Traction force sensing vacuum extractor
AssigneeClinical Innovations, LLC
InventorsWilliam Dean Wallace, Richard A. Dixon, Steven R. Smith, Christopher A. Cutler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vacuum extractor for use in childbirth is described. The vacuum extractor includes a handle and a vacuum cup with a force sensor coupled to the vacuum extractor. The force sensor measures the traction force applied between the vacuum cup and the handle for assisting the birthing attendant in applying an appropriate traction force. The force sensor may also include a slipping mechanism which causes the length of the force sensor to distinctly increase if the applied traction force exceeds a certain level such as twenty pounds. Thus, the birthing attendant may feel the slipping and thus determine that the traction force has exceeded the certain value.
Claims14
A vacuum extractor for use in childbirth comprising:
- a vacuum cup;
- a handle coupled to the vacuum cup;
- and
- a force sensor coupled to the vacuum cup, wherein the force sensor is configured to measure a traction force applied by the handle to the vacuum cup.
A vacuum extractor for use in childbirth comprising:
- a vacuum cup;
- a handle coupled to the vacuum cup;
- and
- a force sensor coupled between the handle and the vacuum cup, wherein the force sensor comprises a slipping mechanism configured to suddenly increase the length of the force sensor in the direction of traction when a traction force exceeds a predetermined level.
A vacuum extractor for use in childbirth comprising:
- a vacuum cup comprising a cup portion and a tube;
- a handle coupled to the vacuum cup;
- a force sensor coupled to the handle of the vacuum cup, wherein the force sensor is configured to measure the traction force applied by the handle to the vacuum cup;
- a cable coupled to the cup portion and extending from the cup portion through the tube and into the force sensor;
- and
- a compressible device within the force sensor, wherein the cable is coupled to the compressible device such that when a traction force is applied and the vacuum cup stretches, the cable is drawn towards the cup portion, and the compressible device is compressed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.