Patent Publication Number: US-11641951-B2

Title: Temperature-controlled cradle

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a temperature-controlled baby cradle or bassinet, and more specifically to a temperature-controlled baby cradle or bassinet that maintains a low temperature for extended preservation of a baby or infant who has died. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The loss of a baby, or infant, can be devastating for the parents. The death of a baby can be classified in two main areas—a pregnancy loss or an infant death. A “pregnancy loss” may be defined as a stillbirth, which is the birth of a baby, or infant, who has died in the womb any time after 20 weeks gestation (considered the age of fetal viability). The causes of death can range from, but are not limited to, genetic disorders, maternal disorders, placenta problems, cord knots or compressions, injury to the mother, injury to the baby, illnesses, and in some cases there are no known causes. “Infant death” refers to any baby who survived birth up through one year of age and then passes for any reason. Causes include, but are not limited to, congenital abnormality, prematurity, injury, illness, SIDS, accident, or other various causes. 
     Stillbirth is one of the most devastating of losses, affecting over 25,000 families each year. Stillbirth affects families of all races, religions, and socio-economic status. For many parents, stillbirth is a loss that hit unexpectedly—up to half of all stillbirths occur in pregnancies that had seemed problem-free. 
     Parents in these circumstances often desire an extended period of time to grieve the loss of their child in a comfortable, unhurried setting. However, past methods of addressing the matter have fallen short. Often the deceased baby is quickly removed to a morgue or stored in a cooler, or refrigeration device, in the hospital, such as a neonatal care unit. This interrupts the grieving process and lacks sensitivity. Using ice packs, dry ice, or chilled rice bags are a short-term solution, requiring restocking or re-chilling and sometimes the use of harmful chemicals, and result in significant temperature fluctuations and wetness due to melting. Similarly, turning the temperature down in the entire room is a short-term solution that leads to temperature fluctuations and can make the entire room uncomfortable. Accordingly, there is a need for a cradle that can preserve the deceased baby in a way that allows the family to grieve in a comfortable manner. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a temperature-controlled cradle that may include a base having an outer housing and a cooling unit disposed within the outer housing, and a bassinet coupled to the base. The cooling unit may include a cooling plate having a first side configured to chill an interior portion of the bassinet, at least one thermoelectric cooling module coupled to a second side of the cooling plate, and a heat dissipation device configured to dissipate heat from the at least one thermoelectric cooling module. 
     The heat dissipation device may include a heat sink, and the at least one thermoelectric cooling module may be disposed between the second side of the cooling plate and the heat sink. The cooling unit may also include a blower fan configured to blow air toward or away from the heat sink. 
     The cooling unit may also include a duct coupled to the blower fan and the heat sink, and configured to direct the air blown by the blower fan toward or away from the heat sink. The duct may include at least one open end portion that is configured to allow air to escape from or enter the duct. The duct may also include two lateral sides, at least one of which may include at least one flap that is configured to open to allow air to escape from or enter the duct. 
     The temperature-controlled cradle may also include a divider plate slidably disposed between the duct and the blower fan to control air flow from the blower fan to the duct. The temperature-controlled cradle may also include a foam or otherwise insulating layer coupled to the second side of the cooling plate. The foam layer may include at least one cutout portion through which the at least one thermoelectric cooling module is disposed in contact with the second side of the cooling plate. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, the heat dissipation device may include a cooling block configured to contain a cooling liquid, and disposed in contact with said at least one thermoelectric cooling module, a radiator configured to receive the cooling liquid from the cooling block, a pump configured to pump the cooling liquid from the cooling block to the radiator, and a fan configured to blow air toward or away from the radiator. The at least one thermoelectric cooling module may be disposed between the second side of the cooling plate and the cooling block. According to an exemplary embodiment, a bottom portion of the bassinet may be open, and the cooling plate may be co-planar with the bottom portion of the bassinet. 
     According an aspect of one or more exemplary embodiments, there is provided a method of cooling a temperature-controlled cradle that includes the steps of applying a DC voltage to at least one thermoelectric cooling module having a first side coupled to a cooling plate disposed within a bassinet of the temperature-controlled cradle, transferring heat from the first side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling module to a second side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling module, and dissipating heat from the second side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling module. Dissipating heat from the second side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling module may include using a heat sink disposed against the second side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling module to dissipate heat therefrom. 
