Monitoring uterine contractions by radiotelemetric transmission
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsMichael R. Harrison, Russell W. Jennings
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A uterine monitor is provided for gathering characteristic data such as maternal uterine electromyogram, uterine temperature and intra-uterine pressure so that the onset of parturition or labor may be determined. The uterine monitor comprises a remote sensing unit, the remote sensing unit containing sensors which sense uterine temperature, intra-uterine pressure and uterine electromyogram. A transceiver is housed in the remote sensing unit and outputs the sensed signals to an external antenna. A monitoring station is provided for monitoring the sampled signals. Additionally a medication dispenser is provided which may be actuated by the monitoring station upon the onset of parturition or labor.
Claims39
A uterine monitor for measuring characteristics indicative of labor said monitor comprising:
- means for sensing an intra-uterine pressure of a mother and for outputting a pressure signal;
- means for sensing uterine temperature and for outputting a sampled uterine temperature signal;
- means for sensing electrical activity of a uterine muscle of said mother's uterus and for outputting an electromyogram signal;
- and
- means for receiving said pressure, temperature and electromyogram signals and for determining the onset of labor based upon said pressure, temperature and electromyogram signals.
A uterine monitoring system for measuring characteristics indicative of labor, said monitoring system comprising:
- a remote sensing unit, said remote sensing unit containing means for sensing the intra-uterine pressure of a mother and for sensing electrical activity of a uterine muscle of said mother's uterus, said remote sensing unit also housing a first transceiver for outputting pressure and electromyogram signals;
- an antenna for receiving said pressure and electromyogram signals from said first transceiver;
- a monitoring station for monitoring said pressure and electromyogram signals, said monitoring station comprising a second transceiver for receiving said electromyogram and pressure signals from said antenna, a computing means for manipulating said electromyogram and pressure signals, and an output means for displaying information from said electromyogram and pressure signals, and means for sensing uterine temperature and for outputting a uterine temperature signal.
A uterine monitor for detecting onset of labor, said monitor comprising:
- intra-uterine pressure sensing means implantable in a mother for providing a pressure signal representative of sensed intra-uterine pressure;
- temperature sensing means implantable in said mother for providing a temperature signal representative of sensed uterine temperature;
- and
- signal processing means for receiving said pressure signal and said temperature signal, said signal processing means providing an output indicative of the onset of labor as a function of said pressure signal and said temperature signal.
A uterine monitor for detecting onset of labor, said monitor comprising:
- electromyogram sensing means implantable in a mother for providing signal representative sensed uterine wall activity;
- temperature sensing means implantable in said mother for providing a temperature signal representative of sensed uterine temperature;
- and
- signal processing means for receiving said electromyogram signal and said temperature signal, said signal processing means for providing an output indicative of the onset of labor as a function of said electromyogram signal and said temperature signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.