Design process

Firstly research into current incubators showed why there is a problem with premature deaths in refugee camps. It was found that they are incredibly expensive (Upwards of £30000) and very large due to the size of the compartment containing the child so cannot be transported easily to the places that need them the most. Next research conducted with neonatal units and specialists gave me an understanding of what a premature child needs, which were a stable heat environment, humidification and a jaundice light, as many new-borns suffer from the jaundice condition. Finally research into how refugee camps operated highlighted power concerns and care packages being the primary source of aid for the people and the workers inside. Initially the idea of using inflatable material as the body of the incubator meant that the design could be collapsible for size issues and saved on cost due to the material being very inexpensive. With this idea I developed both an electronic prototype and an aesthetic/functional prototype. Testing revealed that the electronic prototype could easily maintain the correct environment for the child. The functional/aesthetic prototype showed that a new born could comfortably fit inside the incubator and all of the electronics used along with the inflatable material could be packaged away inside the casing ready for transport. I plan to develop the idea further and fine tune the prototypes, so that the final solution is both as effective and reliable as possible.