US3529590A - Portable incubator for infants - Google Patents

Description

3,158,150 11/1964 Croasdaile.................... 3,187,744 6/1965 Dorsak et FOREIGN PATENTS 24,231 1 l/ 1962 Germany 837,873 11/1938 France 1,082,381 9/1967 Great Britain Primary ExaminerL. W. Trapp Altorney-Synnestvedt and Lechner James R. Grosholz Strall'ortl, Pennsylvania 672,581 Filed Oct. 3, 1967 Patented Sept. 22, 1970 Assignee Air-Shields,lnc.

Hatboro, Pennsylvania a corporation of Delaware PORTABLE INCUBATOR FOR INFANTS 21 Claims, 15 Drawing Figs.

United States Patent [72] inventor 211 AppLNo.

An incubator especially adapted for portable use and having a base and a hood having front and rear portions both of which are openable for access to a removable bassinet, the base walls and a portion of the hood being heat insulated and provided with extended surface heater elements, and one portion of the hood being transparent, the incubator further having temperature control, air circulation and humidification systems; and an optionally usable accessory frame adapted to carry a battery, a battery charger and an oxygen bottle.

10/1961 Smith et 1 WN w W uw n mw 6 An nnu3 "9 u "I m E m U "00 n u "0 N m m E m U N mmmm mAm "UIJ P NQM a "I ET. m m c T e m mam m m msw Rm 4 "H N4 U m LIMM W W d mm UIF 111 l n 2 0 6 3 555 5 a [ll .IL 2

Patented Sept. 2 2, 1970 Sheet 1 of6 INVENTOR. 01/15 ff GROSf/OA z A 7 raw/[rs Patented Sept. 22 1970 I 3,529,590

Sheet 5 of6 Patented Sept. 22, 1970 Sheet 6 of 6 Arm-Runs PORTABLE INCUBATOR FOR INFANTS This invention relates to incubators and the invention is particularly concerned with an incubator adapted for use in the transportation of infants, for instance in instances where an infant is prematurely or unexpectedly born and is required to be transported to a hospital.

One of the major objectives of the invention is to provide a portable incubator which will not result in adverse influences upon the infant as a result of various of the conditions encountered in transportation of the incubator, particularly in an automobile or an ambulance. Thus, the incubator of the present invention is arranged to retain the infant in proper position within the bassinet in the incubator, notwithstanding encountering substanital inertia forces, such as acceleration forces resulting from rapid movements of the vehicle in which the incubator is carried when making turns and the like.

In accordance with another aspectof'the invention, a heating system is provided and provision'is made for heat insulation of the incubator to an extend adequate to maintain a desired warm atmosphere, notwithstanding the wide fluctuations in the ambient temperatures which must necessarily be encountered in the transit of an incubator, particularly in winter or cold seasons or climates in which the incubator may be subjected to ambient temperatures as low as F. or even lower, depending upon the area or climate where the incubator is used.

It is a further object of the invention to provide the incubator with a self-contained air circulation system, so that in transit adequate fresh air and/or oxygen will be supplied to the infant.

For operating both the heating and air circulation systems, provision is made for the input of electrical power to the incubator and it is an object of the invention to adapt the power input arrangement to the portable use of the incubator, preferably providing alternatively for connection to the standard 110v 60 cycle power supply, or to a battery, such as th common l2v battery of automotive vehicles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a humidification system which will also be unaffected by inertia forces encountered in transit, so that there will be no danger of spillage of water employed for humidification.

Still further it is an object of the invention to provide an optionally usable accessory frame preferably carrying not only a battery which may be employed as'thesource of power for the incubator, but also a battery charger arranged to effect charging of the battery whenever the incubator is connected with a NOV 60 cycle supply line. In this way the local battery which may be carried with the incubator in transit may already be charged and thus prepared for use of the incubator in transit.

