slits through the plastics material, each slit having a length of about 2.5 mm, and the pitch of the slits being 5 about 3 mm, so that there is a spacing of about 0.5 mm between adjacent slits. The slits serve to weaken the plastics material significantly so that it can be readily torn along the perforation lines 26,28,30,40. This effect can be demonstrated by taking a roll of polyethylene sandwich bags or freezer bags and comparing the tear strength of the material between two adjacent bags with the tear strength of the material part way along the side of a bag.

10 The swaddlers 10 may be supplied individually wrapped, for example in a paper wrapping. Alternatively, they may be supplied in a stack in a cardboard box, from which individual swaddlers 10 can be taken as required. Alternatively, they may be supplied in a cardboard box on a continuous roll with lines of perforations between adjacent swaddlers 10 that provide a significantly weaker connection than the perforation lines 30 at the bottoms of the IS swaddlers 10. The swaddlers 10 should be kept clean before use, but there is no need for them to be sterilised and kept sterile.

Referring to Figure 2, immediately after a baby has been born and the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut, and while the baby is still wet, the torso and limbs of the baby 42 are inserted feet-first through the opening 20 into the envelope 14 of the swaddler 10 so that the 20 portions 32,34,36,38 extend down the front of the baby's body. One of the protective strips 24, say on the left, is then peeled away from its adhesive band 22, and the left corner 44 of the flap 16 is folded down so as to form half of a hood for the baby's head 46, and the adhesive band 22 is lightly pressed against the front panel 18 of the envelope 14 to hold that part of the flap 16 in position, as shown in Figure 2. The other protective strip 24 is then peeled away from its 25 adhesive band 22, and the right corner 48 of the flap 16 is folded down so as to form the other half of the hood 50 for the baby's head 46, and that adhesive band 22 is lightly pressed against the front panel 18 of the envelope 14 to hold that part of the flap 16 in position. Consequently, as shown in Figure 3, the swaddler 10 covers the whole of the baby 42 except for its face. Accordingly, even though small gaps may remain between the hood 50 and the baby's head 46, 30 the swaddler 10 significantly protects the baby 42 from the direct effect of draughts and significantly reduces the rate of evaporation of moisture from the baby's skin. Furthermore, because the front panel 18 is formed by a single film of optically-clear plastics material, the

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baby 42 can be clearly seen by an attending clinician, particularly changes in the baby's skin colour.

The clinician may need to perform a procedure using the baby's umbilical stump 52, such as the insertion of a large line or cannula into the umbilical artery or vein via the stump 50 5 to administer fluids, blood or drugs, to monitor blood pressure or central venous pressure, or to take blood samples. In this event, the procedure can be performed without removing the baby 42 from the swaddler 10. In particular, the clinician can choose that one of the six portions 32-37 that is nearest to the stump 52 (portion 37 in the example of Figure 3), and tear the front panel 18 along three of the four lines 40 of perforation surrounding that portion 37 so that a flap 10 54 is formed which can be lifted to reveal an opening 56 providing access to the umbilical stump 52. After the procedure has been performed, the opening 56 can be closed by folding the flap 54 back. If desired, the flap 54 can then be stuck down by a handy piece of surgical adhesive tape.

In the event that a clinician needs to perform a procedure using the baby's arm or leg 15 (for example inserting or using an intravenous cannula), this can be performed again without removing the baby 42 from the swaddler 10. In particular, the clinician can select a portion 58,60 of the side perforation line 26,28 close to the arm of leg on which the procedure is to be performed, and tear that portion 58,60 of the edge perforation 26,28 so as to form an opening to gain access to the arm or leg. It is not intended that the envelope 14 should be a tight fit around 20 the baby's torso and limbs, and, after the procedure has been performed, the opening may close up of its own accord. However, if desired, the tear can be repaired by a handy piece of surgical adhesive tape.

Once the baby's temperature is satisfactory and the baby is in an environment, such as an incubator, where its temperature can be maintained and the swaddler 10 is no longer 25 required, the swaddler 10 can simply be removed by peeling back one of the hood-forming flap corners 44,48, and tearing the envelope 14 completely along the corresponding side perforation line 26,28 and completely along the bottom perforation line 30. The baby 42 can then be lifted from between the front and rear panels 18,12.

It will be appreciated that many modifications and developments may be made to the 30 swaddler 10 described above.

Although it is preferred that the front panel 18 of the swaddler 10 be optically clear, the rear panel 12 and flap 16 of the swaddler 10 may be obscure or opaque. In that case, the rear

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panel 12 and flap 16 may be formed of, for example, bubble wrap material or may incorporate a metallic heat insulating film.

Different sizes and different numbers of the portions 32-37 may be used.

An adhesive area may be provided near the centre of the top edge of the flap 16 so that 5 one or more darts may be formed in the hood 50 so that the hood more closely covers the top of the baby's head 46.

The bottom edge of the envelope 14 may be gusseted.

Although the invention was conceived as a swaddler 10 for neonatal humans, it may be modified as necessary so as to be of use with neonatal animals and to have an agricultural use.

10 It should be noted that the embodiment of the invention has been described above purely by way of example and that many other modifications and developments may be made thereto within the scope of the present invention.

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Claims

1. A neonatal swaddler comprising an envelope having front and rear panels and an open end through which a newborn baby's torso and limbs can be inserted into the envelope between the panels, and a flap extending from the rear panel at the open end of the envelope so that the flap forms, or can be formed into, a hood for the baby's head; a portion of the front panel of the

5 envelope being delineated by a line of weakness along which the front panel can be readily torn such that, when the front panel is torn along at least part of the line of weakness, an opening is formed to provide access to the baby in the region of its umbilical stump.

2. A swaddler as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a series of such portions.

3. A swaddler as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each portion is delineated by 10 perforations through the front panel of the envelope.

4. A swaddler as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the line of weakness for the or each opening forms a generally closed loop.

5. A swaddler as claimed in claim 4, wherein the or each portion has an area not exceeding about 10 cm2.

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6. A swaddler as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least a portion of at least one side edge of the envelope has a line of weakness such that, when the envelope is torn along at least part of that line of weakness, a slit is formed to provide access to a limb of the baby.

7. A swaddler as claimed in claim 6, wherein the side edge line of weakness extends along substantially the whole length of the side edge.

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8. A swaddler as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the end of the envelope opposite the open end has a line of weakness extending along substantially the whole length of that end.

9. A swaddler as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least the front panel is substantially transparent.

10. A swaddler as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least the front panel is 25 provided by a single layer of material.

11. A swaddler as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the end of the envelope opposite the open end is gusseted.

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12. A swaddler as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the envelope is generally square in shape.

13. A swaddler as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the length and/or width of the envelope is between about 25 cm and 32 cm.

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14. A neonatal swaddler substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

15. A hospital maternity ward, a baby care unit, a midwife's bag, a general practitioner's bag, or a paramedic's bag containing a swaddler as claimed in any preceding claim.

16. The use of a neonatal swaddler as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14 to swaddle a neonatal human or animal immediately after birth to reduce heat loss.