AN IMPROVED PORTABLE BASSINET WITH CONTROLLED INFRARED WARMING FACILITY FOR THERMOREGULATION OF LOW-BIRTH- WEIGHT INFANTS TO ACHIEVE FASTER WEIGHT RECOVERY AND A METHOD FOR THE SAME
In the present invention, a bassinet is provided with a cluster of infrared emitting diodes (IR diodes) fitted on to a detachable warming pad (2) which emits infrared rays in the wavelength suitable for warming a baby. The baby lies on the base of the bassinet (1). The bassinet (1) consists of a container (22) made of high quality transparent material on the top of which, the warming pad (2) is disposed. The infrared rays emitted from the IR diodes fall on the surface of the baby except face region. The thermal energy released by the cluster of IR diodes raise the temperature of the environment surrounding the baby to physiological condition. Since the IR diodes are kept near to the babys body and not in direct contact, only very little thermal energy of order of few tens of watts is required to keep the baby warm. The IR diodes are arranged such that, the combined effect is sufficient to warm the baby in a uniform way without creation of any local hot spots or injury to eyes. A set of temperature sensors distributed throughout the bassinet and warming pad feedback the temperature to a power controller, which provides enough current to drive the IR diodes. The power converter is fitted with a battery pack to power the controller in case of electrical supply failure. The infant warmer as per the invention is light in weight, transportable and battery operated.