How the foregoing objects and advantages of the invention are attained will be clear from the following description referring to the following drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of an incubator according to the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a similar isometric view of the optionally usable accessory frame;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the incubator and the accessory frame assembled therewith, the view being taken as indicated by the section 33 on FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the incubator and accessory frame taken from the left hand end of the incubator as viewed in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken as in- 'dicated by the section line 5-5 on FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the incubator of FIGS. 1 to 5; FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevational view of the cover overlying the area of the filter chamber and air circulation fan;.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken as indicated by the line 8-8 on FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view through the filter chamber taken as indicated by the line 9--9 on FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view through the fan chamber taken as indicated by the line 10-10 on FIG. 7;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are views of separable power cords adapted for alternative use with l 10v a.c. power and with 12v battery power;

FIG. 13 is an isometric view with a part broken away, illustrating a heater element employed in the hood of the'incubator;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13 but illustrating a heater element employed in the base of the incubator; and

FIG. 15 is a circuit diagram illustrating various parts of the electrical system and controls embodied in both the incubator and the devices associated with the accessoryframe.

Referring now to the drawings, andparticularly to FIG. 1, theincubator comprises, in general, a M568 and a hood structure above the base. The base is provided with an upwardly open chamber adapted to receive a support for the infant, and the hood comprises a rear portion 17 preferably of double wall insulated construction, and a front portion 18 in the form of a parti-cylindrical transparent element which is openable, as will be further described, and which provides for visual observation of the infant within the incubator and for removal and insertion of the infant either with or without the infant support.

Turning now to the construction of the base in greater detail, reference is made not only to FIG. 1 but also to FIGS. 3-6 inclusive. The base comprises an inner wall 19 having a side, bottom and end portions defining the upwardly open chamber for receiving the infant support, preferably a bassinet which is formed of framing elements 20 having handles 21 at the ends thereof, the bassinet also being provided with a foam rubber lining 22 having bottom, side and end portions, with the side and end portions of substantial width so that the bassinet is of considerable depth, thereby providing for cushioning within the bassinet not only in the bottom wall, but also in the side and end walls, for the protection of the infant being transported. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, a harness H is fastened to the bassinet and is adapted to encircle the infant in order to make sure that the infant remains in proper position in the "bassinet. The portions of the harness extended around the infant may be fastened together in any suitable manner, preferably by interengaging fibrous type of pile and hook elements of known construction, one example of which is commercially available under the tradename Velcro. The harness is fastened to the bassinet framing 20 by means of straps which extend through apertures 220, as seen in FIG. 5.

The base also comprises an outer wall 23 having bottom, side and end portions spaced from the corresponding portions of the inner wall to accommodate insulation, for instance polyurethane foam indicated at 24. From FIGS. 3 and 4 it will be noted that the end portion 25 of the outer wall of the base is specially shaped to accommodate certain of the equipment associated with the incubator as will later be described, the insulation 24 being terminated short of the wall 25 in order to leave a space 26 at the left end of the incubator when viewed as in FIG. 3 for the purpose of accommodating the equipment mentioned below.

Around its upper edges, the base is provided with frame members, including the longitudinal members 27, 27, which are interconnected at their ends by handles 28 and 29, the handles 29 being provided with a horizontal deck 30 serving as a control panel on which certain control devices are mounted (see FIGS. 1 and 6).

The base also has a channel in the bottom wall thereof extended throughout the length of the infant-receiving chamber below the bassinet, to receive the elongated cellular element or sponge 31 (see FIGS. 3 and 5) which is adapted to absorb a substantial quantity of water and serve as a source of moisture for humidification within the incubator in a manner which will be described more fully hereinafter.

The rear portion 17 of the hood, like the base, has an inner wall 32 and an outer wall 33, spaced from each other to receive polyurethane or similar cellular or foam insulation such as indicated at 34. In general the rear portion of the hood has rear and top walls and also end walls overlying the end walls of the ase. The rear portion of the hood extends over approximately the rear half of the base chamber.

The front portion 18 of the hood comprises a transparent member representing approximately one-quarter of a cylinder, but with end walls 35, 35. This portion of the hood is desirably formed of transparent plastic material, such as polymethylmethacrylate.

The inner and outer walls 19 and 23 of the base and the inner and outer walls 32 and 33 of the rear portion of the hood are advantageously molded of resin material, a particularly useful material for this purpose being acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, this resin material being flame retardant.

The rear portion 17 of the hood is hinged at 36 to the rear frame rail 27 of the base in order to provide for pivotal opening movement of the rear portion of the hood, for instance to the position indicated by dot and dash lines 170 in FIG. 4. Scissors linkage 37 may be employed as a means for limiting the opening movement of the hood part 17a, this linkage being indicated at 37a in FIG. 4 in the position occupied when the hood is opened. The hood I7 is effectively locked in its closed position when the scissors linkage 37 is in the full line position shown in FIG. 4. Swinging of the linkage to the position indicated at 37b will permit the hood to be opened.

