Blenders  

A "blender" mixes pure oxygen and air (or other gases) in precise ratios and delivers the resulting mixture to the baby.  Blenders are typically attached directly to ventilators.

Blood Pressure Monitor 

A small cuff placed around the baby's upper arm or leg and measure the baby's blood pressure at programmed intervals.

Cardiorespiratory Monitor/Physiologic Monitor 

Provides a constant read-out of the baby's heart rate and rhythm, breathing rate, arterial or central venous pressure, and other useful information.  Sensors are attached to the baby for read-out.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

This machine pushes a continuous flow of air or oxygen to the airways to help keep tiny air passages in the lungs open.  CPAP may be given through an ET tube or by small tubes that fir into the baby's nostrils.

Drainage Pump 

May be hooked up to a naso-gastric (NG) tube or to other tubes in order to keep secretions from accumulating in the stomach or to drain other areas when the infant is very sick.

High Frequency Ventilator (HiFi) 

Holds the lungs open with a constant pressure and then gives hundreds of tiny puffs of air or oxygen each minute.

Isolette (Incubator)   

A specially heated bed with transparent plastic.  The incubator keeps the baby warm with moistened air in a clean environment, and helps to protect the baby from noise, drafts, infection, and excess handling.  Air temperature is controlled by a sensor attached to the baby's skin.

IV Pumps/Infusion Pumps 

Carefully regulates the fluids that are delivered through IV or arterial lines.

Oxygen Hood 

A clear plastic box that fits over the head and supplies oxygen.  This is used for babies who can breathe on their own, but still need some extra oxygen.

Phototherapy Lights "bili lights" 

Special lights that help the baby get over jaundice or yellow skin.  Bili lights do not deliver any ultraviolet light.

Pulse Oximeter  

A machine that measure the amount of oxygen in the baby's blood through the skin.

Radiant Warmer

Helps regulates a baby's body temperature.  It has an overhead arm that contains electric heating elements that are directed down toward the infant.  A thermostat is hooked up to a sensor on the baby's abdomen and adjusts the power of the warmer up and down dynamically so that it delivers whatever heat is necessary to keep the baby at the perfect temperature.

Respirator/Mechanical Ventilator 

 A machine that sends oxygen to the baby's lungs through a tube in the nose or mouth to help the baby breathe.

Saturation Monitor 

Gauges how much oxygen is in the baby's blood.  It is connected to a baby by a probe that is wrapped around the foot or arm and has a visible red light.

Scale  

Measures the baby's weight.  Is one of the most important pieces of equipment in the NICU since every feeding, IV solution, and medication is calculated and based on the baby's weight.

Synchronized Ventilator

A machine that makes the baby's own breath bigger.  A small soft circle is attached to the abdomen, it tells the machine when the baby starts to take a breath so the machine breaths can be timed to the baby's.