neo-therm ®: Heat conductive mattress and control unit

Client: ParAid Medical & Inditherm Medical

The challenge

Traditionally the only heating solutions for neonatal transport are convective or single use conductive gel mattresses. Convective systems offer high levels of temperature control until the doors of the incubator are opened and all the heat is released. It then takes a significant amount of time for return to the required temperature by which point the baby’s temperature will have dropped significantly.

The single use gel mattresses are expensive, have no temperature feedback, are too small and last for insufficient amounts of time. ELEMENT ZERO_SIX's brief was to develop a system which addresses the issues surrounding heat loss when the doors were opened whilst providing feedback on the temperature being provided.

Approach

After scoping out a variety of different conductive technologies we gained an exclusive licence for a polymer technology with market leading levels of even temperature distribution. With this in place the next step was to understand what was important to the users.

After spending considerable time speaking to neonatologists and observing neonatal wards it became apparent that top level functionality was paramount and that fundamentally the market wanted a system which was simple to use but reliable and robust whilst meeting all of the regulatory requirement including the CEN inertial load testing.

Result

The neo-therm systems is a quick and easy, mass market conductive heating system for critical care newborns and offers best in class levels of heat up time and distribution of temperature. It is lightweight, easy to clean and offers:

One hour of battery time,
Integrated handle for easy carrying
Quick release clamp for attachment to bassinette
Transport incubator,
AC and DC power inputs,
Sealed mattress with integrated pressure relief

Safety is assured, with no water or circulating air and low voltage operation. Deployed in conjunction with the neo-capsul® the combined system offers a lower price point and weight than traditional transport incubators.