Electricity-free Infant Warmer for Newborn Thermoregulation

Hypothermia, or low body temperature, in infants remains a leading cause of neonatal mortality even in places with warm climates such as sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, with underweight and premature babies particularly susceptible to hypothermia. Hypothermia is easily addressed in the U.S. through use of incubators; however, incubators are not always accessible in LMIC settings as they are expensive, require constant electricity, and can be difficult to clean and use.

Dr. Hansen worked with collaborators at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Institute for Globally Transformative Technology (LIGTT) to develop a warming pad that can keep a newborn warm for hours at a time without the need for electricity, making it ideal for a resource-constrained setting. To warm the pad, Hansen has turned to something all cultures can access: hot water. The warming pad is made up of a phase-change material that can retain heat for hours. Its plastic coating can easily be washed with soapy water, making it readily reusable. A prototype of the pad has been developed, and Dr. Hansen is working with partners in Rwanda to study its safety and efficacy.