Advanced thermoregulation by access port covers in neonatal transport incubators: computational fluid dynamics analysis.

Objective: Covering access ports in transport incubators prevents internal temperature drops, but its effect on overall temperature distribution is unclear. We hypothesized that while covering access ports maintains central temperature, it may lead to temperature imbalances within the incubator.

Study design: Airflow and temperature distributions were simulated using computational fluid dynamics in a three-dimensional model of a transport incubator with open, covered, and closed access port configurations.

Results: Internal temperature decreased significantly with open ports, while central temperature remained stable with covered or closed ports. However, temperature distribution was heterogeneous with covered ports, showing higher temperatures in the upper and posterior regions and lower temperatures in the lower and anterior regions.

Conclusion: Covering access ports reduces airflow and central temperature drop but fails to address uneven temperature distribution, emphasizing the need for design improvements to enhance neonatal care.