     Dissipating heat from the second side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling module may also include blowing air toward or away from the heat sink, and optionally blowing air through a duct toward the heat sink or from the heat sink though the duct. The duct may include at least one open end portion configured to allow the air to escape from the duct. The duct may also include two lateral sides, at least one of which may include at least one flap that is configured to open to allow air to escape from or be sucked into the duct. The method may also include insulating a side of the cooling plate to which the at least one thermoelectric cooling module is coupled using a foam or other insulating material layer. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method may also include using a cooling block configured to contain a cooling liquid for absorbing heat from the second side of the at least one thermoelectric cooling module, pumping the cooling liquid from the cooling block to a radiator configured to absorb heat from the cooling liquid, and blowing air toward or away from the radiator to dissipate heat from the radiator. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    shows a lateral view of a temperature-controlled cradle according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    shows a top view of a temperature-controlled cradle according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  3    shows an exploded view of a temperature-controlled cradle according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  4    shows an exploded view of a cooling unit according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  5    shows a perspective view of a cooling unit according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  6    shows an inverted view of a cooling unit according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG.  7    shows a closed loop cooling system according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the following exemplary embodiments, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The exemplary embodiments may be embodied in various forms without being limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Descriptions of well-known parts are omitted for clarity. 
       FIG.  1    shows a temperature-controlled cradle according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to  FIG.  1   , the exemplary temperature-controlled cradle may include a base  100  and a bassinet that is coupled to the base. The base  100  shown in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG.  1    may be substantially oval-shaped, however the base may be any other shape. The exemplary bassinet  110  of  FIG.  1    may also be oval-shaped, but like the base  100 , may take any other shape. The bassinet may be sized and shaped to accommodate one or more infants or babies. The bassinet  110  may have side walls that extend upward from the base  100  to secure the one or more infants or babies within the bassinet  110 . The base  100  may also include one or more ventilation slots  120  that are configured to allow air to pass through the base  100 , as will be described in more detail below. 
       FIGS.  2  and  3    show top and exploded views, respectively, of a temperature-controlled cradle according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the base  100  of the exemplary temperature-controlled cradle may include a bottom plate  300  and a hollow outer housing  310  that is configured to be coupled to the bottom plate  300 . The base  100  may also include a ring-shaped flange portion  320  that is coupled to the outer housing  310 . The flange portion  320  may include a flat rim portion to which the bassinet  110  may be coupled using a plurality of fasteners  200 . The fasteners  200  may be any type of coupling device such as screws, nails, adhesives, etc. The bottom plate  300  include one or more ventilation slots  305  to allow air to pass through the base  100 . Also shown in  FIGS.  2  and  3    is a cooling plate  400  that is configured to chill an interior portion of the bassinet  110 , as will be explained in more detail below. According to the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the cooling plate  400  may be disposed within a hollow center of the flange portion  320 , such that the cooling plate  400  substantially forms the bottom of the bassinet  110 , which may be open on the bottom. Alternatively, the bassinet  110  may include a thermally-conductive bottom portion (not shown) that is disposed directly on top of the cooling plate  400  so that the chilling effect of the cooling plate  400  is transferred to the thermally-conductive bottom portion to chill an interior portion of the bassinet  110 . 
       FIGS.  4  and  5    show exploded and perspective views, respectively, of a cooling unit according to an exemplary embodiment, which is configured to cool the interior of the bassinet  110 . The cooling unit may include a cooling plate  400  and a plurality of thermoelectric cooling modules  410  that are disposed directly beneath and in contact with the cooling plate  400 . Each of the thermoelectric cooling modules  410  may include alternating n-type and p-type semiconductors that are located thermally in parallel to each other and electrically in series. The semiconductors may be located between two thermally conducting plates (one hot plate and one cold plate), and two free ends of the semiconductors may be coupled to a DC voltage supply or battery. When the semiconductors are coupled to the DC voltage supply, a DC current flows across the junction of the semiconductors, which causes a heat gradient that results in a heat transfer from the cooling plate to the heating plate. The cold plate of each thermoelectric cooling module  410  is located adjacent to and in contact with the cooling plate  400  such that as heat is transferred from the cold plate to the hot plate, the cold plate becomes cold, which in turn cools the cooling plate  400 . According to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG.  4   , the thermoelectric cooling modules  410  may be connected in series, and may be arranged linearly under the cooling plate  400 . However, the thermoelectric cooling modules  410  may be used in pairs or clusters and may be wired in series or parallel configurations. According to an exemplary embodiment, the thermoelectric cooling modules may be rated for a particular DC supply voltage. However, supplying a lower voltage, such as half or ⅔ of the rated voltage may reduce the chances of overheating the thermoelectric cooling modules  410 , as well as extending the service life of the thermoelectric cooling modules  410 . 
