Rotating mechanism for introducing a fetal electrode
AssigneeAmerican Home Products Corporation
InventorJoel N. Helfer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved electrode structure for use in monitoring fetal heartbeat and the like. A guide tube has an open forward end adapted to be inserted through the vagina and cervix of a woman in labor. A signal acquisition device, adapted to rotatably engage a fetal epidermis, is slidably and rotatably disposed in the guide tube. A driving member is slidably and rotatably disposed in the guide tube for driving the signal acquisition device into engagement with a fetal epidermis. A line is attached to the driving member and is wrapped circumferentially around at least a portion of the driving member. A device is affixed to the line for pulling it tangentially with respect to the drive member, whereby the driving member and the signal acquisition device may be rotated for engaging a fetal epidermis.
Claims9
An improved electrode structure for use in monitoring fetal heartbeat and the like, comprising:
- a guide tube having an open forward end adapted to be inserted through the vagina and cervix of a woman in labor;
- signal acquisition means adapted to rotatably engage a fetal epidermis;
- the signal acquisition means being rotatably disposed in the guide tube;
- a driving member rotatably disposed in the guide tube and positioned to engage the signal acquisition means to impart rotational motion thereto for driving the signal acquisition means into engagement with a fetal epidermis;
- a first line attached at a first end to the driving member and wrapped circumferentially around at least a portion of the driving member;
- and
- line unwinding means affixed to a second end of the line for pulling the line tangentially with respect to the driving member;
- whereby the driving member and the signal acquisition means may be rotated for engaging a fetal epidermis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.