HEATER CANOPY FOR AN INFANT WARMING APPARATUS

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an infant warming apparatus for warming infants. More specifically, the subject matter relates to a heater canopy of an infant warming apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Infant warming apparatus are used to provide warmth to infants at a set desired temperature. A heating source such as a heating rod is present to heat an infant holding unit of the infant warming apparatus where the infant is positioned. Different types and shapes of heating source may be used and this heating source when heated radiates the heat rays towards a reflector positioned in a close proximity of the heating source. The reflector reflects heat rays falling on it towards the infant to provide regulated heating to infant. As the temperature of the heat source can be very high, there is always a possibility that a casing to hold or cover the reflector and heating source gets heated and which may result in injuring an operator or caregiver of the infant warming apparatus if the temperature of casing is not maintained below a specified limit. The casing may be composed of a plastic material or metal and gets heated up due to thermal conduction and convection heat transfer. Normally the infant warming canopies are bulky in size to increase the heat transfer and to dissipate more heat and thus increasing the weight and cost of the infant warming apparatus. The casing may also need to be moved in some instances for performing other tests such as x-ray imaging on the infant. So if the casing is heated up then movement of the casing by the operator may be difficult.

[0003] Further in order to remove the hot air present in the casing, vents are required on top of the casing so that hot air present in the casing flows out to ambient through these vents. This heat loss reduces the energy efficiency of the heat source, thus there is a need for a system that reduces the heat loss from the infant warming apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein which will be understood by reading and understanding the following specification.

[0005] As discussed in detail below, embodiments of the invention include a heater canopy for an infant warming system. The heater canopy includes a reflector having an inner reflecting surface and an outer surface. A heat source is positioned proximal to the inner reflecting surface of the reflector. The reflector and the heat source are held by a casing. The casing is configured to cover the outer surface of the reflector and have an inner surface of the casing positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the reflector. An insulating member is positioned on the outer surface of the reflector substantially filling the gap between the outer surface of the reflector and the inner surface of the casing.

[0006] In another embodiment an infant warming system for warming infants is disclosed. The infant warming system includes a support structure and an infant holding unit connected to the support structure and positioned at a predefined distance from the ground level. The infant holding unit needs to be heated using a heater canopy. The heater canopy includes a reflector having an inner reflecting surface and an outer surface. A heat source is positioned proximal to the inner reflecting surface of the reflector. The reflector and the heat source are held by a casing. The casing is configured to cover the outer surface of the reflector and have an inner surface of the casing positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the reflector. An insulating member is positioned on the outer surface of the reflector substantially filling the gap between the outer surface of the reflector and the inner surface of the casing.

[0007] Various other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be made apparent to those skilled in the art from the accompanying drawings and detailed description thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIGURE 1 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of an infant warming apparatus in accordance with an embodiment;

[0009] FIGURE 2 is a schematic illustration of a heater canopy of an infant warming apparatus in accordance with an embodiment;

[0010] FIGURE 3 is a schematic illustration of a cross-sectional view of the heater canopy in accordance with an embodiment;

[0011] FIGURE 4 is a schematic illustration of a side cross-sectional view of the heater canopy in accordance with an embodiment; and

[0012] FIGURE 5 is a schematic illustration of an exploded view of the heater canopy in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments that may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0014] As discussed in detail below, in an embodiment a heater canopy for an infant warming system. The heater canopy includes a reflector having an inner reflecting surface and an outer surface. A heat source is positioned proximal to the inner reflecting surface of the reflector. The reflector and the heat source are held by a casing. The casing is configured to enclose the outer surface of the reflector and have an inner surface positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the reflector. An insulating member is positioned on the outer surface of the reflector substantially filling the gap between the outer surface of the reflector and the inner surface of the casing.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, this figure illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary infant warming apparatus 100 in accordance with an embodiment. The infant warming apparatus 100 includes an infant holding unit 102 for holding an infant. The infant is placed in the infant holding unit 102 by a medical expert or a nurse. The infant holding unit 102 depicted is a bed for warming the infant. The bed is warmed using a heater canopy 104 positioned overhanging above the infant holding unit 102. A heating region 106 is formed in an area around the infant within which the infant warming apparatus 100 controls the desired temperature level. In general, the heating region 106 is defined as the space within the infant holding unit 102. Additionally one or more walls 108 further define the heating region 106. The walls 108 may be selectively movable such as to allow access by a clinician to the infant. In other embodiments, walls may have different configuration including one or more arm ports through which a clinician can reach the infant so as to facilitate maintaining the heating region 106 while the clinician cares for the infant.