The front portion of the hood 18 is pivotally connected by pivots 38, 38 with the rear hood portion 17. These pivots 38 interconnect the lower rear corners of the end walls 35 of the front portion of the hood 18 with the lower front corners of the end walls of the rear portion of the hood 17, so that, as viewed in FIG. 5, the front portion of the hood 18 may be swung into a position nested within the rear portion of the hood, as indicated at 18a. A releasible latch I812 serves to retain the hood portion 18 in closed position.

Opening movement of the front portion of the hood provides an access opening into the chamber within the incubator so that the infant in the incubator may be given attention and also so that the bassinet within the incubator may be removed or reinserted to the position indicated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5.

With the front portion 18 of the hood opened to the nested position within the rear portion of the hood, the rear portion may then also be swung upwardly and rearwardly in the manner indicated in FIG. 4, thereby opening the entire top of the base for full access to any part of the interior.

The rear portion 17 of the hood is provided with an internal recess or cavity in the top wall thereof, in order to receive the lighting fixture 39 which is provided with a control switch 40 (see FIGS. and 6).

In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated particularly in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, l3 and 14, the heater elements employed in the incubator are electrical heater elements in a special form, i.e., a form which in effect, comprises extended surface heater elements disposed over a substantial portion of the area of certain walls of the incubator, notably the side and bottom walls of the base and the rear and top walls of the rear portion 17 of the hood.

Thus, the rear and top walls of the hood are virtually covered with a heater element indicated at 41 in FIGS. 3, 5 and 13. In effect this heater element is in sheet form and is flexed so that a portion of the element lies at the rear wall and a portion at the top wall of the hood part 17. The heater element comprises a lamination of several plies including a top sheet 42 formed, for example, of Mylar resin material which may have a thickness of the order of 0.0015 with a pressure sensitive adhesive at the exposed face of the sheet. An additional sheet of Mylar resin material indicated at 43, appropriately of thickness of about 0.00075", is included, and the two Mylar sheets 42 and 43 are laminated together with an interposed metallic foil heater element indicated at 44 having many turns or runs over the surface of the heater element so that, in effect, the heater is a surface heater element. A bottom coating, for instance an aluminized coating 45 may also be provided.

As seen in FIG. 13 the metallic foil element 44 may have terminal connection tabs 46, these tabs, in the particular heater shown in FIG. 13 being arranged in a region lying within the overall area of the heater corresponding to the location of the lighting fixture 39, and the turns of the foil 44 are preferably arranged to leave an opening through which the lighting fixture may project. When installed the pressure sensitive adhesive serves to secure the heater element against the inside surface of the inner wall 32 of the hood portion 17.

A laminated sheet type heater element of the same general type of construction is also used in the base of the incubator, this element being shown in FIG. 14. As there seen, the heater element comprises three interconnected strips 47 and 48, 48. These strips are arranged and proportioned to lie respectively at the bottom of the base under the cavity in which the humidifier sponge is located, and at the two side walls of the base, as clearly appears in FIG. 5. Connection tabs 49 (see FIG. 14) are provided for delivering the heating current to this heater element. In the case of the heater element for the base, it is advantageous to adhesively apply this element to the outer face of the inside wall 19 of the base, so that, in effect, the heater element lies at the inner surface of the insulation layer 24 in the base. It will be understood that a flexible wire connection (not shown) extends from the base to the hood to supply current to the hood heaters and lamp.

The arrangement of the heater elements as described above provides for warming the air within the incubator, both by convection and by radiation. The embodiment of the heaters with extended surface area provides for adequate warming action, while maintaining the heater elements at a relatively low and therefore safe temperature.

In considering the air circulation system of the incubator, attention is directed to FIGS. 1, 3 and 7-10. In the space 26 below the deck 30 of the handle structure 29, there is a partition 50 having a cover plate 51 associated therewith, the partition 50 being shaped to define an inlet or fan chamber 52 and a filter chamber 53, the two chambers having intercommunication as indicated at 54 in FIG. 7.

