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1. Temperature Monitor and
Control for Infant Incubators

2. Who Needs Incubators?
• Temperature regulation is one of the most important factors affecting
survival in newborn infants.
• Premature infants are at an even greater disadvantage because of the
larger skin surface area to body mass ratio, decreased subcutaneous fat, and
low supplies of brown fat. Also, the normal surge in metabolic rate that
occurs after birth is reduced in preterm infants, resulting in limited heat
production.
[Antonucci, R., et al. The infant incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit: unresolved issues and future developments. Journal of
Perinatal Medicine. 37(6): 587-98.]
• In developing countries, neonatal complications including
prematurity and low-birth weight are common, and thus the use of
infant incubators may considerably contribute to reducing infant morbidity
and mortality. Unfortunately, the limited access to modern, high-tech
incubators along with the lack of infrastructure and replacement parts
render such devices worthless in these regions.
[Antonucci, R., et al. The infant incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit: unresolved issues and future developments. Journal of
Perinatal Medicine. 37(6): 587-98.]
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project

3. Why Incubators?
• Infants typically lose heat to their environment in four different
ways: through conduction, convection, radiation, and evaporation.
• Premature brain cannot provide adequate temperature regulation.
[Dr. Van Hemel. HEBI-incubator.org]
• Studies have shown that creating an environment of ideal
temperature for infants increases the survival rate.
[Day, Richard L., et al. Body Temperature and Survival of Premature Infants. Pediatrics 34.2 (1964): 171-81. ]
• One of the very first incubators, invented by Stéphane Tarnier in the
late 19th century, reportedly reduced mortality among infants with
birth weights between 1200 and 2000 g from 66% to 38%.
[Auvard, A. De La Couveuse Pour Enfants. Archives de Tocologie des Maladies des Femmes et des Enfants Nouveau-nés.
10:577-609, October 1883.]
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project

4. Giraffe Incubator
• Most recent product of GE Health Care
• Advantages:
▫ Precise temperature control
▫ Minimizes external stress such as light, sound
and touch.
▫ Built in scale
▫ X-ray can be taken from the canopy
▫ Built in rotating mattress & for pressure point
release (Patented Baby Susan)
▫ Humidifier tested to avoid the spread of
pseudomonas aeruginosa. (common pathogen
linked to use of ambient relative humidity)
• Disadvantages:
▫ Needs professional personnel: Need to take a
class provided by GE in order to be qualified to
use the incubator. (cost: $3185)
▫ Very expensive: $30,000-40,000
Vendor’s Site:
https://www2.gehealthcare.com/portal/site/usen/menuitem.e8b305b80b84c1b4d6354a1074c84130/?vgnextoid=470117398714
0210VgnVCM10000024dd1403RCRD&productid=3701173987140210VgnVCM10000024dd1403
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project

5. “Car Part” Incubator
• Advantages:
▫ Made from readily available parts
▫ Moderately cheap ($1,000)
▫ Glass is more “baby safe”
• Disadvantages
▫ Difficult to assemble
▫ New design with no study on
infection rates
▫ No sleeves for contact with the
infant
▫ No fine temperature control
Center for Integration of Medicine &
Innovative Technology (CIMIT)
Global Health Initiative and Design
that Matters project from 2008
Vendor’s Site: http://www.cimit.org/images/programs/GHI_Incubator_Handout.pdf
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project

6. “Car Part” Incubator
• Made from:
▫ Exterior metal and windows
▫ Heater and fan system
▫ Battery
▫ Lights and alarm system
• How it works:
▫ Automotive parts are capable of being repurposed to produce
heat, light, air convection, a power reservoir, as well as auditory
and visual alarms.
Vendor’s Site: http://www.cimit.org/images/programs/GHI_Incubator_Handout.pdf
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project

7. HEBI (Hemel Baby Incubator)
• Advantages:
▫ Relatively Cheap (about $600 USD)
▫ Reliable (oldest incubators are still operational
w/o any serious maintenance)
▫ Includes hygrometer for humidity control
▫ Excellent infection control
▫ Sleeves for unlimited contact
▫ Assembly takes only about an hour for an
untrained person
• Disadvantages:
▫ Does not have a motor
▫ No fine temperature control
▫ Consumes 150 Watt/hr
▫ Must be shipped by plane from the Amsterdam
airport
First built in Uganda in 1968.
About 25 new incubators are
supplied each year, and the basic
model comes as a construction
kit. They are manufactured with
aid from many sponsors.
Vendor’s Site: http://www.hebi-incubator.org/templates/heb/global/index.php?lngid=2&sqlmode=1&fid=395
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project

8. • Made from:
▫ Light bulbs
▫ Container to hold water (for humidity)
▫ Thermostat
▫ Perspex and Wood
• How it works:
▫ Light bulbs heat air in the bottom part of the incubator. The air passes over a
container with evaporating water, so that its humidity increases. The warm, humid
air then flows upwards (chimney effect) into the baby compartment. A thermostat in
an exit hole compares the air temperature with the desired temperature. If it is too
high, the light bulbs will be switched off; if it is too low, the bulbs will be switched
on. The baby can be viewed through Perspex and it can be handled via two armholes
with sleeves. The Perspex front and top can be hinged back for full access.
HEBI (Hemel Baby Incubator)
Vendor’s Site: http://www.hebi-incubator.org/templates/heb/global/index.php?lngid=2&sqlmode=1&fid=395
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project

