London, Nov 17 (IANS): In what could help reduce the number of deaths resulting from premature births, a researcher from Loughborough University in Britain has developed a low-cost, inflatable baby incubator for use in the developing world.

The incubator MOM provides the same performance as an expensive modern incubation system, but costs just 250 pounds (Rs.24,206.79) to manufacture, test and transport to the desired location, said a statement issued by the university.

"I was inspired to tackle this problem after watching a documentary on the issue for premature babies in refugee camps. It motivated me to use my design engineering skills to make a difference," said James Roberts, who created the incubator.

MOM is an inexpensive, electronically controlled, inflatable incubator constructed to decrease the number of premature child deaths within refugee camps.

The device can be collapsed for transportation and runs off a battery which lasts 24 hours, in case of power outages.

The incubator is blown up manually and it is heated using ceramic heating elements.

Over one in ten babies worldwide are born prematurely.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 75 percent of deaths resulting from premature birth could be avoided if inexpensive treatments were more readily available across the globe.

For his invention, Roberts has won the International James Dyson Award, an international design award that celebrates university student inventions to inspire the next generation of design engineers.