Fetal electrode product with female socket connector and connector device with male plug connector each for use in monitoring fetal heart rate

A connector device for use in monitoring fetal heart rate, comprising:

• a housing;
• electrical connection means for making electrical connection between a remote fetal monitoring device and fetal and maternal electrodes, the connection means including a male plug connector and output means which are electrically connected together within the housing, the output means being adapted for making electrical connection with the remote fetal monitoring device, the electrical connection means also including a female socket connector engaging the male plug connector for establishing electrical connection therebetween, the female socket connector adapted to be electrically connected with the fetal and maternal electrodes;
• releasable retaining means for releasably retaining the connectors together when the electrical connection is established between the connectors;
• a bulkhead body within the housing, the electrical connection means including socket terminals in the bulkhead body and also including plug terminals each extending from a common end of the male plug connector and into electrical contact with a respective one of the socket terminals, the socket terminals being in electrical contact with the output means, the plug terminals and the socket terminals being releasably engageable with each other, the connection means including a printed circuit board within the housing for electrically connecting the male connector and the output means together via the bulkhead body, the bulkhead body extending from the printed circuit board.

A connector device for use in monitoring fetal heart rate, comprising:

• a housing;
• electrical connection means for making electrical connection between a remote fetal monitoring device and fetal and maternal electrodes, the electrical connection means including a male plug connector and output means which are electrically connected together within the housing, the output means being adapted for making electrical connection with the remote fetal monitoring device;
• a base with a ground electrode means supported by the base for providing an electrical ground;
• means for electrically connecting the output means with the ground electrode means and for securing the base and the housing together;
• and
• means for securing one of the base and the housing to a leg of an expectant mother so that the ground electrode means is in electrical contact with the mother and thereby provide the electrical ground.

A fetal electrode product for use in monitoring fetal heart rate, comprising:

• a fetal electrode and a maternal electrode secured to a holder made of an insulating material;
• an elongated flexible driving tube for rotating said holder;
• a female socket connector having an outer dimension less than an inner dimension of said driving tube so that said driving tube can be pulled over said female socket connector after said fetal electrode has been attached to a fetus, said female socket connector including an internal channel and at least two spaced apart electrical contacts within said channel, and
• an elongated pair of insulated wires each electrically connecting one of said electrodes to one of said contacts.