9. Kangaroo Mother Care
• Started in Bogota, Columbia.
• Advantages:
▫ Allows interact with mother.
▫ Allow early and exclusive breastfeeding
▫ Psychological and mental support between
mother and baby.
▫ Babies stabilize faster on skin to skin care
▫ Easy to assemble
▫ Free
• Disadvantages:
▫ Increase risk of infectious disease due to
mother infant contact.
▫ Cumbersome for the mother
▫ Cannot get a full naked view of the baby
Site: http://www.kangaroomothercare.com/index.htm
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project

10. Comparison of Incubators
Specifications Giraffe Car Part
Incubator
HEBI Kangaroo Our
Project
Cheap X    
Preventing infections  X  X TBD
Easy to use X X   
Infant visibility    X 
Accuracy of temperature
control
 X X  
Low maintenance X    
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project

11. Incubator Basics
• What does it do:
▫ Keep an infant’s core temperature stable at 37˚C
▫ Additional features:
 Humidify
 Increase oxygen supply
 Provide a sterile environment
• How does is work:
▫ The mattress is usually enclosed by a clear plastic canopy
▫ Temperature in the incubator is increased by a heater element below the mattress
▫ Motor driven fan draws in fresh air through a filter and blows it past the heater, warming the air.
▫ Air is directed up through slots in to the area above the mattress and circulated around.
▫ Air temperature is monitored by temperature sensor and adjusted by controlling the current to
the heater.
▫ Humidity is increased by water baths (passive) or dripping water on a heated element (active).
▫ The baby is cared for through special access doors called arm ports.
Flinders University School of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering. http://www.fbe.org.au/Clin/BasicEquipment/InfantIncubator.htm
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project

12. Design Specifications for Consideration
• Low-cost
• Low power consumption
• Well-insulated
• Sterile
• Humid
• Allows for infant visibility
• Allows for infant accessibility
• Easy monitoring and control of temperature
• Easy to build and use
• Accessibility of materials in third world countries
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project

13. Project Goal
• Depending on
time, research
and modify this
to make it more
cost and energy
efficient.
• If completed,
work to deploy
the incubator
to needed areas
for use.
24”
6”
36”
24”
Main compartment for
infant with front and
top panels of sterile,
insulating film
Humidifying Compartment
with Circulator Fans
• Design an incubator with the given specifications using previous case studies of
incubators, the EWH temperature control alarm legacy project, and current research as
examples.
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
Top that will open for
easy access

14. Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
Material Details Unit Price
Plywood
(0.5“ or thicker)
1- 36”x30” panel (back)
2- 30”x18” panels (sides)
1- 34.5”x18” panel (main comp. bottom)
1-36”x6” panel (front bottom)
1- 36” x 18” panel (humidity comp. bottom)
FREE! (< $30)
Support Wood
(1.5” x 1.5” in width)
2-36” length (front and back top- for access frame)
4- 15” length (top sides for access frame and main frame)
2-35” length (front and back top- for main frame)
1-31.5” length (front bottom- for main frame)
4-22.5” length (up-and-down corner supports for main frame)
2-5.5” length (front bottom for humidifying compartment)
$6.10 (Home Depot)
Hinges (2 sets) For access frame $5.96 (Home Depot)
ULINE Polyethylene Window
Insulator
In place of plexiglass. 0.004” thickness, clear polysheeting.
0.006” thickness used to further insulate walls.
FREE! (< $10)
Power Supply 12 V/ 16.7 A $100
Heater Car Heater – 12 V, 150 W $9
PC Fans (2) 12 V/ 0.13A FREE!
Temperature Control System MX052 digital temperature controller $39.99
Water Pan to Maintain Humidity Baking pan from any local store < $2
Electrical Supplies (wire, electrical tape, etc) Available in Clark 223 < $5
Misc (screws, double-sided tape, etc) Available in Clark 223 or readily available from personal supply < $5
Total < $215

15. Results of the Project
• An working infant incubator made of common or readily available
parts
• Less than $215
• Very easy to construct
• Easy to use
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project

16. Future Improvements (for commercial incubators)
Factor Unresolved Issues Possible Solutions
Temperature control Heat loss from the newborn
Eddies around the newborn
To develop advanced temperature control systems
To use double-walled incubators
Appropriate air temperature (22–26˚C) in the NICU
To develop advanced air circulation systems
Noise environment High noise levels inside the incubator
(external and internal sources)
To attenuate environmental sound
(acoustical foam, sound absorbing panels)
To reduce the noise generated within the incubator
(motor)
To reduce human-related sources (NICU staff) of noise
Light environment Continuous lighting and bright light
(NICU environment)
To promote circadian lighting
To reduce the amount of light within the incubator
(covers)
Electromagnetic Fields Relevant EMF levels within the
incubator
To redesign the position of various incubator components
To implement ferromagnetic panels
To increase the distance between incubator and
electronic equipment
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project
[Antonucci, R., et al. The infant incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit: unresolved issues and future developments.
Journal of Perinatal Medicine. 37(6): 587-98.]

17. Future Improvements (for our incubator)
• low internal noise level (below the 60 dBA limit during normal
operation)
• attenuation of environmental noise and noisy incubator
reverberating effects
• low level of EMFs at extremely low frequencies within the incubator
baby compartment
• oxygen connector which allows delivering supplemental oxygen to
the baby, if necessary
Problem Available Solutions Project Design Parts Needed Project Results Future Work
K. Donato - Infant Incubator Project