US 12,582,347 B2Granted

Apparatus, methods, and systems for measuring cervical dilation using structured light

AssigneesFarhan Naviwala, Spencer Duke, Rafael Carreno

InventorsFarhan Naviwala, Rafael Carreno, Spencer Duke

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Abstract

A portable system to be inserted within the birth canal for measuring dilation of a cervical region is disclosed. The system comprises a housing having a first portion sized to conform to a user's hand thereby defining a handle and a second portion sized to be inserted into the birth canal. The system includes two structured light sources configured to project a pattern onto the cervical region, a sensor, a trigger interface, a power source, and the processor configured for capturing image sensor data. The processor is configured for receiving image data from the sensor, processing the image sensor data, calculating a measurement of the dilation of the cervical region, and transmitting the data. The processor will transmit the data onto the display, presenting the measurement of dilation as well as a visual representation of the measurement.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A portable system to be inserted within a vaginal channel for measuring dilation of a cervical region within the vaginal channel, the portable system comprising:

a housing having a first portion and a second portion;
wherein the first portion is sized to conform to a user's hand thereby defining a handle and the second portion is sized to be inserted into the vaginal channel and capturing the dilation of the cervical region;
a processor disposed within the housing;
a structured light source disposed within the second portion;
a structured projection of light emitted by the structured light source such that it projects onto the cervical region, the structured projection of light comprising a concentrated light element that is at least one of a dot and a line;
a sensor disposed in the housing, in electrical communication with the structured light source and the processor and configured for capturing image sensor data;
wherein the processor is configured for:
receiving the image sensor data from the sensor;
processing the image sensor data;
detecting a distortion point in the structured projection of light, wherein the distortion point is a distortion in the concentrated light element;
calculating a measurement defining the dilation of the cervical region as a function of a distance between a plurality of distortion points;
and
transmitting, to a display, graphical display data comprising the dilation.

10 more elements

A portable system to be inserted within a vaginal channel for measuring dilation of a cervical region within the vaginal channel, the portable system comprising:

a housing having a first portion and a second portion;
wherein the first portion is sized to conform to a user's hand thereby defining a handle and the second portion is sized to be inserted into the vaginal channel and capturing the dilation of the cervical region;
a processor disposed within the housing;
a first structured light source disposed within the second portion;
a second structured light source disposed within the second portion;
a first structured projection of light emitted by the first structured light source such that it projects onto the cervical region;
a second structured projection of light emitted by the second structured light source such that it projects onto the cervical region;
wherein each of the first structured projection of light and the second structured projection of light comprise a concentrated light element;
a camera disposed within the second portion;
wherein the camera is configured for capturing and communicating image sensor data to the processor;
a display disposed within the first portion;
wherein the processor is configured for:
receiving the image sensor data from the camera;
processing the image sensor data;
detecting a distortion point in the structured projection of light, wherein the distortion point is a distortion in the concentrated light element;
calculating a measurement comprising the dilation of the cervical region as a function of distance between a plurality of distortion points;
generating a visual representation of the cervical region;
and
displaying, on the display, at least one of the measurement and the visual representation.

16 more elements

A portable system to be inserted within a vaginal channel for measuring dilation of a cervical region within the vaginal channel, the portable system comprising:

a housing having a first portion and a second portion;
wherein the first portion is sized to conform to a user's hand thereby defining a handle and the second portion is sized to be inserted into the vaginal channel and capturing the dilation of the cervical region;
a processor disposed within the housing;
a first structured light source disposed within the second portion;
a second structured light source disposed within the second portion;
a first structured projection of light emitted by the first structured light source such that it projects onto the cervical region;
a second structured projection of light emitted by the second structured light source such that it projects onto the the cervical region;
wherein each of the first structured projection of light and the second structured projection of light comprise a concentrated light element;
wherein each of the first structured projection of light and the second structured projection of light comprise a plurality of concentrated light elements arranged in a pattern of light that is projected onto the cervical region;
a camera disposed within the second portion;
wherein the camera is configured for capturing and communicating image sensor data to the processor;
a display disposed within the first portion;
wherein the processor is configured for:
receiving the image sensor data from the camera;
processing the image sensor data, wherein processing comprises determining at least two distortion points in the pattern of light when it is projected onto the cervical region;
calculating a measurement defining the dilation of the cervical region, wherein calculating the measurement comprises determining a distance between the at least two distortion points in the pattern of light;
wherein a distortion point is a distortion in a concentrated light element of the plurality of concentrated light elements arranged in the pattern of light;
generating a visual representation of the cervical region;
and
displaying, on the display, the measurement and the visual representation of the cervical region;
a trigger interface disposed in the first portion in electrical communication with the processor, the camera, and at least one of the first structured light source, and the second structured light source;
and
a power source disposed in the first portion and in electrical communication with the processor, the camera, and at least one of the first structured light source, the second structured light source, and the display.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/958,546Filed 3 Oct 2022 · continuation in part
Priority: 2 Jul 2020
Published: US 2023/0048679 A116 Feb 2023
Granted: 24 Mar 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

A61B 5/435
Pregnancy and labour monitoring, e.g. for labour onset detection: assessing cervix alteration or dilation
A61B 1/00009
Characterised by electronic signal processing: of image signals during a use of endoscope
A61B 1/0605
With illuminating arrangements: for spatially modulated illumination
A61B 1/303
Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g.…:…

Family

Application63/047,770Us provisional application · filed 2 Jul 2020
Application17/366,150Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 2 Jul 2021
US 2023/0048679 A1Pre-grant publication · published 16 Feb 2023
US 2022/0095995 A1Published application
US 12,582,347 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.