Kathleen J Martin

US Patent:

7264586, Sep 4, 2007

Filed:

Dec 12, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/299499

Inventors:

Michael H. Mackin - Ellicott City MD, US
Kathleen P. Martin - Superior Township MI, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

A61G 11/00

US Classification:

600 22

Abstract:

An infant warmer for supporting an infant upon an infant platform. A radiant heater is located above the infant platform to direct infrared energy toward an infant positioned upon the infant platform. There is a pre-heat cycle that is carried out by a controller of the radiant heater that may be activated, manually or automatically, at the start-up of the infant warmer. The pre-warm cycle then warms the infant platform as well as other surfaces in close proximity thereto in order to heat those components prior to the infant being placed on the infant platform. The pre-warm cycle continues until those components are sufficient heated whereupon a signal, audible, visual or both, alerts the user that the pre-heat cycle has been completed and the infant warmer is ready to receive the infant. By warming those components, the possibility of hypothermia of the infant is reduced.