Method and apparatus for analyzing uterine electrical activity from surface measurements for obstetrical diagnosis

An apparatus for recording and analyzing uterine electrical activity for the abdominal or vaginal surface, comprising

• a. at least one electrode capable of measuring action potentials emitted from the abdominal or vaginal surface of a patient under analysis and further capable of emitting an analog signal indicative of action potentials measured by said electrode;
• b. an amplifier electrically coupled to said electrode to receive and amplify a signal indicative of action potentials measured by said electrode;
• c. a memory comprising sufficient storage capacity to store data resulting from a sampling of electromyographic signals at a sampling frequency of at least 100 Hz for a duration of time sufficient to record at least five bursts of action potentials, said memory coupled to receive a digital input from said amplifier indicative of action potential signals received by said converter;
• d. a filtering device capable of segregating and identifying electromyographic signals, including action potentials, in a frequency range of 0.3 Hz to 50 Hz from electromyographic signals outside said range;
• and
• e. a computer comprising an expert system programmed to analyze the frequency, duration, amplitude, and power density spectrum of action potential bursts and individual action potentials, said expert system further being capable of characterizing uterine activity based upon said analysis.

A remote uterine monitoring system for remotely characterizing uterine activity, comprising:

• a. at least one electrode capable of measuring action potentials emitted from the abdominal or vaginal surface of a patient under analysis and further capable of emitting an analog signal indicative of action potentials measured by said electrode;
• b. an amplifier electrically coupled to said electrode to receive and amplify a signal indicative of action potentials measured by said electrode;
• c. a data transmission system capable of receiving an amplified signal from said amplifier and transmitting said signal to a remote location from said electrode;
• d. a remote analog to digital converter coupled to said data transmission system to receive an analog input from said amplifier indicative of action potentials measured by said electrode;
• e. a memory comprising sufficient storage capacity to store data resulting from a sampling of electromyographic signals at a sampling frequency of at least 100 Hz for a duration of time sufficient to record at least five bursts of action potentials, said memory coupled to receive a digital input from said analog to digital converter indicative of action potential signals received by said converter;
• f. a filtering device capable of segregating and identifying electromyographic signals, including action potentials, in a frequency range of 0.3 Hz to 50 Hz from electromyographic signals outside said range;
• and
• g. a computer comprising an expert system programmed to analyze the frequency, duration, amplitude, and power density spectrum of action potential bursts and individual action potentials, said expert system further being capable of characterizing uterine activity based upon said analysis.