Patent Application
20130150656
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an infant transporter apparatus.
Conventional infant incubators and hybrid incubator/warmers provide a confined enclosure adapted to retain an infant in a controlled environment. A convective heating system generates heated air to regulate temperature within the enclosure. Incubators and hybrid incubator/warmers may also comprise a humidifier configured to regulate the humidity within the controlled environment.
One problem with conventional infant incubators and hybrid incubator/warmers is that they are generally not Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) compatible. It is therefore typically necessary to physically transfer the infant from the incubator or incubator/warmer bed onto the MRI table. The handling and stimulation associated with a conventional bed-to-bed transfer can harm the infant.
The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein which will be understood by reading and understanding the following specification.
In an embodiment, an infant transporter includes a transporter base, a support member secured to the base, and a housing supported by the support member. The housing includes a radio frequency coil adapted to emit a radio frequency configured to enable magnetic resonance imaging. The infant transporter exclusively comprises components that are magnetic resonance imaging compatible.
In another embodiment, an infant transporter includes a transporter base, and a vertically adjustable support member secured to the base. The infant transporter also includes a transporter platform secured to the support member. The transporter platform is translatable relative to the support member. The infant transporter also includes a housing supported by and secured to the transporter platform. The housing comprises a radio frequency coil adapted to emit a radio frequency configured to enable magnetic resonance imaging. The infant transporter exclusively comprises components that are magnetic resonance imaging compatible.
Various other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be made apparent to those skilled in the art from the accompanying drawings and detailed description thereof.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments that may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.
Referring to
The transporter base 12 may comprise a generally V-shaped base member 20 with a plurality of wheels 22. The V-shaped geometry of the base member 20 defines a truncated point 24 and a generally opposite aperture 26. The aperture 26 may be implemented to accommodate an infant incubator or hybrid incubator/warmer as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The V-shaped geometry is optional, and other geometries may be envisioned (e.g., U-shaped, square U-shaped, horseshoe shaped, etc.). The wheels 22 may be implemented to facilitate translation of the infant transporter 10.
The support member 14 is secured to and extends away from the transporter base 12. The support member 14 is preferably vertically adjustable and therefore may comprise a cylindrical telescoping geometry. This vertical adjustment may help accommodated any height differential between an infant's starting point (e.g., an incubator or incubator/warmer) and destination (e.g., an MRI bore).
The transporter platform 16 is secured to and supported by the support member 14. The transporter platform 16 is both large enough to accommodate an infant and small enough to be disposed within an MRI bore. The transporter platform 16 may optionally be translatable in a fore/aft direction relative to the support member 14 as indicated by arrows 29. In other words, the transporter platform 16 can slide along its major axis to extend further away from the support member 14 in either the fore or aft direction as shown by arrows 29. According to one embodiment, the transporter platform 16 comprises a tapered end portion 28. As will be described in more detail, the tapered end portion 28 may be implemented to facilitate the transition of an infant from one environment to another with minimal stimulation.
The transporter platform 16 is depicted with an optional schematically represented convective heater 30 pneumatically coupled with the housing 18. The heater 30 may alternatively comprise any known technology for generating heat such as, for example, a radiant heater. The heater 30 may alternatively be secured to or disposed within other infant transporter 10 components such as, for example, the support member 14 or the housing 18. The heater 30 can regulate the thermal environment within the housing 18 thereby minimizing the impact associated with transitioning an infant from the controlled environment of an incubator.
The housing 18 is secured to and supported by the transporter platform 16. The housing 18 may comprise a generally cylindrical shell composed of a non-magnetic material such as nylon or plastic. The housing 18 is adapted to circumscribe and retain an infant 32. The housing 18 may comprise a transporter mattress 33 so that the infant 32 can be retained with optimal comfort. The housing 18 may define an open end portion 34 and a generally opposite occluded end portion 36. The infant 32 may pass through the open end portion 34 such that her head is positioned near the occluded end portion 36.
The housing 18 may comprise a radio frequency (RF) coil 38 shown with dashed lines. The RF coil 38 may be disposed within the housing 18 at a location adapted to facilitate the imaging of a specific region or anatomy of interest. The RF coil 38 is configured to emit a radiofrequency enabling an MRI. The housing 18 may also comprise line management feature 39 adapted to organize any peripheral wires or tubing to the infant 32.
Referring to
The incubator/warmer 40 may comprise an incubator base 42, a vertical frame 44, an incubator platform 46, an incubator mattress 48, a plurality of incubator walls 50 and an incubator hood 52. The incubator base 42 may include one or more wheels 54 to facilitate translation of the incubator/warmer 40. The vertical frame 44 may be secured to and extend vertically away from the incubator base 42. The incubator platform 46 may be secured to the vertical frame 44, or may alternatively be secured to the incubator base 42. The incubator mattress 48 may be secured to and supported by the incubator platform 46.
One or more of the incubator walls 50 may be pivotably secured to the incubator platform 46. The incubator walls 50 can be pivoted between an up-position (not shown) and a down-position (shown in
The incubator hood 52 may be secured to the vertical frame 44. The incubator hood 52 may be vertically adjustable between a lowered-position (not shown) and a raised-position (shown in
Referring to
According to one embodiment, the transporter platform 16 may be translated underneath the infant 32 such that the infant 32 is transitioned from the incubator mattress 48 into the infant transporter's housing 18 without handling the infant 32. The optional tapered end portion 28 of the transporter platform 16 may be implemented to more seamlessly slide underneath the infant 32 and thereby minimize stimulation as the infant 32 is transferred from the incubator mattress 48 into the infant housing 18.
Referring to
Referring again to
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