An opening is provided in the cover plate 51 in registration with the fan chamber 52 and this opening comprises the air inlet opening for the incubator, a strainer 55 being provided over this opening to prevent entrance of dirt or other undesirable material into the air stream of the incubator. A small squirrel cage fan 56 is disposed within the fan chamber 52 and serves to draw air inwardly through the strainer 55 and to deliver the air through the connection 54 into the upstream side of the filter chamber. The fan is mounted by means of a shaft 57 driven by a motor 58.

A filter element 59 is adapted to be clamped at its edges between parts of the partition 50 and the cover 51. The cover 51 is provided with an aperture at 51a at the upstream side of the filter. The outer side of the filter chamber itself (at the upstream side of the filter element 59) is closed by means of a transparent partition 60, formed for example of polymethylmethacrylate. At the downstream side of the filter element a duct 61 serves to deliver the filtered air from the filter chamber 53 into the incubator, this duct being extended to deliver the incoming air into the space between the bottom of the bassinet and the top of the humidifying sponge 31 endwise thereof. From this region, the air flows upwardly at the sides of the bassinet and through various openings in the liner 22, for instance openings indicated at 22a in FIG. 5. Ultimately, the air is discharged through openings or cracks between parts of the hood and the base, notably between the upper rear edge of the openable hood portion 18 and forward edge of the hood portion 17. In this way a constant stream of fresh air is delivered through the incubator.

Several points are to be noted in connection with the air supply system, as follows:

In the first place it will be observed that the fan, including the fan operating motor is disposed entirely externally of the infant receiving chamber in the base of the incubator. Moreover, it will be noted that the fan is at the upstream side of the filter and that there is no connection between the fan chamber or the upstream side of the filter chamber and the incubator except through the filter. In view of this, the problem of sterilization and maintaining aseptic conditions within the incubator is greatly simplified.

In addition, it will be observed that the arrangement of the air supply system, including the provision of the transparent cover 60 for the filter chamber makes it possible to observe the condition of the filter without removal of any cover or other closure. Advantageously the inside surface of the transparent cover 60 is provided with a half-tone gray spot 62 in a position which is in the normal line of vision when observing the filter. With a filter of appropriate construction (for instance, mat type glass fibers with a resin binder), the dust and other foreign material accumulating on the surface of the filter has a grayish tone and by employing a spot 62 on the cover 60 matching the color of the material ordinarily building up on the filter, the attendant may gauge the condition of the filter visually. Thus, when the spot in effect disappears, because of the filter assuming the same color as the spot, the attendant will know that the filter should be changed.

Still another aspect of the air supply system which should be noted is that the operation of the fan may be observed through the cover 51 which, like the cover 60, is also formed of trans parent plastic material. In this way the attendant may readily note whether or not the air circulation fan is in fact operating.

It is contemplated that the deck 30 of the handle structure 29 at the left end of the incubator be provided with certain devices associated with the power supply and control system. Thus, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 6, a power input connection device 63 is provided, with which either of the power cords shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 may cooperate. The connection device 63 preferably has projecting prongs and the complementary part of the power cords shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 are preferably in the form of receptacles. On the front of the base of the incubator (see FIGS. 1 and 5) hangers C are provided so that the power cord of FIGS. 11 or 12 which is not in use in any given time may be wound on the hangers and thus kept in readiness with the incubator.

An adjustment device 64 is also provided for an air responsive control device within the incubator in order to provide for setting the operation of the heaters at a level to maintain an appropriate temperature within the incubator. Still further a device 64a is provided for fixedly setting an adjustment for a limiting thermostat responsive to the air temperature in the incubator, as will be further explained herebelow in connection with the operating and control circuit for the incubator. The deck 30 also carries certain signal lights as will further be explained.

A thermometer indicated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6 at 65 serves to indicate the temperature established within the incubator.

As above noted, the incubator may be used substantially in the form above described, or may alternatively or optionally be used in association with an accessory frame which is illustrated in FIG. 2 by itself, and which appears in association with the incubator in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. This accessory frame is conveniently formed of a pair of U-shaped tubular members 66, 66 interconnected by longitudinal angle members 67. The upper ends of the tubular member 66 are desirably flattened as clearly appears in various of the figures and are adapted to be received in the vertical grooves 68 which are provided in the base, being disposed in pairs at opposite sides of the base toward each end. Appropriate fastening bolts or studs may be used for interconnecting the accessory frame and the base.

