Abstract:
An infant warming apparatus for supporting an infant upon an infant platform. The apparatus has a procedure light that is recessed into the normal horizontal overhead housing of the apparatus and thus integrated into the infant apparatus. The procedure light is conveniently located above and centrally positioned with respect to the infant so as to direct the light toward the infant. The mounting provides omnidirectional movement of the procedure light and the movement can be easily controlled by means of a control handle that extends downwardly with a distal end readily accessible to the caregiver. At or proximate to the distal end there is an electrical controller to enable the caregiver to change the intensity of the light beam. The light beam can also be easily focused so as to allow the caregiver to direct the desired beam of light onto the area of interest of the infant.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to an infant warming apparatus and, more particularly, to an examination/procedure light that is integrated into an infant care apparatus.  
         [0002]     In the care of newborn infants, there is an infant warmer apparatus that is used to provide warming of the infant and to supply the necessary heat to maintain the infant at a predetermined temperature. The infant warmer basically comprises a planar surface on which the infant is positioned and which planar surface normal includes side guards to keep the infant safely within the confines of the apparatus.  
         [0003]     Infant warmers normally also have a overhead radiant heater that is located above the infant and which thus radiates energy in the infrared spectrum to impinge upon the infant to maintain the infant at the desired temperature. With infant warmers, since the infant is otherwise totally exposed to the surroundings, there is almost unlimited access to the infant by the attending personnel to perform various procedures on that infant. A typical infant warmer is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,517 of Falk et al as prior art to that patent.  
         [0004]     Since there is such wide open access to the infant, the infant warmer is normally used where there is some intervention or procedure to be carried out on the infant while resting on the planar surface. Since some, if not all, of such procedures are delicate, it is normally necessary to have some source of illumination of the infant so that the attending personnel can have sufficient light to view the infant as a whole, or to concentrate the light on a localized region of the infant in carrying out the procedure.  
         [0005]     Accordingly, with infant warmers, there is generally a procedure light that is separately and independently provided with an infant warmer and which is either set up to be a free standing light or is affixed to the infant warmer in some manner as an add-on to the infant warmer. Such lights are also mounted so as to be movable so that the beam of light can be moved to the particular location on the infant where the light is needed.  
         [0006]     Alternatively, there is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,205 of Finny, a light that is mounted in the overhead housing of an infant warmer, however, the light of the Finny patent is a fixed light having no apparent means of moving the light beam to a specific location and also, there is no means disclosed where the light beam of the Finny patent can be focused between a broad beam and a smaller, focused beam.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a integrated mounting for the procedure light so that the procedure light can be centrally located and can be built into the infant warmer and which may also be manually movable, omnidirectionally, by the user as well as being focusable so that the user can broaden or narrow the beam of light.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     Accordingly, the present invention relates to an infant warmer that has a procedure light that is integrated into the overhead housing that is normally a part of the infant warmer as manufactured. Therefore, rather than providing an add-on procedure light that is retrofitted alongside an existing overhead housing of an infant warmer, or a fixed built in light, use is actually made of that already present overhead housing of the infant apparatus by actually using that upper housing as a base or supporting structure for the integration of the procedure light.  
         [0009]     The procedure light is thus conveniently located in a central location of the infant warmer and has a control handle that extends downwardly so as to be located in easy access by the personnel so that the light can be manually moved to direct the beam onto the desired position. Thus, by a omni-directional movable mounting system, such as a gimbaled mounting mechanism, or by means of overlapping spherical housings, the procedure light can be manually moved omni-directionally, that is, in any direction, by the caregiver to direct the beam to the particular area of the infant when illumination is desired.  
         [0010]     The procedure light can also have a focusing means whereby the procedure light can cast a broad beam or a narrow beam to focus on a particular area of the infant. Also, the procedure light can have a variable iris that can be used to widen or reduce the width of the beam emitted from the procedure light and, additionally, the procedure light can have an electrical controller located on the chassis of the infant warmer, or actually incorporated into the control handle of the procedure light, such that the procedure light can have its intensity varied in accordance with the needs of the caregiver.  
         [0011]     As additional features or alternative embodiments, the procedure light may be adapted to act as a phototherapy light for the alleviation of billirubinemia by utilizing a bulb of a particular wavelength or by a bulb having a filter that provides the desired wavelength. There may also be used, a color filter added to the apparatus such that the user can utilize light of a particular desired color to shine upon the infant.  
