mechanical vibration in neonatal transport: a randomized study of different mattresses2

In the perinatal health system, sick newborns are often transported from community hospitals to specialized institutions.
In addition, babies who are recovering are usually transported home before discharge.
These babies have long contact, low
High frequency-
Amplitude mechanical vibration during transportation.
Different types of mattresses are used in the transport incubator and it is believed that vibration can be attenuated.
We assume that the gel mattress used alone or in combination with the mattress standard is more effective in terms of attenuation vibration than the foam mattress used alone or not.
To verify this hypothesis, we measured the vibration during transportation using a mannequin and a random mattress sequence.
Four mattress combinations (
No mattress, foam mattress, gel mattress and gel mattress on foam mattress)
At 30-
The second sample runs in the same ambulance and transport incubator.
Using a randomized grouping study design, each mattress combination was tested in triplicate on two fixed routes of the city and highway, traveling at 30 mph and 60 mph respectively.
Using two accelerometer fixed in different positions inside the ambulance, vertical acceleration measurements were collected at a speed of 100/second: on the forehead of the 200g mannequin, lying flat in the incubator, at a fixed point at the bottom of the incubator.
The ratio of mean square values is used to summarize the observed relative vertical acceleration between two points. A ratio 1.
0 indicates that the vibration is aggravated. Model-
Basic estimates are calculated using the least squares method.
In 24 runs, 23 vertical acceleration measurements were satisfactory.
All observed rates were greater than 1.
The ratio is the highest from 2. 2 to 3.
4, in the absence of a gel mattress, observed on the city route.
The remaining observed rates range from 1. 1 to 2. 1.
Gel mattresses used alone or in combination with foam mattresses can cause minimal vibration, but vibration in newborn transport will not be weakened by any mattress combination.
These findings indicate the need to study and design more efficient equipment.
Further studies are needed to explore the physiological effects of vibration on newborns, as well as the effects of different weights and ambulances on the performance of gel mattresses.