# US 2008/0188774 A1 · Cervical dilation measurement apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0188774 A1 - Document ID: US20080188774A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/061,287 - Filed: 2008-04-02 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2005-12-29 - Assignees: Intrapartum Ventures, LLC - Inventors: Dharmesh Dubey; Tim Baird - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080188774A1 ## CPC - A61B 5/6838: {Clamps or clips} - A61B 5/036: {by means introduced into body tracts (A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence)} - A61B 5/1076: {for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters (A61B3/1005 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/435: {Assessing cervix alteration or dilation} - A61B 5/6826: {Finger} - A61B 5/6885: {Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure} - A61B 1/303: for the vagina, i.e. vaginoscopes - A61B 2562/0247: Pressure sensors - A61B 2562/043: in a linear array - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract The present invention provides a medical device for measuring cervical dilation, where the medical device is positionable about a hand having first and second fingers, with each finger having a tip and a side surface. The medical device may include a housing, a first extension element movably coupled to the housing, a second extension element movably coupled to the housing, and a dilation indication mechanism to measure a distance between the first and second extension elements. The medical device may also include a first lateral pressure sensor positionable about a side surface of the first finger, a second lateral pressure sensor positionable about a side surface of the second finger, a third pressure sensor positionable about a tip of the first finger, and a fourth pressure sensor positionable about a tip of the second finger. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 A method of measuring cervical dilation, comprising: positioning a medical device about a hand such that at least a portion of a base element of the medical device is in between a first and second finger of the hand, wherein at least a portion of a first extension element of the medical device is coupled to the first finger and at least a portion of a second extension element of the medical device is coupled to the second finger; positioning the first and second fingers of the hand to contact cervical tissue; and obtaining a cervical dilation measurement based at least in part upon a distance between the first and second extension elements. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, further comprising: positioning the first and second fingers of the hand to contact a portion of a baby; and measuring a descent position of the baby based at least in part upon a marker on the medical device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, further comprising measuring a pressure value of contact between at least one of the first and second fingers and the cervical tissue. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method according to claim 23, further comprising: positioning the first and second fingers of the hand to contact a portion of a baby; and measuring a pressure value of contact between at least one of the first and second fingers and the baby. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, wherein positioning the first and second fingers of the hand to contact cervical tissue includes moving the first and second extension elements in a first plane. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, further comprising moving the first and second extension elements in a second plane. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, further comprising: positioning the first and second fingers of the hand to contact a portion of a calibration element having a predetermined dimension; measuring a distance between the first and second extension elements when contacting the calibration element; and calibrating the medical device at least in part by correlating the measured distance between the first and second elements to the predetermined dimension of the calibration element. ### Claim 28 A method of measuring cervical dilation, comprising: moving a first extension element and a second extension element of a medical device away from each other in proximity to cervical tissue, wherein the first and second extension elements are pivotably coupled to a base housing; obtaining a cervical dilation measurement based at least in part upon a distance measured between the first and second extension elements. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method according to claim 28, further comprising: positioning the first and second fingers of the hand to contact a portion of a baby; and measuring a descent position of the baby based at least in part upon a marker on the medical device. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The method according to claim 28, further comprising measuring a pressure value of contact between at least a portion of the medical device and the cervical tissue. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The method according to claim 28, further comprising: positioning at least a portion of the medical device to contact a portion of a baby measuring a pressure value of contact between at least a portion of the medical device and the baby. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The method according to claim 28, wherein positioning the first and second fingers of the hand to contact cervical tissue includes moving the first and second extension elements in a first plane. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method according to claim 32, further comprising moving the first and second extension elements in a second plane. ### Claim 34 (depends on 27) The method according to claim 27, wherein the first and second extension elements each include an elongated rod operably positionable adjacent to a finger. ### Claim 35 (depends on 27) The method according to claim 27, further comprising: moving a first extension element and a second extension element of a medical device away from each other, where movement of the first and second extension elements is at least partially restricted by a calibration element having a predetermined dimension; measuring a distance between the first and second extension elements; and calibrating the medical device at least in part by correlating the measured distance between the first and second elements to the predetermined dimension of the calibration element. ### Claim 36 A method of measuring cervical dilation, comprising: engaging a medical device to a hand, wherein a first elongate rod of the medical device is positioned adjacent to a first finger, and wherein a second elongate rod of the medical device is positioned adjacent to a second finger, such that movement of the first and second fingers causes corresponding movement of the first and second elongate rods; positioning the first and second fingers of the hand to contact cervical tissue; and obtaining a cervical dilation measurement based at least in part upon a distance between the first and second elongate rods. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The method according to claim 35, further comprising measuring a pressure value of contact between at least one of the first and second fingers and the cervical tissue. ### Claim 38 (depends on 35) The method according to claim 35, further comprising: positioning the first and second fingers of the hand to contact a portion of a baby; and measuring a pressure value of contact between at least one of the first and second fingers and the baby. ### Claim 39 (depends on 35) The method according to claim 35, further comprising: positioning the first and second fingers of the hand to contact a portion of a baby; and measuring a descent position of the baby based at least in part upon a marker on the medical device.