         [0012]     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent during the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings herein. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  of a perspective view of an infant warming apparatus having a procedure light integrated therein in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the procedure light of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the procedure light of the present invention showing its use in providing light onto an infant platform;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  are schematic views showing the further uses of the procedure light of the present invention; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a controller that can be used with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of an infant warmer  8  constructed in accordance with the present invention. As shown, the infant warmer  8  includes a frame  10  which provides a free standing unit for the infant warmer  8 . The frame  10  is support upon a cabinet  12  which, in turn, is mounted upon a base  14  having wheels  16  so that the infant warmer  8  is easily movable. The cabinet  12  may also include one or more drawers  18  for containing items for attending to the infant.  
         [0019]     An infant platform  20  is mounted atop of the cabinet  12  and on which is located an infant bed  22  which underlies and supports an infant positioned thereon. Infant platform  20  is the main support for the infant bed  22 . The infant bed  22  has a generally planar upper surface  24  with appropriate cushioning material for comfort of the infant and further may be surrounded by guards  26 , generally of a clear plastic material that contain the infant on the upper surface  24 . Normally, the guards  26  are removable and/or releasable for complete access to the infant.  
         [0020]     Frame  10  includes upper and lower cross members  28  and  30 , respectively, joining a pair of vertical struts  32  and which vertical struts  32  may provide a means of support for other structural components such as a shelf  34 .  
         [0021]     Mounted on the upper cross member  28  may be a control module  35  that is conveniently positioned intermediate the vertical struts  32  and can include displays of various monitored parameters as well as include the various controls for operation of the functions of the infant warming apparatus  10 . In addition, there is an overhead housing  36  mounted to the upper cross member  28  and which contains a radiant heater  37  that directs infrared energy toward an infant lying on the infant bed  22  in order to provide warmth to the infant.  
         [0022]     As also can be seen in  FIG. 1  there is a procedure light  38  that is recessed into and integrally mounted in the overhead housing  36  and which is constructed and affixed to the overhead housing  36  in accordance with the present invention and which has a control handle  40  extending downwardly from the procedure light  38  so as to be within the reach of the caregiver to manipulate the position of the procedure light  38  in a manner that will be later described.  
         [0023]     Turning now to  FIG. 2  there is shown an exploded view of the procedure light  38  of the present invention and showing the individual components that can be used in the invention. In  FIG. 2 , therefore, there can be seen a light bulb enclosure  42  containing a light bulb  44  that is, of course, adapted to be connected to a source of electricity for operation thereof and the inner surface of the light bulb enclosure  42  is conventionally coated with a reflective material. In the preferred embodiment, the light bulb  44  and the light bulb enclosure  42  are both affixed to the overhead housing  36  ( FIG. 1 ) so as to be in a fixed position with respect to the overhead housing  36 .  
         [0024]     As indicated, in an alternative embodiment, the bulb can be selected so as to have the desired wavelength that is particularly adapted to alleviate bilirubinemia or a bulb can be used in conjunction with a filter that produces the desired wavelength so that the built in procedure light  38  can be utilized for phototherapy for an infant. As a further alternative, there may be a filter added to the light bulb  44  or light bulb enclosure  42  so that a particular color of light can emanate from the procedure light as desired by the user.  
         [0025]     An upper housing  46  is also positioned having an opening  48  that is coaxially aligned with the light bulb  44  and the light bulb enclosure  42 . The shape of the upper housing  46  is preferably a truncated spherical configuration and the purpose of that particular shape will become apparent.  
         [0026]     A lower housing  50  is also present and which is also, preferably, in the shape of a truncated sphere and which has a radius that is slightly larger than the radius of the spherical configuration of the upper housing  46 . The lower housing  50  also has an opening  52  that is in alignment with the opening  48  of the upper housing  46  and, in the assembly of the procedure light  38 , the lower housing  50  surrounds the upper housing  46  in a close interfitting relationship so that the lower housing  50  is affixed to the upper housing  46  but is free to move about that upper housing  46  in an omnidirectional manner, that is, the lower housing  50  can move with respect to the upper housing  46  in any direction and the movement is not, therefore, constrained to any finite or limited number of directions.  
         [0027]     Alternatively, other means of providing omni-directional movement of the procedure light  38  could be used in affixing the procedure light  38  to the overhead housing  36  such as a gimbaled arrangement.  
         [0028]     As also can be seen, there is a cylindrical flange  54  that extends outwardly from the lower housing  50  and that circular flange  54  has external threads  56  formed thereon.  
