A Prototype Infant Incubator for Heliox Therapy

Abstract

Heliox (Hx) gas has been shown to improve pulmonary function in infants, but methods for its delivery are invasive and problematic. To this end, we modified an Isolette (Hill-Rom Air-Shields) infant incubator (Hxl) to deliver Hx respiratory gas mixtures noninvasively while providing thermal stability for neonatal care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). In vitro tests and in vivo animal studies were performed to compare the original design specifications and established baseline performance criteria for the Hxl design. The experimental environments at 50% and 80% relative humidity (RH) consisted of helium (He) with 21% and 50% O2 and control (C) of 21% and 50% O2 with the balance nitrogen (N). Elapsed times to steady state (SS) and recovery time back to SS (OCDss) due to opening and closing the door were recorded for each variable. All rabbits survived and appeared comfortable during all experimental conditions. These data show that the newly designed Isolette provides similar thermal, O2, CO2, and RH responses as the control incubator. Based on these positive safety/efficacy studies, study of the therapeutic impact of Hxl care on neonatal growth and development is in progress.

Prototype Hybrid Systems for Neonatal Warming: In Vitro Comparisons to Standard of Care Devices

“…2 Since then, incubators have evolved into modern devices with increased capabilities, such as heliox 9 and computerized environmental control. Despite the improvements in design and technology of incubators, opening a side access door or handports can lead to heat and humidity loss.…”

Bioengineering aspects of sensors and instruments for continuous monitoring of a ventilated newborn

“…8 Ensuring that the infant is maintained in a thermoneutral environment may assist in the respiratory therapy by minimizing oxygen requirements. Measurement of the central temperature (rectal, esophageal) with thermistor or thermocouple sensors can be carried out, although this is generally not done; instead, reliance is placed on the use of an abdominal mounted skin surface sensor that is part of the incubator or warmer servocontrol system.…”

Growth and Development in a Heliox Incubator Environment: A Long-Term Safety Study

“…In addition, the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children/Nemours Research Lung Center Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approved this study. Our earlier research indicated that the original and modified Isolettes had comparable temperature, relative humidity, O 2 and CO 2 response times during environmental start-up and maintenance experiments for either Hx or control conditions [15,16] . Environmental control is maintained by an integrated forced air circulation system.…”

“…In addition, data are limited regarding the long-term effects of an N 2 -free Hx environment on early mammalian growth and development. In order to address these issues, we modified two Hill-Rom Air-Shields Isolette (Hatboro, Pa., USA) infant incubators to deliver Hx respiratory gas mixtures and provide thermal stability for infants in the NICU [15] .…”