Title: Infant waterbed

Abstract: An infant waterbed for use in an incubator is disclosed that comprises a tray, a flexible mattress that sits in the tray and holds a fluid, such as water, that is capable of supporting an infant, a cover that fits over the top of the tray to separate the infant from the mattress, a frame that surrounds the cover and fits over the edge of the tray to hold the cover in place, and an oscillator that includes a bladder that sits under the mattress and means for inflating and deflating the bladder randomly at a predetermined frequency. Compensatory vestibular-proprioceptive stimulation is imparted to premature infants by placing them on the above described oscillating waterbed.

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Other info:

Inventors: Korner, Anneliese F. (Palo Alto, CA, US)
Piziali, Robert L. (Palo Alto, CA, US)
Ellsworth, Orval T. (Palo Alto, CA, US)

Application Number: 639288
Filing Date: 1975-12-10
Publication_date: 1977-09-20
Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford, CA)
Primary Class(es): 5/674 5/109, 5/655, 601/148, 601/150
Other Classes:
US Patent Ref:

3085568	Apr, 1963	Whitesell	5/370.
3335717	Aug, 1967	Monaco	128/33.
3392723	Jul, 1968	Calvin	5/108.
3419923	Jan, 1969	Cowan	5/109.
3602186	Aug, 1971	Popenoe	73/88.
3672354	Jun, 1972	Weber	128/33.
3707735	Jan, 1973	Carso, Jr.	5/370.
3736604	Jun, 1973	Carso, Jr.	5/370.
3872526	Mar, 1975	Betts	5/370.

Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Gilliam, Paul R.
Assistant Examiner: Grosz, Alex
Attorney: Ciotti; Thomas E.