BAMBOO INCUBATOR

HISTORY

Often, life finds a way sometimes, even earlier than

expected. Premature babies (infants born before the mother’s
37th week of pregnancy) are typically underdeveloped and low
in body fat percentage, inhibiting their ability to maintain their
normal body temperature. The modern medical incubator
addresses this; however, not all people who need it have access
to such technology. This is a particularly serious problem in
rural areas, where such devices are generally inaccessible.

Fortunately, a solution came in the form of the first Filipino invention on this list: the
bamboo incubator, widely credited as the brainchild of Dr. Fe del Mundo. This makeshift device
is relatively inexpensive and easy to reproduce, making it ideal for use in rural communities and
areas with no electricity. Developing this ingenious take on a life-saving machine, though, is far
from her only accomplishment. In 1936, Dr. del Mundo became a Research Fellow in Pediatrics
at Harvard Medical School.

In addition, Dr. Del Mundo was the first woman to be recognized as a National Scientist
here in the Philippines, way back in 1980. In addition to all that, her passion for pediatrics and
medicine led her to establish the Children’s Medical Center, the first pediatric hospital in the
Philippines. Truly, Dr. del Mundo is a pioneer thinker, and an inspiration for Filipino women
(Ambag, 2018).

APPLICATION

This is also sometimes called a

radiant warmer. In an open
incubator, a baby is placed on a
flat surface
with a radiant heat element either
positioned above or offering heat
from below.
The heat output is automatically
controlled by the temperature of
the baby’s skin. While you may
see
lots of monitors, the incubator is
open above the baby.
This is also sometimes called a radiant warmer. In an open incubator, a baby is placed
on a flat surface with a radiant heat element either positioned above or offering heat from
below. The heat output is automatically controlled by the temperature of the baby's skin. While
you may see lots of monitors, the incubator is open above the baby. Because of this open-air
space, open incubators do not provide the same amount of control over humidity as closed
incubators. However, they can still monitor a baby's vital functions and warm them. It is easier
to achieve skin-to-skin with a baby in an open incubator, since it's possible to directly touch the
baby from above.

Open incubators work well for infants who primarily need to be temporarily warmed
and have their vital statistics measured. The inability to control the humidity and guard from
airborne germs means that open incubators are not ideal for babies requiring a more controlled
environment and germ protection. Incubator was composed of two native laundry baskets
made of bamboo. Made different sizes, the baskets were "placed one inside the other." She
would then put hot water bottles all around and between the baskets to regulate the body
temperature of babies. "I put a little hood over it and attached oxygen for the baby," The
purpose of this application is to help families in rural communities without electricity, objective
of making inventions that are inexpensive and can be reproduced by people who have limited
access to medical centers

REFERENCES:

Ambag, R. (2018). 5 Remarkable Things Invented By Filipinos. Flip Science. Retrieved from
https://www.flipscience.ph/technology/5-filipino-inventions/