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  • Original Article
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Frequency analysis of air and skin temperature in neonates in servo-controlled incubators

Journal of Perinatology volume 26, pages 301–305 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To test a new system designed for digital recording of skin and air temperature, thereby allowing analysis of cyclic changes in temperature in neonates in servo-controlled incubators.

Methods:

Analysis of cyclic changes of serial skin and air temperature in asymptomatic infants in servo-controlled incubators adjusting heat output to the patient's temperature.

Results:

In nine asymptomatic neonates ranging from 25 to 40 weeks of gestational age, analysis showed peaks of coherence (squared correlation) between skin and air temperature measurements at periods ranging between 1.5 and 3?h.

Conclusion:

We have established a new system to study cyclic changes in skin and air temperature in neonates in servo-controlled incubators. The analysis of this pilot study suggests that the most important changes in skin and air temperature in asymptomatic neonates occur at a periodicity of 1.5 to 3?h, which is similar to that previously described for neonatal temperature. Additional data are required to determine whether this new system may be useful in neonatal care.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by an equipment grant from Columbus Instruments, Columbus, OH. Preliminary data were presented at Mead Johnson Greater NY Perinatal Conference, White Plains, NY, 28 October 1999. We thank the nursing staff of the NICUs at Weiler Hospital and Moses Taylor Hospital.

Author information

Author notes

  1. L De La Fuente

    Present address: Department of Pediatrics, Moses Taylor Hospital, Scranton, PA, USA

  2. A Rios

    Present address: Department of Pediatrics, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY, USA

    L De La Fuente, D E Campbell, A Rios, A Grieg & L P Brion

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    A Grieg

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, NJ, USA

    M Graff

Authors
  1. L De La Fuente
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  2. D E Campbell
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  3. A Rios
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  4. A Grieg
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  5. M Graff
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  6. L P Brion
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to L P Brion.

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De La Fuente, L., Campbell, D., Rios, A. et al. Frequency analysis of air and skin temperature in neonates in servo-controlled incubators. J Perinatol 26, 301–305 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211491

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