FIELD OF nWBVTIOH:-
The present invention teletes to Comprehensive Newborn Care Center and more particularly to the Infant Warmer and the technology by which other essential modules are integrated with the warmer, thus forming a complete Newborn Care Center.
DB8CRIPTIOV OF PRIOR ART:-
Every baby in a Newborn Nursery or Nursery Intensive Care Unit requires a bassinet and a warmix^ device to keep the baby warm. Conventionally, hypothermia is treated by exposing the babies to stand alone Infant warmers .The stand alone Infant warmers function only to deliver the heat required for the Infant .We cannot state that a warmer alone is sufficient enough to completdiy cure a baby. Dependii^ on the aicknesa of the baby, various vital parameters need to be monit^i^d on a cocftinuous basis and accordingly different llisraples are to be adminktered. There are many disadvantages with regards to stand-alone wmmws and the most important are Hsted below.
Many at times there are situations wh^ie the baby may need warming combined with other activities namely vital parameter monitoring^ phototherapy and respiratory support .Under such situations aU these above additional devices should be located separately beside the warmer. This
majority occupies more space and cluttering around the Infant. With all these devices around the Infant bed the attendees find it very difficult to access the Infant. This invention is different and new" firom the conventional methods, for the reason that the warmer with the bassinet would be the basic device and aU the other essential monitoring devices and therapy units would be made as modules powered and communicated by the basic equipment. Ihis way, the space occupied is less compared to the conventional arrangBment. Moreover it offers a complete unit capable of providing any diagnostic or therapeutic support needed for the Infant. It has been made modular so that at any given time, the modules could be shifted to different equipment\i of the same model as per the need of the patient. Hence it does not become a costly dedicated system with all non-shiftable, non-interchangeable modules.
Yet another unique feature of the equipment is the panels above the bed of the baby. These panels can be operated using elbows. Conventional doors are hands operated. This arrangsment becomes difficult for the nursing staff to operate the panels when they are holding the baby. In this invention the user operates it with elbow, instead of hands, it is easier for them to open the panels yet when safely holding the baby. Normal^ in NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) hands are washed for steriUty before accessiz^ the baby As the panels can be lowered using elbow, the hands do not become dirty and thus maintain steriHty and need not rewash the hand, can start the procedure immediately.
For the purpose of added Infiant safety, this invention is designed with automatic heater cutoff. Under any condition when the measured Infant temperature crosses 40^C» the heater is automaticaUy cutoff thus preventing the hifant from over heating.
With regards to Infant safety, this design includes another major invention, the technology of measiiring Infant temperature with a non contact IR Temperature Sensor. There exists a great degree of disadvantc^ in conventional methods wherein a sldn temperature sensor is used to measure hifent temperature. The sensor is festened onto In&nt skin by means of a siugical tape. This sensor needs to be removed while performing procedures onto the Infant. Hence when performing the procedure there is no means to check the Infants temperature. There are diances that the temperature of the Infent ma^ go very high or very low. Hiis poses a serious threat to the InfEint.
This threat is overcome in the current invention, in the way that a non-contact IR sensor is used to measiure Infent temperature. Since the sensor is a non-contact type of sensor, it measures the temperature of the Infent without requirii^ any contact with the Infent sldn. Hence it is capable of measuring Infant temperature even when performing procedures and thus proves very safe for the Infent.
BUMKARY OF THE ZWXVTZOV:-
Keeping in mind the disadvantages, which are known in the prior art/ the present invention provides an innovative Infant Care Center. This invention is to overcome all the disadvantages of the prior art and also achieve the performance level of the prior art.
As per the present invention^ it comprises of a bimLC unit» which is a Radiant Warmer. This basic unit will have the processing capability of integrating information from various modules and would analyze and inform the care given if the values are within accepted limits or not. Any alert would be in the form of alarm and visual messjG^^. Purfher the basic equipment would have the capability of recording the events and would be able to communicate with a central server for data storage of the patient parameters (the frequency of vital parameter storage is alterable by the care giver).
The modules would comprise of
1.Pulse Oximeter
2.ECQ
3.NIBP
4.hifusion pump
5.IBP
6.Phototherapy (bottom and top)
T.VentUator
8.CPAP Ventilator
9.8uction Device
10,WeiG^bing Scale
11. Resuscitation
12.CPAP
Hie basic equ^nuent wQl have the capahility of Imeping infonnation of a patient up to 7 dajrs.
The basic equipm^it coiild be connected to a printer to take trend and report on demand basis. The report format is configarable as per the modiiles connected to the equipment. When connected to the central seiver the communication would be in HL7 format (standard communicatiLon protocol for Hospital Information System - HIS) .Hence depending upon the software in the central server, the data can be stored and retrieved.
Another unique feature of the equipment is the oval shaped bassinet for convenience of use. This oval shaped bassinet can be rotated to 45 degree on either side, to easily access the bab3r*s head.
Yet another unique feature of the equipment is the panels above the bed of the baby. These panels can be operated using elbows. Using the elbow, instead of hands can easily lower these panels. Hence when the nursing staff is holdix^; the baby in hands, it is easier for them to open ihe panels yet when safely holdbig the baby. Normally in NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) hands are washed for sterility before accessing the baby As the panels can be lowered usdng elbow, the hands do not become dixty and thus maintain sterility and need not rewash the hand and can start the procedure immediately.
The equipment is programmed with data
procediire tray(4), IV poles(12)» monitor tray(13)> x-ray slot(6),
- Plurality of switching means mounted on pillar to operate the said
devices, said accessories and said sensors,
m
- a blue tooth enable data transfer between and from sensors, devices,
control devices and external sources,
. wherein the control circuits includes means for generating control signals in relation to preset settings and the sensor signals»
- wherein all the said devices, panels, s^isors^ accessories including the
infant are all reachable^
- wherein all the displays are visible from front,
- wherein all the devices exe operable without shifting the infant lying
on the said bed,
2. An infant care centre as claimed in claim 1, and as described in the complete specification and as described in the drawings.