Electronically Controlled Nutritional Fluid Warmer

摘要

A system and method are provided for warming a nutritional substance (i.e. mother's milk or formulated liquids) for ingestion by a neonate. Structurally, the system includes a warmer for holding a container of the nutritional substance as it is simultaneously vibrated and warmed in preparation for the neonate, and it includes a controller which determines how the system will be operated. For an operation of the present invention, a user provides input to the system controller to establish a mode of operation (e.g. warming; warming-frozen; or thawing). The user will also input a predetermined protocol to the controller. During the operation, a heat sensor monitors temperatures of the nutritional substance which are provided as feedback input to the controller for operating the warmer in accordance with the protocol.

主权项

1. A system for warming a nutritional substance for a neonate which comprises:
a container for holding a predetermined volume of a nutritional substance for subsequent ingestion by a neonate; a liquid-lined pouch for holding the container of the nutritional substance; a base member formed with at least one well, wherein the well has a wall and is dimensioned to receive the combined pouch and container therein to establish a contiguous contact between the wall of the well and the pouch, and between the pouch and the container; a heater mounted on the base member for transferring heat to the nutritional substance when the container and the pouch are positioned in the well; a vibrator mounted on the base member for vibrating the well during heat transfer from the heater, through the pouch, and to the nutritional substance; a heat sensor mounted on the wall of the well for measuring temperatures of the nutritional substance in the container; and a controller connected with the heater, with the vibrator, and with the heat sensor, wherein the controller is selectively programmed by a user to activate the heater and the vibrator to simultaneously heat and vibrate the nutritional substance in the container in accordance with a predetermined protocol, wherein the protocol is responsive to temperatures of the nutritional substance, as measured by the heat sensor, and the protocol is implemented by the controller to prepare the nutritional substance for subsequent ingestion by the neonate.