The accessory frame is adapted to carry an oxygen bottle of standard size indicated at 69, this bottle being removably fastened by means of a clamping device 70, so that the bottle may be changed when desired.

The oxygen bottle may be connected with the air supply system by means of a flexible tube 71 indicated in FIG. 4, which is adapted to be connected with the nipple 72 of the oxygen supply pipe 73 (see FIGS. 1 and 4), the pipe 73 being extended to deliver the oxygen into the duct 54 between the fan chamber 52 and the upstream side of the filter chamber 53 (see FIG. 7). By this arrangement the oxygen supply will mix with the incoming air and is introduced into the system at the upstream side of the filter.

The accessory frame also carries a battery 74 preferably having a power output connection 75. Advantageously this connection 75 is appropriate for mating with the plug at the left end of the battery power cord shown in FIG. 12, so that this power cord may then be used to connect the battery on the accessory frame with the power input connector 63 on the base of the incubator.

The accessory frame still further carries a battery charger 76 so that whenever the accessory frame and the incubator are assembled and at the same time the incubator is being operated on a source of llOv current (which condition is established by use of the power cord shown in FIG. I], plugged into a suitable ll0v receptacle and also connected with the device 63) the battery 74 will receive charging current from the charger 76.

The portions of the electrical components mounted on the accessory frame on the one hand and on the incubator on the other hand are adapted to be interconnected by means of a plug 77 (FIG. 2) associated with the charger 76, and a complementary receptacle 78 (FIG. 3) mounted on the bottom of the base of the incubator in position so that when the accessory frame and the incubator are assembled, the plug 77 and receptacle 78 will interengage.

The accessory frame still further may be employed to mount a box or container 66:: which may have an appropriate access lid, providing for the storage of any equipment or supplies desired to be transported with the incubator.

In FIG. 15 there is illustrated a circuit diagram showing all of the electrical components diagrammatically and illustrating the manner of interconnection thereof when the accessory frame and the incubator are interconnected. The battery 74 and the charger 76 carried by the accessory frame are indicated in FIG. 15 enclosed within a dot-dash line and it will be understood that the interconnection of the charger with the remainder of the circuit as shown in FIG. 15 is actually effected by interconnection of the plug and receptacle 77 and 78 shown respectively in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The power input connector is again indicated at 63, the winding of the fan motor is indicated at 58, and the heater elements of FIGS. 13 and 14 are indicated at H1 and H2, the former representing the heater element applied in the portion 17 of the hood, and the latter the heater element mounted in the base of the incubator.

The adjustment device 64 for the heat control element is indicated by the same numeral and it may here be mentioned that this unit may conveniently comprise a thermostat diagrammatically indicated at 79 (FIGS. 15 and 4).

A limiting thermostat 80 having a device 64a for fixed setting (FIG. 4) is arranged in series with the adjustable thermostat 79 and serves as a safety device. The operating bulbs 79a and 80a (FIGS. 3 and 4) for both of the thermostats 79 and 80 are, of course, exposed to the air within the incubator. Safety signals are provided in the form of a red light 81 and a buzzer 82 both of which will be activated whenever the thermostat 80 opens. A double throw test switch indicated diagrammatically at 83 serves the purpose of checking the safety alarm devices 81 and 82 regardless of whether the thermostats 79 and 80 are open or closed.

The dome light in the portion 17 of the hood is shown in th diagram at 39 as is also the switch 40 for controlling the dome light. The signal light 84, for instance a white light, serves to indicate that there is power in the system. Still another signal light 85, for instance a yellow light, indicates that current is being supplied to the heaters.

The heater H1 which is arranged in the portion 17 of the hood is further provided with a surface temperature thermostat 86 (see also FIG. 6). This thermostat is applied to the surface of the heater element 41 and is responsive to its surface temperature, thereby serving as a limiting or safety device preventing rise in temperature of this element to a value which would be in any way injurious, even upon contact with the heater element.

The connector 63 is provided with six contacts, the three toward the right as viewed in FIG. being utilized in connection with the operation of the incubator on battery power (or if desired any other source of low voltage dc. current). With the power cord of FIG. 12 connected with a battery and with the receptacle thereof associated with the connector 63, the top and bottom contacts are interconnected and are connected to one side (the positive side) of the battery, and the intermediate contact is connected with the negative side of the battery, thereby delivering the battery current to the convertor 87, as is indicated in the diagram of FIG. 15. The positive and negative sides of the battery are also connected with the heater operating circuit, the latter connection being effected through a switch indicated at 51, so that both the circulation fan and the heaters, as well as the dome light 39 will now all be operating on battery power. Switch S1 is one of three (the other two being identified at $2 and S3) which are ganged together and which represent parts of a switching mechanism operated by a solenoid indicated at S. The positions of all three of these switches as shown in FIG. 15 are those occupied when operating on battery power, the solenoid S being deenergized at this time and the switches being maintained in the positions shown, for instance by a return spring.

The battery power cord shown in FIG. 12 may be connected either with the battery 74 carried in the accessory frame or with some other battery, for instance a battery in an ambulance. If the battery 74 is to be used, the plug at the left end of the cord shown in FIG. 12 will be plugged into the receptacle shown at 75 in FIGS. 2 and 15, the current from the battery being delivered through the conductors 88 which interconnect the battery and the charger.

The three contacts of the connector 63 to the left as viewed in FIG. 15 are adapted to be associated with the 110v cable shown in FIG. 11, providing a grounding point as indicated and also supplying the 110v 6O cycle current both to the charger 76 and also to the primary winding of the step-down transformer indicated at T. In this mode of operation the charger 76 serves to recharge the battery 74, and the lower voltage, for instance about 24v of the secondary of the transformer T is delivered to the convertor 87 with which the motor winding 58 is associated in order to effect operation of the air circulation fan. It will be observed that the secondary winding of the transformer T is center-tapped, to provide a source of 12v current to the solenoid S, operation of which results in upward movement of the switch blades of all of the switches S1, S2 and S3, in order to effect the connection of the secondary of the transformer to the convertor 87 and thereby deliver the desired current to the motor winding. In this mode of operation the l2v current is also delivered to the heater operating circuit, as will be seen.

By the circuit arrangements described above, including the alternative employment of the llOv cable of FIG. 11 or the 12v battery cable of FIG. 12, provision is made for operation of the incubator on either type of current and also for charging of the battery carried in the accessory frame, whenever the accessory frame is associated with the incubator and a connection is made from a l 10v supply line to the connection device 63. Still further the circuit, switching and cabling arrangements are arranged so that it is not possible to concurrently connect the battery 74 to the load when the system is connected with a 110v line. This prevents an undesirable condition in which the charger might be activated the same time the battery is connected to the load. The interconnection between the battery and the charger is also indicated in FIG. 2 at 88 and preferably this interconnection includes a disconnectible plug system in order to facilitate replacement of batteries.

Another important advantage of the arrangement providing for alternative use of the two power cords of FIGS. 1 l and 12, is that this eliminates the necessity for using a selector switch,

for instance a manually operable selector switch on the control panel, when changing over from one source of current to another. The arrangement of the application is therefore more foolproof, requiring no attention to a selector switch when changing from one current to another.

With regard to the heater operating and control system it should be observed that the heat control device 79 which has an adjustable control 64 may be set at the desired air temperature value in order to provide the desired warmth for the infant in transit. The thermostat 80 is in the nature of a air temperature limiting thermostat and represents a safety feature. This thermostat is not normally adjusted in use of the incubator but is adapted to be fixedly set by the device 64a. The surface thermostat 86 also represents a safety feature, in order to limit the temperature of the heater element in the hood so that there is no danger of injury even from contact with that heater element.

According to the foregoing, an incubator is provided which, in a variety of different respects, is especially adapted to portable usage, the infant being well protected as against injury from dynamic forces and also being protected as against extreme temperature changes. Moreover, an adequate and filtered air supply is assured. Numerous safety features or precautions are also embodied in the system considered as a whole, including the alarm test arrangement, and also the arrangement for visual observation of the operation of the air circulation fan and of the condition of the air filter.

Although various values have been referred to in connection with battery and alternating current voltages, it will be understood that those values are given only by way of illustration and that others can be used.

