Noise analysis of three newborn infant isolettes.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the noise of three newborn infant isolettes.


METHODS
An observational, prospective study evaluated noise in three isolettes (Ohmeda, Air Shields, and Drager). The study measured interior isolette noise production during quiet noise situations and isolette noise attenuation of added low- and high-frequency noise. Noise was measured on the decibel A scale and in the 125 Hz and 1000 Hz bands.


RESULTS
During quiet conditions the Ohmeda and Drager isolettes had the least noise production on the basis of decibel A levels (p < 0.001). Low-frequency noise on the decibel A scale was attenuated the most by the Drager isolette (p < 0.001), although the overall difference may be clinically insignificant. The Ohmeda isolette attenuated high-frequency noise by 28.4 dB as measured on the decibel A scale, which was greater than values for the Drager (22.8 dB) and Air Shields (14 dB) isolettes (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
High-frequency noise attenuation by the Ohmeda and Drager isolettes is clinically and statistically greater than high-frequency noise attenuation by the Air Shields isolette.
Berens
R J
RJ
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Department of Pediatrics, Wauwatosa 53226, USA.
Weigle
C G
CG
D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007186:Incubators, Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies