The physics of thermal exchange between infants and their environment.

Abstract

Although much additional work is needed to accurately define the physics of thermal transfer between a baby and the environment, especially with respect to convection and evaporation, it is currently possible to calculate estimates of the quantities in many conditions. These estimates are valuable in predicting the effect various design changes will have on the performance of an incubator or warmer. They also allow us to define what many of the important parameters of an infant are for heat exchange. This brings us closer to designing appropriate infant models for efficiently testing incubator or radiant warmer designs both in the factory and in medical equipment evaluation facilities and perhaps in government regulatory facilities.