Atom 'Transcapsule' Transport Incubator TC 500

Date
1980s
Description
Developed from the 'Thermocot' designed in Melbourne by an engineer from CIG, which in turn was an upgrade from the 'Port-o-cot', also made by CIG. The design is a scaled-down version of the standard ward incubator, but has the ability to be powered from D.C. electric sources e.g. own battery 12v, ambulance 12v supply or air ambulance 24v supply as well as 220-240 A.C. It has heating plates and a fan in the base. There are slots at either end to take sponges soaked in water to provide humidity, but this was little used because of the possible introduction of infection. As in standard incubators there is a port for oxygen administration. Both the Port-o-cot and Atom Transport incubator/Thermocot were widely used for within-hospital transport of babies and also used to observe babies in post-natal wards following Caesarean section or other birth complexity. In addition they are used by NETS for return convalescent transfers. The unit has an acrylic lid, painted metal base, mattress, cotton blanket, 3 x hinged oval shaped openings, two on one side, one on one end, one opening with a cotton cuff, metal bar handles at each end, a power cord. A paper note by staff is taped to the front of the unit with adhesive tape and read: "Please change filter / 9.11.06". Manufactured by Parker Healthcare. The following notes are from Dr Neil Roy Atom Transcapsule TC 500 "Atom Transcapsule TC 500 was developed in the mid-1980s by Atom Infant Equipment Co in Tokyo, Japan. It was based on the ‘Thermacot’ originally developed by CIG in Melbourne in the 1970s, and produced in Melbourne. I believe Atom may have brought the rights to the infant equipment area of CIG. Mr Ian Bird was a company representative for CIG then joined ATOM, then eventually set up his own company which imported Atom products. In 1985 at the start of my sabbatical leave I visited the ATOM factory in Tokyo and discussed the development of the incubator with the their engineers. I have a picture of somewhere of our meeting. The two white plates are the heating elements, over which the ambient air is circulated by the centrally placed fan. The temperature is thermostatically controlled (thermostat sensors are seen at the rear) with the desired temperature being set by the touch buttons on the control panel. Alarms can be seen above the control panel. Oxygen was supplied by a nipple at the L end of the cot. Its concentration could be increased by rotating the disc situated to the left of the control panel. Detailed instructions on oxygen supply are clearly written beside that disc (between it and the power on/off lever). There is no humidity drawer, but there are instructions on the front panel on how to provide humidity using damp sponges. My recollection is that the internal tray had slots in the end into which sponges (supplied by the manufactured) could be inserted; the circulating air theoretically picked up humidity as it passed over the sponges. NB. We never used these sponges, (a) they could have been a ready source of infection, and (b) it was probably only marginally effective at best. Power supply was 12 volt, suitable for plugging into ambulance power sockets. In the RWH these Trancapsules transport incubators were used mainly for transport of babies following caesarean section from theatre to the ward. Babies would be observed in these incubators for 1-4 hours while they warmed up and stabilised. For the most part they were cleaned by the ninth floor cleaning staff, so there was quite a bit of challenging discussion between the 9th floor (SCN) staff and the other wards (FPH) about who should be cleaning them. They were mounted on trolleys with batteries on the lower part of the trolley. The batteries were changed from 240 wall supply, and the incubators were kept plugged in via their batteries while on ‘stand by’. There would have been as many as 12 of these devices hospital wide. The previous model - the CIG Thermocot - was used widely by the Ambulance Service, firstly as the incubator of choice for all baby transports, then after NETS was established in 1976, the Thermocot then the ATOM Trancapsule continued to be used by ASV for bigger babies who did not need NETS and for return transfers (babies being returned to local hospital for convalescence). I think that when the NETS Return Transfer Service was established (in the late 80s?) by Dr Ellen Bowman, the Transcapsule was never used by NETS as its primary transport cot, which was the Ohio transport incubator. This particular cot was clearly still in use up to 2005, in that there is a note with the following details: "filter to be changed 25.02.06". This particular transport cot model was replaced by the next generation of Atom Transport cots, which was an entirely new design but used for the same functions as above. Another function was the transport of sick and premature babies from theatre or delivery room after stabilisation. One can see the elastic flapped apertures at each end that would allow entry for 1-V & 1-A lines, monitoring leads and even ventilator circuit tubing. In the 1990s more sophisticated internal transport set-ups based on the NETS model were developed. The fore-runner of these transport incubators was of course the wooden box (with sliding glass roof panels) developed by RWH engineer Jack Edwards n 1948. This incubator forms and important part of the RWH Archival collection. Interim transport incubators included the Acclibator". 6 November 2017
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