VOA标准英语2014--低成本保温箱为早产婴儿迎来生存希望

（单词翻译）

Low-Cost Incubator May Save More Babies 低成本保温箱为早产婴儿迎来生存希望

Each year, about 1 million babies throughout the world die of complications due to premature¹ birth. Many of them could have been saved if given access to an incubator. But this expensive device is sorely lacking in developing countries. A young British researcher says he has found a solution -- a low-cost inflatable incubator.

Doctors say many expectant mothers in developing countries give birth prematurely², especially in refugee camps, largely because of poor diet and unhealthy living conditions.

Premature birth is the biggest killer³ of children worldwide. Because these tiny babies are born before their lungs are fully⁴ developed, they are more susceptible⁵ to often deadly infections. But they could survive if placed in an incubator, where they would continue to develop in the closed chamber⁶ and warm, controlled environment.

However with a price tag of around $50,000, incubators are out of reach even for some hospitals.

Twenty-three year-old design engineering student James Roberts of Britain says his $400 inflatable incubator may help solve this problem.

“It's basically an insulated piece of air, so it's like the difference between double and single glazing⁷, so it's easier to keep the inside at a stable heat environment, heat temperature," said Roberts.

The Inflated⁸ incubator is collapsible and when folded resembles an ordinary travel bag.

It is powered through a regular electrical line, but Roberts said he has found a solution in case there is a power outage, which often happens in refugee camps.

“I thought 'Why not car batteries?' There's loads of cars out there, they're pretty readily available. So you can plug this into a car battery. It will run for 24 hours and then when the mains [regular electrical line] comes back on, the mains can then charge this battery, and then that can run the incubator," he said.

Roberts' won the $47,000 James Dyson Award earlier this year for his incubator design. He said the project is still in the development phase, but the prize money will help him start a company for the mass manufacturing of inflatable incubators.