Neonatal transport: a guide to the latest equipment

TR203 Transport Incubator

A safe, comfortable environment for the baby during transfer is provided by the TR203 Transport Incubator. This incubator, manufactured by Okuman Medikal Sistemler and distributed in the UK by QED Scientific, is specifically designed for transporting neonates safely, comfortably and with minimum stress.

The incubator has a four-hour working battery time that provides peace of mind, and the dual temperature control mode allows alteration of the environment by either the air temperature or the baby’s skin temperature.

Other main features of the TR203 Transport Incubator are that it has failure alarms and a double walled acrylic glass cabinet. It is also height adjustable, providing ease of use for staff and carers. It has an oxygen supply system and observation lamp.

Babypod2 Infant Transport Device

Advanced Healthcare Technology’s BabyPod 2 Infant Transport Device is inspired by Formula One cars.

Using the same technology, materials and design features that protect Formula One racing car drivers, the Baby Pod range provides the security and warmth that a newborn infant needs, at what is said to be a fraction of the cost of a standard infant transport incubator. It is light, easy to handle and can attach to any transport stretcher currently available. The BabyPod 2’s carbon/composite fibre construction allows for a transport device with reduced weight. Weighing less than 10kg, it can be secured to transport stretchers in any road ambulance, fixed-wing or rotary aircraft.

The original BabyPod device was developed to fulfil the requirement for a safety-focused, easily manageable solution for inter/intra-hospital transport of neonates, and the same ethos of patient safety, warmth and comfort to provide solutions in other areas of in-hospital neonatal care has been applied to the new model.

KangooFix Neonatal Restraint System

The main benefits of Ferno’s KangooFix Neonatal Restraint System include safety features that allow the baby to be secured to its mother, ensuring that close contact is always maintained. Secured in this way by the five-point outer harness that attaches to the ambulance cot harness, the ‘face-up’ mode enables staff to monitor the baby, while the quick release system allows fast access. The Snug cocoon design and integrated skull cap keeps the infant warm and secure, with material that has been clinically tested to guarantee no negative reaction on sensitive skin. The KangooFix Neonatal Restraint System is lightweight and easy to store, as well as being easy to clean.

The Infatherm Warming Mattress

Premature babies and neonates with certain medical conditions can struggle to regulate their body temperature. International Biomedical’s Infatherm Warming Mattress is designed to address this need with precision and care. This portable, non-electric mattress provides controlled, safe and effective thermal support to premature and low birthweight infants, who are at a higher risk of hypothermia and require gentle thermoregulation support.

The Infatherm Warming Mattress is designed to provide gentle thermoregulation support for infants. It offers a portable, non-electric heat source that provides instant short-term warmth for infants during transport or in the delivery room. Durable construction prevents leaks, while the soft, non-slip fabric protects the infant’s delicate skin.

The Giraffe Shuttle

The Giraffe Shuttle from GE HealthCare is a transportable power source that can be attached to the Giraffe Omni bed, Incubator and Warmer. It provides electrical power to the bed and other auxiliary equipment, as well as provisions for medical gas management required for patient care during intra-hospital transport, providing continuous patient management without interrupting critical points of treatment such as IV medications and monitoring.

Premature newborns need a warm, stable thermal environment and with the Giraffe Shuttle said to provide higher average temperatures than conventional transport incubators, there is no longer a need to choose between the negative effects of bed transfers or the risk of cold stress or hypothermia. The Giraffe Shuttle, in tandem with Giraffe beds or Panda Warmer, eliminates bed-to-bed transitions.