     As heat is transferred from the cold plate to the hot plate of each thermoelectric cooling module  410 , the heat may be dissipated by a heat dissipation device or system. In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG.  4   , the heat dissipation device is a heat sink  420 , which may include a flat portion that is disposed against the hot plates of the thermoelectric cooling modules  410 , and multiple parallel plates that are disposed perpendicularly to the flat portion. The heat sink  420  absorbs heat from the hot plates of the thermoelectric cooling modules  410  so that the heat does not increase the temperature of the cooling plate  400 . The heat sink  420  may be coupled to the cooling plate  400  via any type of connector such as screws, nails, adhesive, etc. such that the thermoelectric cooling modules  410  are pressed into contact with the cooling plate  400  and the heat sink  420 . 
     The exemplary cooling unit of  FIGS.  4  and  5    may also include a duct  430  and a blower fan  440 . The duct  430  may be substantially hollow, and configured to allow air from the blower fan  440  to contact the heat sink  420  to dissipate heat transferred from the thermoelectric cooling modules  410 . As shown in  FIG.  6   , duct  430  may have end portions that are open to allow air to pass through the duct  430 , and out of the base  100  through ventilation slots  120 . Although the duct  430  shown in  FIGS.  4  and  5    is substantially trapezoidal in shape, the duct  430  may take any shape. 
       FIG.  6    shows a cooling unit according to an exemplary embodiment. The cooling unit shown in  FIG.  6    is similar to the cooling unit shown in  FIGS.  4  and  5   , in that it includes a cooling plate  400 , heat sink  420 , a plurality of thermoelectric cooling modules (not visible, except for lead wires extending from underneath heat sink  420 ), duct  430 , and blower fan  440 . The exemplary cooling unit of  FIG.  6    also includes a layer of insulating foam  600  located between the cooling plate  400  and the heat sink  420 . The insulating foam  600  may have cutouts sized and shaped according to the thermoelectric cooling modules  410  so that the thermoelectric cooling modules  410  make direct contact with the cooling  400 . For example, the insulating foam  600  may have a series of square cutouts arranged linearly, or in any other arrangement, to accommodate the plurality of thermoelectric cooling modules  410 . The insulating foam  600  may insulate the cooling plate  400  from heat absorbed and dissipated by the heat sink  420  so that the heat does not increase temperature of the cooling plate  400 . 
     The cooling unit of  FIG.  6    may also include a duct  430  that has open ends to allow air to flow through. The duct  430  may also include one or more flaps  610  located on one or both lateral sides of duct  430  that can be opened or closed to allow more or less air to flow through the duct  430 . According to an alternative exemplary embodiment, instead of flaps  610 , the duct  430  may have one or more holes or orifices in one or both lateral sides to allow air to exit the duct  430 . The size of the holes or orifices may adjustable, for example, by adjusting a plate to partially cover some or all of the holes. The exemplary cooling unit of  FIG.  6    may also include a divider plate  620  that is slidably disposed perpendicularly to the flow of air from the blower fan  440  to the duct  430 . The divider plate  620  may be configured to slide laterally to control the flow of air from the blower fan  440  to the duct  430 . By controlling the amount of air flowing from the blower fan  440 , surging of the cooling unit may be avoided. 
       FIG.  7    shows a closed loop cooling system according to an exemplary embodiment. According to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG.  7   , the cooling unit may include a closed loop cooling system instead of the blower fan  440 , duct  430 , and heat sink  420 . The closed loop cooling system may include a cooling block  700  that is configured to hold a media such as water or other known liquids and or gasses used in-closed loop cooling systems. The cooling block  700  is in contact with the thermoelectric cooling modules  410  so that the heat from the hot plates of the thermoelectric cooling modules  410  is absorbed by the media. The closed loop cooling system may also include a pump  710  that pumps the media from the cooling block  700  to a radiator  720 . The radiator  720  may have a series of fins (not shown) through which the media flows so that the heat from the media is absorbed by the fins. A fan  730  may be used to blow air across the radiator  720  to dissipate the heat absorbed by the fins of the radiator  720 . The media then flows from the radiator  720  back to the cooling block  700  to again absorb more heat from the hot plates of the thermoelectric cooling modules  410 . 
     Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination. 
     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein are not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings.