EBME Forums Forums Management Medical Equipment Management Inhaled gas humidification on neonatal transport

Darn it! I forgot that!

Yes, Ian, pipedreams often never get much beyond that, I know.

And compromises, yes ... designs (both good and bad) are always full of them.

I guess you've missed my earlier reminders about an engineer being someone who can do for ten quid what any darned fool can for for a hundred (or something like that). Perhaps I need to add "quickly" in there as well! That is, a lead time in weeks (or, at worst, months).

Myself, I would go for a co-ordinated design using "off the shelf" components. I would start with a sound, basic (rugged, adaptable, and all the rest) system to which "packs" could be added according to clinical need (and the particular requirements of the transport process(es) being considered). That is, rather than a fantastic "one size fits all" wonder, full of doodads that would rarely (if ever) get used.

You know:-

1) Must have
2) Should have
3) Could have
4) Might have etc.

In short, we would be the System Integrator, rather than the Manufacturer (of which, as has already been made clear, there would be a number).

Meanwhile, let's hope that Joe publishes soon (does he get on here? why not?).



Interesting. No chance of further details, I suppose?

On a (slightly) related note, I notice that these days "Country of Origin" tends to be deemed to be (something along the lines of):-


Note the use of the word "last" there (rather than, say, "most")!

In England, of course, we are happy enough with County of Origin!

OK (another day) ... let's start with an appeal for current information. What's available (which manufacturers) in terms of:-

1) Trolleys (suitable for transport incubators)
2) Transport incubators themselves
3) Ventilators (suitable for transport incubators)

Big Tony (aka the Vanquished One) has reminded me that for "heroic" transport journeys (eg, long distances by air), the limiting factor (or, at least, one that needs careful logistics) is the number of oxygen cylinders likely to be needed. That, and the capabilities of the accompanying staff in changing them!

Meanwhile, here are a few links to ponder:-

Atom
Airborne
Cobams
Dräger
Ferno
LME
Nice Neotech
Phoenix

Or ... how about thinking outside the box (literally)? And (lastly), what about some history?

Actually (as any keen researcher will no doubt discover), there is a ton of stuff about this topic out there on the web. I have noticed some terminology that crops up now and then, and it reminds me that we need to be a bit more specific about what is meant by "transport incubator" (that is, there are sub-categories, depending upon intended use). For example:-

1) "Intra-hospital" - wheeling the neonate from place to place within the hospital (the G.E. Airborne 750i is pitched at this level, apparently), untethered, whilst being ventilated, and all the rest.
2) "High-dependency" - the sort of transport we are talking about (that is, outside the hospital, and generally by road vehicle or aircraft) - the Globe-Trotter, for example.

Hi
There's some good links there.

I think, in the UK, incubator system trolleys tend to be made by either Ferno or Paraid. The paraid website has a "design your incubator" section which shows you some of the range of equipment that is requested from customers, which basically writes your list for you.

http://www.paraid.co.uk/p-18-Transporter-Incubator-Trolley.aspx

The "neo capsule" was an attempt to think outside the box. Not sure where this is at the moment ...

http://www.elementzerosix.co.uk/work/neo-capsul.html

That backpack-incubator is a sight to behold! Thanks for the link.

Some more details about the power supply for the australian system; there was a vent, pumps, incubator, monitor and humidifier. They all ran on batteries between the unit and the ambulance, however, if you then plugged in the DC power cable in the vehicle, the current load of all the equipment trying to recharge their batteries at once was be too much for the vehicle. So the system monitored the current and prioritised the equipment so that somethings stayed on battery for a bit longer whilst others charged.

Ian Braithwaite
Senior Transport Nurse
Embrace, UK

PS there is a neonatal and paediatric transport web community which is a great place to ask cross discipline questions about retrieval equipment. Biomeds are welcome! Its web address is www.childrenstransport.com

I think you've hit on the solution there, Ian. ParAid sure looks like "the business" to me!

Now I'm wondering if anyone else has any stories to tell about them, and the process of "pick 'n' mix" towards their own "perfect" system.

Like, how long does it all take, and how much does it cost? Hopefully nothing much beyond the sum of all the components in the system.

My only comment here is that I don't see any information on the ParAid website about the electrical distribution "box" and batteries (the sort of thing you have just mentioned). To my mind, this is the guts of the design (electrically speaking), so I guess we need some more information in that regard.

A long way off topic already!

There is a rumour that the Neopod transport incubator humidifier may regain its CE status sometime this year - a small low powered unit plugged into the incubator battery and positioned within the incubator chamber itself. Possibly a good option if to be made available.

Paraid use Olsen type plug distribution boards although supplied with 2A fuses!