Designing an early stage prototype using readily available material for a neonatal incubator for poor settings

Despite the emergence of support, tools and methods, there is a pressing unmet clinical need and growing public insistence to save infant lives in poor countries. Almost 4 million newborns die worldwide annually with the three principal and often overlapping causes being complications of prematurity or low birth weight; sepsis; and asphyxia. Clinically, hypothermia, defined as body temperature below 36.5 degrees Celsius, is a major contributor to neonatal mortality and morbidity throughout the world. Low-birth weight (LBW) or premature neonates are at even greater risk for complications. Thermoregulation of neonates is a well-established intervention to help prevent hypothermia and improve survival rates for neonates. Newborns are unable to retain heat as effectively; a naked baby loses heat at the same rate at 23 degrees Celsius (73.4F) as a naked adult at 0 degrees Celsius (32 F). Several reasons for heat loss in neonates include evaporative skin loss, immature regulatory systems, lack of subcutaneous fat, convection through lower ambient air temperatures, and conduction loss to cool surfaces. Since the 19th century, various forms of incubators have been used to address neonatal thermoregulation needs. Current incubators evolved in competitive yet lucrative industrialized markets resulting in increased features that are often not central to thermoregulation. As a result, these incubators are highly technical, computerized, and expensive to purchase and maintain.