Hypothermia System for Neonatal HIE – BD ArcticSun™
Hypothermia System for Neonatal HIE – BD ArcticSun™ 5000
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), caused by oxygen deprivation of the brain around birth, is one of the leading causes of death and permanent neurological damage in newborns. In moderate and severe HIE, therapeutic hypothermia is the standard treatment, shown to reduce the risk of death and severe disability in randomized trials such as the NICHD trial and in meta-analyses of these trials (Cochrane 2013). Because secondary energy failure in the brain begins to develop hours after birth, starting treatment within the first 6 hours is critical. BD ArcticSun™ 5000, with its dedicated neonatal ArcticGel™ pad and servo control, is used to deliver this treatment in level III neonatal intensive care units.
This page is intended for healthcare professionals. Treatment decisions and targets are determined by the physician; please refer to the product's instructions for use for detailed information.
Who is treated?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2026 clinical report:
- Infants born at 36 weeks of gestation or later with signs of moderate or severe HIE are treated.
- Biochemical evidence of a hypoxic-ischemic event around birth and moderate-to-severe encephalopathy or seizures on neurological examination are required.
- In infants born at 35 weeks, treatment may be considered after shared decision-making with the family; it is not recommended below 35 weeks.
- In mild HIE, hypothermia is applied only within research settings.
The four phases of treatment
- Induction: Ideally started within the first 6 hours after birth; the infant is brought to the target temperature.
- Maintenance: Maintained for 72 hours at a target of 33.5 °C (33–34 °C). To avoid overcooling, servo-controlled cooling is preferred over passive cooling.
- Controlled rewarming: The infant is returned to normothermia slowly and observably, at a rate not exceeding 0.5 °C per hour.
- Normothermia: After rewarming, the infant is kept between 36.5–37.5 °C; hyperthermia should be avoided in every infant with suspected HIE.
Neonatal cooling with ArcticSun
- Servo control: The infant's rectal or esophageal temperature is measured continuously, the water temperature in the pad is adjusted automatically and the target is maintained within a narrow range.
- Management from a single screen: Hypothermia and normothermia modes, target and rewarming rate are selected on the touchscreen; patient and water temperature, the temperature-time graph and treatment time are continuously visible.
- Heat production indicator: Situations in which the infant's heat production increases (e.g., stress or a tendency to fever) are shown on the screen based on changes in water temperature, helping the clinician assess early.
- Alerts and alarms: Conditions such as exceeding target limits, probe reading problems and the water reservoir are reported as alerts or alarms.
ArcticGel™ neonatal pad
- Designed for infants weighing 1.8–4.5 kg; single-use and latex-free.
- The hydrogel surface provides continuous and even contact with the skin; heat transfer efficiency is similar to water immersion (English et al., Eur J Anaesthesiol 2008).
- Leak safety: The pads operate under negative pressure; even if punctured or cut, water does not leak onto the infant or into the incubator.
- Access: The compact pad design leaves the umbilical area free, leaving room for umbilical catheterization, vascular access, respiratory support and ECG electrodes.
- X-rays can be taken with the pads in place.
- The skin under and around the pad should be inspected at regular intervals.
Note: The neonatal pad is not applied to preterm infants and the fabric liner of the pad must not be removed. Refer to the product's instructions for use before use.
Units of use
Level III neonatal intensive care units and referral centers for infants with HIE.
Training and support
Prizma-Med provides installation, hands-on training for the neonatal team, supply of the ArcticGel™ neonatal pad (318-02-02) and technical service support. For requests: +90 342 360 64 50 · info@prizmamed.com.tr
Related pages: BD ArcticSun 5000 · Adult and pediatric targeted temperature management · Frequently asked questions about hypothermia treatment (TTM)