I claim:

1. An incubator comprising an elongated base portion having side, end and bottom walls defining an upwardly open chamber for receiving a bassinet, and a hood structure above the base comprising a rear portion overlying about the rear half of the base and having end walls above the end walls of the base, the hood structure further including a front portion having a curved transparent wall overlying the front part of the base and having end walls above the end walls of the base but lying in planes between the planes of the end walls of the rear portion of the hood, pivot means interconnecting the adjacent lower corners of the end walls of the rear and front portions of the hood structure and providing for pivotal movement of the front portion from its position overlying the front part of the base to a nested position within the rear portion of the hood to provide an access opening into the incubator, the access opening being proportioned to provide for insertion and removal of the bassinet through the access opening, and pivot means interconnecting the rear portion of the hood to the rear wall of the base and providing for pivotal rearward swinging movement of the hood structure with the front portion nested within the rear portion and thereby provide for uncovering most of the top of the base for ready access to the interior thereof.

2. An incubator according to claim 1 and further including releasible fastening means for restraining the rear portion of the hood against pivotal movement when the front portion is opened.

3. An incubator comprising an elongated base portion having side, end and bottom walls defining an upwardly open chamber for receiving a bassinet, and a hood structure above the base comprising a rear portion, overlying about the rear half of the base and having end walls above the end walls of the base, the base and hood walls at the bottom, sides and top of the incubator comprising cellular heat insulating material, and the hood structure further including a front portion having a transparent wall overlying the front part of the base, and means mounting at least the transparent portion of the hood for displacement movement to provide an access opening into the incubator, the access opening being proportioned to provide for insertion and removal of the bassinet through the access opening.

4. An incubator comprising an elongated base portion having side and bottom walls defining a chamber for receiving an infant, a hood structure above the base comprising a rear portion having walls overlying the rear part of the base chamber and a transparent openable front portion overlying the front part of the base chamber, and surface heater elements extended throughout at least a major part of the side and bottom walls of the base and also of the rear portion of the hood structure.

5. An incubator comprising an elongated base portion having side and bottom walls defining a chamber for receiving an infant support, a hood structure above the base at least a portion of which is openable for access to an infant on the support in the base, and an electrical heating element having air heating surface extended throughout a large part of the hood surface overlying the infant support.

6. An incubator according to claim further including a control system for the heater element including a device responsive to the temperature of the heater element.

7. An incubator comprising an elongated base portion having side, end and bottom walls defining an upwardly open chamber for receiving a bassinet, a removable bassinet in the base chamber, a hood extended over the base to enclose the top of the base chamber, the bottom wall of the base having a channel formed therein and upwardly open under the bassinet, a sponge in said channel serving as a reservoir for water for humidifying the incubator, and an air circulation system for the incubator having a fresh air inlet positioned to direct air into the incubator in a path extending between the sponge and the bottom of the bassinet.

8. An incubator comprising an elongated base portion having side and bottom walls defining a chamber for receiving an infant, a hood structure above the base for enclosing the chamber above the infant and including a surface extended over said chamber, an electrical heater element in the base below the base chamber, an electrical heater element extended over the said surface of the hood structure and having an air heating surface extended over said chamber, and a heater control circuit for the heater elements comprising an adjustable control device responsive to the air temperature within the incubator for regulating the heating action of both of the heater elements.

9. An incubator according to claim 8 and further including a control device responsive to the temperature of the heater element associated with the hood wall for limiting the temperature of that element.

10. An incubator comprising a base having an upwardly open chamber therein for receiving an infant support, a hood overlying the base and having at least a portion which is openable for access to the interior of the base chamber, an air outlet adjacent the openable portion of the hood, and an air circulation system for the incubator including an air intake, a filter chamber with an outlet delivering the filtered air into the base chamber, and an air circulation fan interposed between the air intake and the filter chamber and providing for forced circulation of air into the base chamber and out of the outlet adjacent the openable portion of the hood.

11. An incubator according to claim 10 in which the filter chamber and fan are mounted on the base but in which the base is provided with a partition wall isolating the filter chamber and fan from the base chamber.

12. An incubator comprising a base having an upwardly open chamber therein for receiving an infant support, a hood overlying the base and having at least a portion of which is openable for access to the interior of the base chamber, and an air circulation system for the incubator including a filter chamber connected with the base and having an outlet for filtered air communicating with the base chamber, an air inlet into the filter chamber, a replaceable filter in the filter chamber, and a cover for the filter chamber at the inlet side of the filter, the cover being transparent and being exposed to view exteriorly of the base of the incubator.

