London: A young British inventor has developed a low cost inflatable baby incubator that could save thousands of lives in the developing world.
The Loughborough University graduate won the prestigious International James Dyson Award for his life saving incubator that costs just 250 pounds. Researchers said over one in ten babies worldwide are born prematurely and according to World Health Organisation, 75 per cent of deaths resulting from premature birth could be avoided if inexpensive treatments were more readily available. Created by James Roberts, the incubator MOM provides the same performance as a 30,000 pounds modern incubation system, but costs just 250 pounds to manufacture, test and transport to the desired location.
The device can be collapsed for transportation and runs off a battery which lasts 24 hours, in case of power outages. The incubator is blown up manually and it is heated using ceramic heating elements. A screen shows the current temperature and the humidity which can be custom set, depending on the gestation age.
An alarm will sound if the desired temperature changes. And for babies that suffer from jaundice there is a phototherapy unit which is collapsible too. MOM delivers a stable heat environment, humidification and jaundice lighting. James, who recently graduated from the Loughborough Design School with a BSc in Product Design and Technology, has won 30,000 pounds to invest into further prototyping and testing, with a view to further cost reductions and ultimately seeing MOM mass produced.
"MOM is a really interesting piece of innovation - I particularly like the integration of phototherapy, as jaundice is a very common co-morbidity alongside prematurity. Its use needn't be limited to developing world scenarios," Dr Steve Jones, Consultant Paediatrician at the Royal United Hospital, Bath said.
