We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Innovative Infant Incubator Protects Most Vulnerable

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 28 Nov 2018
Print article
Image: The AmnioBed amniotic neonatal incubator system (Photo courtesy of Amnion Life).
Image: The AmnioBed amniotic neonatal incubator system (Photo courtesy of Amnion Life).
A novel incubator system for neonatal intensive care units (nICUs) incorporates synthetic amniotic fluid in a self-regulating, sterile, submersion bath.

The Amnion Life (Newport, CA, USA) AmnioBed is a neonatal incubator system that features an amniotic fluid submersion bath that simulates the mother's womb, providing a potentially ideal environment to nurture premature infants. The synthetic amniotic fluid is produced using water purified through six medical grade filters, eliminating all harmful substances, bacteria, and viruses. The purified water is then dosed with electrolyte and minerals (found naturally in amniotic fluid) via a dosing pump to create sterile, synthetic amniotic fluid.

Features include a built-in system for temperature and osmolality that warms the water to the proper temperature; based on the age of the infant, operators have the option to choose the level of osmolality that they want. Sensors placed under the infant's chin ensure fluid in the bath never goes above the chin level, and fluid clarity sensors beneath the pelvic area detect stool defecated by the infant, leading to automatic flushing and replacement with fresh fluid. The fluid in the bath is also continuously circulated through an ultraviolet (UV) filter and heat source to maintain sterility and temperature.

In addition, the AmnioBed includes an infant seat with a harness that straps the infant's chest and pelvis in place, so the infant cannot accidentally get fully submerged; a monitoring cap that covers most of the scalp that incorporates a skin temperature sensor, an O2 level monitoring sensor, and several openings over the fontanelles for ultrasound probe placement; and another monitor for the mother which provides direct audio/video feedback from inside the incubator to a proprietary app, so the mother can keep in constant contact with the infant.

“The AmnioBed has the potential to reduce the length of stay for infants and to improve the rate of weight gain and growth in the NICU, thus saving significant direct costs of short and long-term visits, in addition to providing infants with improved health and comfort,” said Amir Fassihi, MD, founder and CEO of Amnion Life. “The AmnioBed will prove to be advantageous over radiant warmer beds and convection warmed incubators in offering improved thermoregulation, hydration, and skin protection, helping to reduce complications and save lives, while also reducing costs.”

Amniotic fluid, generated by maternal plasma, is a protective liquid contained in the amniotic sac that serves both as a cushion for the growing fetus and as a means to facilitate the exchange of nutrients, water, and biochemical products between mother and fetus. When fetal kidneys begin to function in about week 16, fetal urine also contributes to the fluid. Amniotic fluid initially contains mainly water and electrolytes, but by about the 12-14th week the liquid also contains proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and urea, all of which aid in the growth of the fetus.

Related Links:
Amnion Life

Gold Member
POC Blood Gas Analyzer
Stat Profile Prime Plus
Gold Member
Disposable Protective Suit For Medical Use
Disposable Protective Suit For Medical Use
Silver Member
Wireless Mobile ECG Recorder
NR-1207-3/NR-1207-E
New
Neonatal Ventilator
Servo-n

Print article

Channels

Surgical Techniques

view channel
Image: NTT and Olympus have begun the world\'s first joint demonstration experiment of a cloud endoscopy system (Photo courtesy of Olympus)

Cloud Endoscopy System Enables Real-Time Image Processing on the Cloud

Endoscopes, which are flexible tubes inserted into the body's natural openings for internal examination and biopsy collection, are becoming increasingly vital in medical diagnostics. Their minimal invasiveness... Read more

Patient Care

view channel
Image: The newly-launched solution can transform operating room scheduling and boost utilization rates (Photo courtesy of Fujitsu)

Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization

An innovative solution has the capability to transform surgical capacity utilization by targeting the root cause of surgical block time inefficiencies. Fujitsu Limited’s (Tokyo, Japan) Surgical Capacity... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The PATHFAST hs-cTnI-II high-sensitivity troponin assay has been developed for the PATHFAST Biomarker Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Polymedco)

POC Myocardial Infarction Test Delivers Results in 17 Minutes

Chest pain is the second leading cause of emergency department (ED) visits by adults in the United States, generating over 7 million visits annually. In the event of a suspected heart attack, physicians... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.