Study on Development of Portable Incubator

Abstract

Preterm children require a controlled environment that is as close as possible to that inside the womb. Incubators are well equipped to fulfill this requirement; however, they are cumbersome and expensive, thereby restricting their portability and availability in less developed and rural areas. This research comprises the development and system validation of a portable incubator. The system consists of a collapsible baby enclosure that can be stowed inside the system base when not in use. The enclosure is made from acrylic such that it is easy to clean and allows unhindered visual observation of the occupant while being robust enough to withstand transit conditions. The system can be powered either by a mains supply or a 12-VDC automobile power supply. Additionally, it has an onboard battery to ensure a continuous supply during transit. A Peltier plate controlled using a microcontroller ensures the desired enclosure temperature irrespective of the ambient temperature. Built-in sensor probes can measure the skin temperature, pulse rate, blood oxygenation level, and ECG of the infant and display them on the system screen. The system function is validated by testing its peak power consumption and the heating and cooling performances of the environment control system.