New use of phase change materials - "insulation box" for premature infants, find out!

Phase change material (PCM) technology was originally developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop comfortable, cool new materials for astronaut apparel. The technology began in 1987 when NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) worked with private companies to develop PCM for extravehicular space suits, especially astronaut gloves. With the assistance of Triangle Research and Development (TRDC), NASA successfully used textile materials containing phase change microcapsules (mPCM) for spacesuits.

Since then, TRDC has transferred the patent for phase change technology used in fibers and fabrics to Gateway Technologies (renamed Outlast Technologies in 1997), and Outlast has incorporated mPCM technology (known as ThermoculesTM) into all of its products, with 20 The remaining phase change fabric technology patents have become the leader in the field of mPCM products.

At present, Outlast® phase change fiber materials and phase change textile processing technology have evolved from the initial phase change acrylic fiber and matrix coating technology (MCT) to phase change acrylic, phase change adhesive , phase change polyester. Three types of fiber phase change fibers, as well as matrix coatings and matrix dip coating (MIC) technology that can be printed directly onto fabric surfaces. End products include bedding, clothing, footwear, upholstery, labels and packaging. Engineering construction products, etc.

In addition to these applications, Stanford University's Jane Chen and his team also promoted phase change materials to the medical field, using PCM to develop a premature infant "insulation box" EMBRACE NEST for only $200 (only for traditional baby incubators) 1% of the price). The advantage of this "insulation box" using PCM is that it is light and easy to carry, does not require electricity, and can be used in the hospital's NICU wards and ambulances, especially in areas with poor medical conditions.

EMBRACE NEST

After graduating from Stanford University, Jane Chen founded a non-profit organization called Embrace to apply the baby “insulation box” to hundreds of thousands of premature and low-weight babies who are unable to access modern medical services in 14 developing countries. Treatment.

To further expand the application of this product technology in other baby products, the team established Embrace Innovations in 2012 to develop a variety of baby thermostat textiles. For example, based on EMBRACE NEST, an EMBRACE CARE can be used in hospitals or at home to provide reliable thermal care for vulnerable newborns.

The Little Lotus range of tempering products includes baby babies, sleeping bags, blankets, etc., all of which are lined with Outlast®. Since novice parents often cannot judge whether the baby is too hot or too cold, these products can keep the baby comfortable and comfortable. It is reported that 8 of the 11 babies using Little Lotus products have an average sleep time of 4 hours longer than other similar products on the market, which can reduce the probability of a baby suffering from various overheating-induced diseases.