Designing a Low-Cost Multifunctional Infant Incubator.
Every year, an unacceptably large number of infant deaths occur in developing nations, with premature birth and asphyxia being two of the leading causes. A well-regulated thermal environment is critical for neonatal survival. Advanced incubators currently exist, but they are far too expensive to meet the needs of developing nations. We are developing a thermodynamically advanced low-cost incubator suitable for operation in a low-resource environment. Our design features three innovations: (1) a disposable baby chamber to reduce infant mortality due to nosocomial infections, (2) a passive cooling mechanism using low-cost heat pipes and evaporative cooling from locally found clay pots, and (3) insulated panels and a thermal bank consisting of water that effectively preserve and store heat. We developed a prototype incubator and visited and presented our design to our partnership hospital site in Mysore, India. After obtaining feedback, we have determined realistic, nontrivial design requirements and constraints in order to develop a new prototype incubator for clinical trials in hospitals in India.
Center for Advanced Sensor Technology and Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering UMBC, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Kevin
K
Tran
Center for Advanced Sensor Technology and Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering UMBC, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Aaron
A
Gibson
Center for Advanced Sensor Technology and Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering UMBC, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Don
D
Wong
Center for Advanced Sensor Technology and Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering UMBC, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Dagmawi
D
Tilahun
Center for Advanced Sensor Technology and Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering UMBC, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Nicholas
N
Selock
Center for Advanced Sensor Technology and Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering UMBC, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Theresa
T
Good
Center for Advanced Sensor Technology and Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering UMBC, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Geetha
G
Ram
Center for Advanced Sensor Technology and Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering UMBC, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Leah
L
Tolosa
Center for Advanced Sensor Technology and Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering UMBC, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Michael
M
Tolosa
Center for Advanced Sensor Technology and Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering UMBC, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Yordan
Y
Kostov
Department of Pediatrics, Neonatology, and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Hyung Chul
HC
Woo
Center for Advanced Sensor Technology and Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering UMBC, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Michael
M
Frizzell
Center for Advanced Sensor Technology and Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering UMBC, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Victor
V
Fulda
Infectious Disease Associates, Ellicott City, MD, USA.
Ramya
R
Gopinath
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prashanti Nilayam, AP, India.
J Shashidhara
JS
Prasad
Karuna Trust, Mysore, India.
Hanumappa
H
Sudarshan
Phoenix Medical Systems, Ekkattuthangal, Chennai, India.
Arunkumar
A
Venkatesan
Phoenix Medical Systems, Ekkattuthangal, Chennai, India.
V Sashi
VS
Kumar
Chandrakala Hospital and Institute of Medical Research, Mysore, India.
N
N
Shylaja
Center for Advanced Sensor Technology and Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering UMBC, Baltimore, MD, USA grao@umbc.edu.
Govind
G
Rao
D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources / Q000191:economics; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D003906:Developing Countries; D004209:Disposable Equipment / Q000191:economics; D004867:Equipment Design; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007186:Incubators, Infant / Q000191:economics; D007194:India; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009938:Organizations; D010290:Parents; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics; D000075082:Proof of Concept Study; D063127:Secondary Health Care / Q000191:economics; D000078329:Workforce
disposable; incubator; low cost; neonatal mortality