[0016] The heater canopy 104 and the infant holding unit 102 are coupled to a supporting unit 110. In an embodiment the heater canopy 104 and the infant holding unit 102 are integrated to the supporting unit 110 and thus extend outwardly. The supporting unit 110 is coupled to a base unit 112 having a plurality of wheels 114. These wheels 114 enable the infant warming apparatus 100 to be moved from one place to another. Moreover as depicted in FIG. 1 the infant warming apparatus 100 also includes an adjustment unit 116 for moving the infant holding unit 102 for example tilting of the infant holding unit 102.

[0017] The infant warming apparatus 100 also includes storage units 118, 120 and 122 used for storing equipments for assistance, medicines, and other diagnostic equipments for monitoring and providing care to the subject. For example the infant warming apparatus 100 may include a physiological monitor 124. In other embodiments, a portion of the physiological monitor 124, such as physiological transducers are disposed within the heating region 106, or otherwise extend into the heating region 106, and attached to the infant to acquire physiological signals from the infant. Non-limiting examples of the physiological monitor 124 that may be used in the infant warming apparatus 100 include electrocardiograph (ECG), electroencephalograph (EEG), SP02, temperature, and noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP). However, it is understood that these are merely exemplarily and many other types of physiologic monitors and patient monitoring devices may be used in the presently disclosed manner. For example, patient monitoring systems or breathing assistance devices or ventilators may be conveniently placed on these storage units and connected to the infant conveniently for infant's medical assistance.

[0018] Further the infant warming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 126 that enables a user to control various operations of the infant warming apparatus 100. The control unit 126 may include any of a variety of known controllers, microcontrollers, or microprocessors. The control unit 126 is communicatively connected to a computer readable medium 128 upon which computer readable code is stored. The computer readable medium 128 may be any of a known variety of computer memory, including, but not limited to, non-volatile memory such as EEPROM, flash memory, optical memory, or removable data storage. The computer readable medium 128 stores computer readable code that includes instructions that when executed by the control unit 126 causes the controller to perform functions and operations as disclosed herein.

[0019] The heater canopy 104 includes a reflector 130 and a heat source 132 held by a casing 134 as depicted in FIG. 2. The casing 134 may be a housing that encloses or partially encloses the reflector 130 and the heat source 132. The heat source 132 may be but not limited to, at least one heating rod. The heat rays generated by the heat source 132 are reflected by the reflector 130 as shown in FIG. 2 and get uniformly distributed on the infant holding unit 102. The reflector 130 may be in contact with the casing 134 and thus heat is transferred to the casing 134. Further the air present in a gap 136 between an inner surface of the casing 134 and an outer surface of the reflector 130 also contributes to the heat transfer due to convection. This is because the air absorbs the heat and transfers it to the casing 134 leading to loss of heat through one or more vents 138 provided in the casing 134. This results in loss of more heat thereby reducing the efficiency of the infant warming apparatus 100. Further the vents 138 also allow any fluids to seep into the heater canopy 104 due to any spillage. The fluid seeping into the heater canopy 104 may affect the operation of the heat source and may result in defects in operation of the infant warming apparatus 100.

[0020] In order to reduce the heat loss an insulating material 200 is used in a heater canopy 202 as depicted in FIG. 3 in accordance with an embodiment. The insulating material 200 disposed on an outer surface 204 (as shown in FIG. 5) of a reflector 206 and may be fastened to the outer surface 204. The insulating material 200 may be fastened using an adhesive or any other fastening mechanisms known in the art. The insulating material 200 may extend from the outer surface 204 to an inner surface 208 of a casing 210 thereby filling the gap 136 completely or substantially. So when the casing 210 is placed on the insulating material 200 it is compressed thereby eliminating the gap 136. Elimination of the gap 136 results in mitigating the loss of heat generated by a heat source 212. Also the insulating material 200 traps the air and restricts the movement of the air (i.e. convective current) to flow or suppresses the air flow, so it does not allow the air to form a convective current to flow and hence suppresses convection heat transfer. The suppressed convective heat transfer also eliminates the need for vents in the heater canopy 202. This results in increased efficiency of the heat source 212 and thus reduce the power required for the running the infant warming apparatus 100. Further the heat experienced on the outer surface of casing 210 is also reduced thereby eliminating injury to the medical expert or nurse operating the infant warming apparatus 100. The heat source 212 connected to the reflector 206 using two or more bushes 214. The two or more bushes 214 may be composed of but not limited to a ceramic material.

[0021] The insulating material 200 as it is disposed on the outer surface of the reflector 206 may accommodate the shape of the reflector 206. The reflector 206 may have different outer profile and the insulating material 200 may take the shape of the outer surface. The reflector 206 in FIG. 3-5 is shown as to have a curved outer profile, but it may be contemplated that the reflector 206 may have a profile of any other shape. The casing 210 may compress and position the insulating material 200 intact. In an embodiment the insulating material 200 may be in the form of foam. The foam may be a flexible polyurethane foam or a rigid polyurethane foam. The foam may have a density ranging from 15 to 45 Kg/m3. The density of the foam determines the number of pores and a size of the pores in the foam. The density of the foam may be dependent on the foam additive materials and filler materials added into the foam. Thus if the density is more there is reduced heat loss due to efficient trapping of air between the outer surface 204 of the reflector 206 and the inner surface 208 of the casing 210 or due to convection. Further the insulating material 200 also renders the heater canopy 202 to be lighter. The insulating material 200 may be composed of a polyurethane material. The polyurethane material is a fire retarding material and has low thermal conductivity. The low thermal conductivity of the insulating material 200 used also reduces the heat transfer due to thermal conduction. However it may be contemplated that other insulating materials known in the art may be used in any other configuration for filling the gap 136.

[0022] The insulating material 200 may have a different thickness and may be dependent on the gap 136. If the thickness of the insulating material 200 is high then air will be trapped efficiently thereby reducing the heat loss due to convection.

[0023] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any computing system or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

We Claim:

1. A heater canopy for an infant warming system comprising:

a reflector having an inner reflecting surface and an outer surface;

a heat source positioned proximal to the inner reflecting surface of the reflector;

a casing enclosing the outer surface of the reflector and having an inner surface of the casing positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the reflector, wherein the casing is capable of holding the heating unit and the reflector; and

an insulating member positioned on the outer surface of the reflector substantially filling the gap between the outer surface of the reflector and the inner surface of the casing.

2. The heater canopy of claim 1, wherein the insulating member is composed of a polyurethane material.

3. The heater canopy of claim 2, wherein the insulating member have a density of aboutl5to45Kg/m3.'

4. The heater canopy of claim 1, wherein the insulating member is a polyurethane foam, the polyurethane foam is one of a flexible polyurethane foam and a rigid polyurethane foam.

5. The heater canopy of claim 1, wherein the insulating member is affixed to the outer surface of the reflector and abuts to the inner surface of the casing.

6. The heater canopy of claim 1, wherein the insulating member comprises at least one layer of insulating material.

7. An infant warming system comprising:

a support structure;

a infant holding unit connected to the support structure and positioned at a predefined distance from ground level; a heater canopy comprising:

a reflector having an inner reflecting surface and an outer surface;

a heat source positioned proximal to the inner reflecting surface of the reflector;

a casing enclosing the outer surface of the reflector and having an inner surface of the casing positioned adjacent to the outer surface of the reflector, the casing capable of holding the heating unit and the reflector; and

an insulating member positioned on the outer surface of the reflector substantially filling the gap between the outer surface of reflector and the inner surface of the casing.

8. The infant warming system of claim 7, wherein the insulating member is composed of a polyurethane material.

9. The infant warming system of claim 8, wherein the insulating member have a density of about 15 to 45 Kg/m3.

10. The infant warming system of claim 7, wherein the insulating member is a polyurethane foam, the polyurethane foam is one of a flexible polyurethane foam and a rigid polyurethane foam.

11. The infant warming system of claim 7, wherein the insulating member is affixed to the outer surface of the reflector and abuts to the inner surface of the casing.

12. The infant warming system of claim 7, wherein the insulating member comprises at least one layer of insulating material.