An incubator functions to sustain the life of a prematurely born baby who generally weigh less than a kilogram at birth. The incubator provides an ideal life environment by keeping it sterile, controlling temperature, relative humidity and more oxygen content (up to 40% - twice the normal content of normal air).
The incubator is a special air-conditioned chamber with a climate control system of its own that is built into it. A motor that is built in draws air from the outside and it is freed from germs through a filter for bacteria which then flows through a heating system that is thermostatically controlled and a water evaporator. Oxygen is added in it if found to be required. A slight extra pressure is maintained in the incubator, that sees to it that the air flow is always directed inwards and the carbon-dioxide that is exhaled is carried away.
Usually, the baby that is born prematurely is kept in an incubator for the first few weeks of its life and all manipulations regarding nursing is done through special holes which are provided with devices that seal and fit closely around the arm of the nursing attendant. Th baby is fed, weighed, cleaned and treated medically all inside the incubator. Even minor operations can be carried out inside the incubator.
The incubator is equipped with a number of safety devices that monitor electric failure, oxygen or water supply and the temperature and a warning sound is sounded to alert the nursing attendant.
On the whole an incubator keeps a prematurely born live through its first few weeks of its precious life.
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