13. An incubator comprising a base having an upwardly open chamber therein for receiving an infant support, a hood overlying the base and having at least aportion which is openable for access to the interior of the base chamber, and an air circulation system for the incubator including a filter chamber connected with the base and having an outlet for filtered air communicating with the base chamber, an air inlet into the filter chamber, an air circulating fan in the inlet to the filter chamber, the fan being exposed to view through said inlet, a replaceable filter in the filter chamber, and a cover for the filter chamber at the inlet side of the filter, the cover being transparent and being exposed to view exteriorly of the base of the incubator.

14. An incubator comprising a base having an upwardly open chamber therein for receiving an infant support, a hood overlying the base and having at least a portion which is openable for access to the interior of the base chamber, and an air circulation system for the incubator including a filter chamber connected with the base and having an outlet for delivering filtered air into the base chamber, an air inlet arranged to receive air exteriorly of the base chamber and to deliver air into the upstream side of the filter chamber, a passage for delivering air from the filter chamber into the chamber for receiving the infant, an outlet opening for the air in the infant's chamber, said outlet opening lying adjacent an openable portion of the hood, and an air circulating fan disposed in the inlet to the filter chamber and serving to force air through the filter into the infants chamber and out of the outlet opening.

15. An incubator according to claim 14 and further including a removable bassinet in the base chamber, the bottom of the base being provided with an upwardly open cavity for receiving a humidifying sponge below the bassinet, the outlet opening of the filter chamber delivering the filtered air into the space between the bottom of the bassinet and the sponge.

16. An incubator comprising a base having an upwardly open chamber therein for receiving an infant support, a hood overlying the base and having at least a portion which is openable for access to the interior of the base chamber, an electrical heater for the incubator, a heater operating circuit, a separable connection device on the incubator for electrical power input to the heater operating circuit, an accessory frame carrying an electrical power source, the frame and the base of the incubator having separable interfitting elements for interpositioning the frame and the incubator, and separable means for connecting the power source on the accessory frame to the heater operating circuit.

17. An incubator according to claim 16 in which the separa ble means for connecting the power source on the accessory frame to the heater operating circuit comprises a separable electrical connection device complementary to the connection device on the incubator.

18. An incubator comprising a base having an upwardly open chamber therein for receiving an infant support, ahood overlying the base and having at least a portion which is openable for access to,tl e interior of the base chamber; an electrical heater for the incubator; a power circuit for the incubator, a separable connection device on the incubator for electrical power input to the power circuit, the connection device having connection elements providing alternatively for connection either with an alternating current power source or with a battery, a separable accessory frame carrying a battery and a battery charger, the frame and the base of the incubator having separable interfitting elements for interpositioning the frame and the incubator, separable means for connecting the battery on the accessory frame to said separable connection device, and means interconnecting the battery charger and said circuit when the accessory frame and the incubator are assembled and including means providing for operation of the charger to charge the battery when the separable connection device is connected with an, alternating current power source.

19. An incubator comprising a base having an upwardly open chamber therein for receiving an infant support; a hood device having connection elements providing alternatively for connection either with an alternating current power source or with a battery, a battery and a battery charger, separable means for connecting the battery to said separable connection device, and means interconnecting the battery charger and said circuit and including means providing for operation of the charger to charge the battery when the separable connection device is connected with an alternating current power source.

20. An incubator comprising a base having an upwardly open chamber therein for receiving an infant support, a hood overlying the base and having at least a portion which is openable for access to the interior of the base chamber, an electrical heater for the incubator, a power circuit for the incubator, a separable connection device on the incubator for electrical power input to the power circuit, the connection device having means providing alternatively for connection with an alternating current power source or with a battery but providing against concurrent connection with both an alternating current source and a battery, a battery and a battery charger and circuit means providing for operation of the battery charger to charge the battery whenever the separable connection device is connected with an alternating current source.

21. A portable incubator comprising an elongated base portion having side and bottom walls defining a chamber for receiving a bassinet, a hood structure above the base comprising a rear portion having walls overlying the rear part of the base chamber and a transparent front portion overlying the front part of the base chamber and movable with respect to the rear portion of the hood to provide an openable and closable access opening proportioned to provide for insertion and removal of the bassinet, and electrical heater elements having air heating surface extended throughout at least a major part of the incubator walls defining the base chamber.

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