Liquid-Based Premature Infant Incubation With Amniotic Fluid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current incubators for premature infants are not designed to mimic the womb environment effectively, leading to complications during the transition from intra-uterine to extra-uterine life, particularly for extremely premature infants, and often result in long-term health issues.
Innovation Solution
A liquid-based incubation system with an inner chamber filled with amniotic fluid, temperature regulation, and umbilical cord connections for nutrition and dialysis, mimicking the womb environment and maintaining fetal physiology through amniotic fluid circulation and temperature control, while using a fetal control unit to manage these processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current incubators are used for premature infants, then the infant can be kept warm and monitored, but the environment remains hostile and does not mimic the womb, leading to transition complications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an artificial womb by copying the essential characteristics of the natural womb environment. The inner chamber replicates the uterine cavity with amniotic fluid, while the outer chamber mimics the maternal body temperature and circulation. This copying of womb conditions allows premature infants to remain in a fetal physiological state without the stress of early transition to extra-uterine life.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a nested chamber configuration where an inner chamber containing the infant is placed within an outer chamber. The inner chamber is filled with amniotic fluid and surrounded by temperature regulation fluid, creating a nested structure that protects the infant while maintaining womb-like conditions. This nested design allows multiple functions (temperature control, fluid circulation, mechanical protection) to be integrated simultaneously.
2Reliability
If mechanical ventilation is provided to premature infants, then respiratory support is achieved, but long-term morbidity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the placenta from the infant's body and places it in the outer chamber as a separate functional unit. The placenta continues to perform its vital functions (gas exchange, nutrient delivery, waste removal) extracorporeally, eliminating the need for mechanical ventilation while avoiding the associated morbidity. This extraction of the placental function resolves the contradiction between providing respiratory support and avoiding long-term harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The placenta serves as an intermediary between the infant and the external environment. Instead of directly exposing the infant to air and requiring mechanical ventilation, the placenta mediates gas exchange and nutrient transfer through its blood vessels, maintaining fetal physiology while providing necessary respiratory and nutritional support without the harmful effects of mechanical ventilation.
3Loss of time
If the umbilical cord is clamped to initiate transition, then extra-uterine life begins, but the strong breathing reflex cannot be suppressed and dependency on life support begins
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by maintaining the umbilical cord connection and placental function before the infant is ready for transition. The outer chamber is prepared with temperature regulation fluid and the placenta is positioned to function extracorporeally. This preliminary setup allows the infant to remain in utero physiology indefinitely, delaying transition until the infant is developmentally ready, thereby preventing premature physiological stress and dependency.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid incubator structure is used, then structural stability is provided, but the chamber volume cannot expand with infant growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the inner chamber volume expandable rather than fixed. The inner chamber is constructed with flexible materials that allow it to expand as the infant grows, while the outer chamber maintains structural stability for housing and temperature control. This dynamic inner chamber design resolves the contradiction between structural stability and volume adaptability, allowing the incubator to accommodate infant growth without compromising the stability of the overall system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system maintains fetal physiology, reducing the stress of transition and potential complications by providing a controlled, womb-like environment that supports growth and development, minimizing the need for mechanical ventilation and other life-support interventions.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature regulation fluid control unit, arranged for connecting with an inlet/outlet port of said outer chamber and comprising a pump for circulating said temperature regulation fluid from said outer chamber and through a heat exchanger system located outside said inner chamber
Implementation Method 2
an amniotic fluid circulation unit, arranged for connecting with an inlet/outlet port of said inner chamber and comprising a pump for circulating said amniotic fluid from said inner chamber and through a purification system located outside said inner chamber
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an incubation system for liquid-based incubation of prematurely born infants, comprising: —an inner chamber forming an amniotic basin comprising amniotic fluid, said basin being configured for holding said infant and being made from a flexible material configured for expanding said inner chamber volume in correspondence with the growth of said infant; —an outer chamber enclosing said inner chamber and comprising a temperature regulation fluid, —a fetal connection port, arranged for connecting with the umbilical cord of said infant, said umbilical cord providing a port in said inner chamber to said infant for providing dialyzation and nutrition compounds to said infant via said umbilical cord; —a fetal control unit, connected to said fetal connection port for control of said dialyzation and control of said provided nutrition by monitoring and controlling one or more of a pressure, flow and temperature thereof; an amniotic fluid circulation unit, arranged for connecting with an inlet/outlet port of said inner chamber and comprising a pump for circulating said amniotic fluid from said inner chamber and through a purification system located outside said inner chamber; and —a temperature regulation fluid control unit, arranged for connecting with an inlet/outlet port of said outer chamber and comprising a pump for circulating said temperature regulation fluid from said outer chamber and through a heat exchanger system located outside said inner chamber.