US 5,671,736 A · Fetal electrode product with easy-to-handle connector

Abstract

A fetal electrode product for transmitting signals indicative of fetal heart rate from a fetus to a monitor. The product includes a slotted introducer which can be comfortably inserted through the cervix of the mother. A drive mechanism slides and rotates a holder--to which are attached, at opposite ends, a fetal spiral electrode (FSE) and a reference electrode--within the introducer to secure the FSE to the fetus. The solid drive mechanism has a drive rod, a handle on one end of the drive rod imparting translation and rotation to the drive rod, and a clutch on the opposite end of the drive rod imparting translation and rotation to the holder. The drive rod, handle, and clutch each have a channel transporting a twisted wire strand from the electrodes to a connector. The connector has an outside dimension greater than the inner diameter of the introducer to facilitate manipulation. The introducer cannot be pulled over the connector after the FSE is attached to the fetus; the wire strand exits the drive mechanism via its channel and the introducer through its longitudinal slot. A locking slit in the handle securely wedges the twisted wire strand in a fixed position before application of the FSE. A chamfer located at the intersection of the slot with the rearward end of the introducer also positions and helps wedge the twisted wire strand in a fixed position.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A fetal electrode product for transmitting signals indicative of fetal heart rate from a fetus inside a mother to a monitor external to the mother, said product comprising:

a holder having a fetal spiral electrode on one end and a maternal reference electrode on its opposite end;
a twisted wire strand including a pair of wires each having a first end and a second end, said first ends of said wires respectively connected to said fetal spiral electrode and said maternal reference electrode;
a solid drive mechanism disposed along a longitudinal axis and having:
(a) a drive rod including a circumference with an outside diameter, a forward end, and a rearward end,
(b) a handle on said rearward end of said drive rod imparting translation and rotation to said drive rod,
(c) a clutch on said forward end of said drive rod imparting translation and rotation to said holder to secure attachment of said fetal spiral electrode to the fetus, and
(d) a channel longitudinally disposed in said drive mechanism and transporting said twisted wire strand from said fetal spiral electrode and said maternal reference electrode through said handle;
an introducer disposed arm rod at least a portion of said drive mechanism and adapted to be comfombly inserted through the cervix of the mother and having:
(a) an open forward end,
(b) an open rearward end,
(c) an inner diameter, within which said holder is slidably and rotatably disposed, only slightly greater than said outside diameter of said drive rod, and
(d) a longitudinal slot disposed along the entire length of said introducer;
and
a connector engaging said second ends of said wires of said twisted wire strand and having an outside dimension at least greater than said inner diameter of said introducer so that said introducer cannot be pulled over said connector after said fetal spiral electrode is attached to the fetus, said connector adapted to engage the monitor.

11 more elements

A fetal electrode product for transmitting signals indicative of fetal heart rate from a fetus inside a mother to a monitor external to the mother, said product comprising:

a holder having a fetal spiral electrode on one end and a maternal reference electrode on its opposite end;
a twisted wire strand including a pair of wires each having a first end and a second end, said first ends of said wires respectively connected to said fetal spiral electrode and said maternal reference electrode and said second ends of said wires adapted to be connected to the monitor;
and
a solid drive mechanism disposed along a longitudinal axis and having;
(a) a drive rod including a circumference with an outside diameter, a forward end, and a rearward end,
(b) a handle having a rearward portion with an end and a forward portion, said forward portion connected to said rearward end of said drive rod and imparting translation and rotation to said drive rod, said handle having:
i) a locking slit in said end of said rearward portion in a plane transverse to said longitudinal axis of said drive mechanism, said locking slit adapted to securely wedge said twisted wire strand in a fixed position within said locking slit;
and
ii) an incline sloping downward from said drive rod to said locking slit and transporting said twisted wire strand to said locking slit,
(c) a clutch on said forward end of said drive rod imparting translation and rotation to said holder to secure attachment of said fetal spiral electrode to the fetus, and
(d) a channel longitudinally disposed in said drive mechanism, said channel aligned with said incline and with said locking slit for transporting said twisted wire strand from said fetal spiral electrode and said maternal reference electrode to the monitor.

8 more elements

A fetal electrode product for transmitting signals indicative of fetal heart rate from a fetus inside a mother to a monitor external to the mother, said product comprising:

a holder having a fetal spiral electrode on one end and a maternal reference electrode on its opposite end;
a twisted wire strand including a pair of wires each having a first end and a second end, said first ends of said wires respectively connected to said fetal spiral electrode and said maternal reference electrode and said second ends of said wires adapted to be connected to the monitor;
a solid drive mechanism having a circumference with an outside diameter and imparting translation and rotation to said holder to secure attachment of said fetal spiral electrode to the fetus;
an introducer disposed around at least a portion of said drive mechanism and adapted to be comfortably inserted through the cervix of the mother and having:
(a) an open forward end,
(b) an open rearward end,
(c) an inner diameter, within which said holder is slidably and rotatably disposed, only slightly greater than the outside diameter of said drive mechanism, and
(d) a longitudinal slot disposed along the entire length of said introducer with at least one of a bevel, a chamber, and a radius being located at the intersection of said slot with said rearward end of said introducer and positioning said twisted wire strand, said twisted wire strand wedging between said inner diameter of said introducer and said outside diameter of said solid drive mechanism.

5 more elements

A fetal electrode product for transmitting signals indicative of fetal heart rate from a fetus inside a mother to a monitor external to the mother, said product comprising:

a holder having a fetal spiral electrode on one end and a maternal reference electrode on its opposite end;
a twisted wire strand including a pair of wires each having a first end and a second end, said first ends of said wires respectively connected to said fetal spiral electrode and said maternal reference electrode;
a solid drive mechanism disposed along a longitudinal axis and having:
(a) a drive rod including a circumference with an outside diameter, a forward end, and a rearward end,
(b) a handle having a rearward portion with an end and a forward portion, said forward portion connected to said rearward end of said drive rod and imparting translation and rotation to said drive rod, said handle including:
i) a locking slit in said end of said rearward portion in a plane transverse to said longitudinal axis of said drive mechanism, said locking slit adapted to securely wedge said twisted wire strand in a fixed position within said locking slit;
and
ii) an incline sloping downward from said drive rod to said locking slit and transporting said twisted wire strand to said locking slit,
(c) a clutch on said forward end of said drive rod imparting translation and rotation to said holder to secure attachment of said fetal spiral electrode to the fetus, and
(d) a channel longitudinally disposed in said drive mechanism, said channel aligned with said incline and with said locking slit for transporting said twisted wire strand from said fetal spiral electrode and said maternal reference electrode to the monitor;
an introducer disposed around at least a portion of said drive mechanism and adapted to be comfortably inserted through the cervix of the mother and having:
(a) an open forward end,
(b) an open rearward end,
(c) an inner diameter, within which said holder is slidably and rotatably disposed, only slightly greater than said outside diameter of said drive rod, and
(d) a longitudinal slot disposed along the entire length of said introducer with at least one of a bevel, a chamfer, and a radius being located at the intersection of said slot with said rearward end of said introducer and positioning said twisted wire strand, said twisted wire strand wedging between said inner diameter of said introducer and said outside diameter of said drive rod;
and
a connector engaging said second ends of said wires of said twisted wire strand and having an outside dimension at least greater than said inner diameter of said introducer so that said introducer cannot be pulled over said connector after said fetal spiral electrode is attached to the fetus, said connector adapted to engage the monitor.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fetal electrode product with easy-to-handle connector

Life of this patent

Fetal electrode product with easy-to-handle connector

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24