NEWBORN NURSING DEVICE HAVING AIR CURTAIN

摘要

An infant incubator (20) is disclosed having a hood (34) that encloses the infant compartment. In the base (28) of the incubator (20) is the heating and ducting means and which provides heated air through an ever open outlet (70) in the base (28) and which heated air passes from the base through a flow path formed by the hood (34) that circulates around the infant and re-enters the base through an inlet (74). That heated air is thus introduced into or along the access door (38) in the front of the hood (34) from the outlet (70) and travels through or along the access door (38) and through or along the hood (34) around the infant and is returned to the base (28) for recirculation. When the access door (38) is opened, it pivots out of the way of the air flow from the ever open outlet (70) in the base (28) and the flow of heated air continues over the area normally occupied by the access door (38) when in its closed position forming an air curtain to protect the environment of the infant compartment. The flow of air thereafter enters the flow path formed by the hood (34) in the same manner as the path of the air flow when the access door (38) is closed and eventually re-enters the base (28) through the inlet (74).