Oxygen Enclosures

Image from Steve and Mary DeGenaro

This photo from the 1930s shows an oxygen tent used in the treatment of a premature infant at Boston Children's Hospital.

The OEM Mechanette Pediatric Tent was used between 1956-1964

OEM Mechanette Tent

The Air-Shields Croupette used ice to lower the temperature in the canopy.

L. R. Cameto’s Patent for Oxygen Tent Atmospheric Conditioning Apparatus

J.F. Hanrahan’s Patent for the Oxygen Chamber

Two options for oxygen circulation in an oxygen chamber are shown in these drawings from 1936.

C. J. Lamberteen’s Oxygen Hood

A controlled oxygen enriched environment is delivered to a newborn via an oxygen hood.

One of the earliest hyperbaric chambers in the world was developed at New York's Mt. Sinai Hospital and is shown in this 1924 photo.

Dr. Orval J. Cunningham opened this large hyperbaric chamber in 1928 in Cleveland, Ohio. Known as the Cunningham Sanitarium, this large million dollar, multi-place hyperbaric chamber could accommodate 40 patients. After the stock market crash in 1929, the facility struggled financially and eventually closed. In 1942, the U.S. War Production Office ordered the metal structure to be dismantled and scrapped to support the war efforts.

The Cunningham multi-place hyperbaric facility in Cleveland, Ohio is shown on the far right. It is identified as an oxygen sanitarium on this postcard.

1930s

1960s

Topical oxygen therapy encompasses an airtight bag sealed around the wounded surface of a limb and high flow oxygen is fed into the bag flowing over the wound. Oxygen is provided to the surface of the wound by diffusion.
Topical oxygen is sometimes labeled as topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy, but this is incorrect. In hyperbaric oxygen, the entire body is exposed to supra-atmospheric pressure and the patient is exposed to increased oxygen pressure by ventilation--thus the increased oxygen pressure is delivered to the wound by perfusion. In topical oxygen therapy, the oxygen is provided to the surface of the wound, and oxygen is delivered to the wound by diffusion at the skin's surface. The mechanisms of oxygen delivery are thus completely different. Advocates for this type of therapy cite decreased costs and increased safety for its usage over hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Since neither CMS nor private payors reimburse for this therapy it has fallen into relative disuse.

1987

1990s

Prior to caring for premature infants in the 1940s, anyone who entered the Premature Station were required to wear a cap, mask, and gown. This photo is from the archives of OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois.

This photo from the archives of OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois shows cubicle incubators that were used in the early Premature Station in Peoria, Illinois.

This 1940s photo from the archives of OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois shows a premature infant in a Clark incubator.

This photo from the 1940s Premature Center at St. Francis Hospital in Peoria, Illinois shows an infant in a Clark incubator.

J.L. Pragel’s Patent for a Portable Infant Incubator was awarded in 1949.

A premature infant in a 1950s Davidson incubator is shown in this photo from the archives of OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois .

1950s

1950s

1951

In this photo from 1951, incubators in the premature center in Peoria Illinois are shown.

This ad for the Bunn Baby's Haven appeared in the December 1959 issue of the Inhalation Therapy journal. The Baby's Haven was the first stainless steel incubator.

In June 1951, Gordon Armstrong et al applied for a patent for an "explosion proof baby incubator." the patent was awarded on April 19, 1955.

This 1960s photo from the archives of OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria, Illinois shows staff caring for premature infants in Armstrong incubators.

Some early models of incubators only allowed access to the infant by lifting the lid of the enclosure. This photo from the archives of OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois, shows two incubators with the lids lifted open to allow staff access to the infants.

The Neonatal Critical Care Unit in Peoria, Illinois is shown in this 1960s photos from OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois.

This photo from the archives of OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois shows a physician examining a premie in an incubator.

This 1960s photo shows an early NICU room filled with incubators at OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria, Illinois.

In this 1960s photo from the archives of OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois, the transport by ambulance of two premature infants in portable incubators is shown.

In this early 1970s photo from the archives of OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria, Illinois, a staff member in the Neonatal Center is shown monitoring the oxygen concentration in the Isolette.

In this 1970s photo from the archives of OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois, a nurse is shown weighing an infant inside an Isolette.

In this 1960s photo from the archives of OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois, a nurse provides care to a premie in an Isolette.

In this 1970s photo from the archives of OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois, a staff member is shown cleaning an Isolette.

This ad for the Ohio Intensive Care Transport Incubator appeared in the December 1970 issue of the INHALATION THERAPY journal.

1982

1995