         [0029]     There is a lens holder  58  that retains a lens  60  and which has internal threads  62  formed therein such that the internal threads  62  are compatible and therefore mate with the external threads  56  formed on the cylindrical flange  54 . The lens  60  can be a standard concave/convex lens and which can therefore focus the light beam emitted by the light bulb  44  and which passes through the opening  48 , the opening  52  and then through the lens  60  to be directed toward the infant bed  22  ( FIG. 1 ) on which an infant is located.  
         [0030]     Accordingly, as is now apparent, the lens holder  58  can be rotated in order to move the lens holder  58  relative to the lower housing  50  so as to move the lens  60  toward and away from the light bulb  44  such that the rotation of the lens holder  58  focuses the light beam emanating from the procedure light  38  onto the infant bed  22  ( FIG. 1 ) to be able to focus the beam of light as desired by the caregiver.  
         [0031]     In  FIG. 2 , there can also be seen the control handle  40  that extends outwardly from the lens holder  58  to a distal end  64 . At or proximate to that distal end  64 , there is, in the preferred embodiment, an electrical controller  66  that is used to control the electrical power to the light bulb  44 . That electrical controller  66  may be a simple on-off switch or may be a finer control of the power such as to provide a variable control of the power to the light bulb  44  to be able to vary the intensity of the beam of light from the light bulb  44  in accordance with the desire of the caregiver. Alternatively, of course, there may be a light controller located on the control module  35  ( FIG. 1 ) or in some other convenient location for the caregiver.  
         [0032]     As a further component of the present procedure light  38 , and which may be optional, there can be a controllable iris  68  affixed to or affixable as an add on to the lens holder  58  so that the beam of light emitted from the procedure light  38  may be controlled as to its diameter, that is, the caregiver can narrow down the width of the beam of light to locate that beam upon an infant at a desired location thereon. Therefore, by a manual control of the controllable iris  68 , the caregiver has an addition control over the beam of light in addition to the focusing feature that is provided by means of movement of the lens  60  with respect to the light bulb  44 .  
         [0033]     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a schematic view of the present procedure light  38  apart for the overhead housing  36  ( FIG. 1 ) within which it is located and illustrating the versatility of the beam of light emitted therefrom. For example by a simple manual movement of the control handle  40  the beam of light emitted from the procedure light  38  can be moved to any of the positions  70  on the infant bed  22  ( FIG. 1 ) and such that the omnidirectional movement of the procedure light  38  is movable to any of such positions  70  easily and directly.  
         [0034]     In addition, as also can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the diameter of the light beam on the infant bed  22  may be focused in accordance with the operation of the lens  60  ( FIG. 2 ) moving toward or away from the light bulb ( FIG. 2 ) and the diameter of the beam of light that impinges upon the infant bed  22  can be widened or narrowed by the operation of the controllable iris  68 . In any case, the direction, focus and diameter of the light beam is readily changed in accordance with the particular desire of the caregiver intent on having a focused illumination of a portion of the infant or more spread out to encompass the entire infant while the procedure light  38  itself is recessed into the normal overhead housing  36  ( FIG. 1 ) of the infant warmer  8 .  
         [0035]     The focusing feature is shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , taken along with  FIGS. 1 and 2 , where it can be seen that the procedure light  38  is recessed into the overhead housing  36  of the infant warmer  8  and by focusing the light beam by means of the threaded engagement between the lens holder  58  and the lower housing  50 , the beam of light can be focused on to the infant platform  20  to the particular area of the infant where the light is desired, and as can be also seen, in  FIG. 4A , the diameter of the beam of light can be in the form of a relatively small spot  72  and in  FIG. 4B  the beam of light can be in the form of a relatively large spot  74  and that diameter adjusted by the caregiver by the manipulation of the controllable iris  68 .  
         [0036]     Finally, turning to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a schematic view of an electrical controller  66  that can be used with the present invention. In  FIG. 5 , there is a rotatable knob  76  that is affixed to the electrical controller itself and which may be a rheostat or solid state device that has an “off” position  78  and where the rotatable knob  76  can increase the power to the light bulb  44  ( FIG. 2 ) as the rotatable knob  76  is rotated in accordance with the indicia  80  that may be provided on a face plate or decal proximate to the rotatable knob  76 .  
         [0037]     As such, the electrical controller  66  can, as indicated, be located, in the preferred embodiment, at the distal end  64  of the control handle  40  ( FIG. 2 ) for the convenience of the caregiver in having the control in a convenient location, or, alternatively and more conventionally, the electrical controller  66  can be located on the control module  35  ( FIG. 1 ) which is within the easy reach of the caregiver.  
         [0038]     Those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the infant care apparatus of the present invention which will result in an improved procedure light for an infant care apparatus, yet all of which will fall within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and their equivalents.