Uterine Magnetomyography

• US 20030199749A1
• Filed: 04/09/2003
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Arkansas
• Original Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas (University of Arkansas System)
• Inventors: Murphy, Pamela M., Lowery, Curtis L. Jr., Eswaran, Hari, Wilson, James D.
• Application Number:
  US10/411,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20030199749A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/409
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/242 Detecting biomagnetic fields, e.g. magnetic fields produced by bioelectric currents
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0354 SQUIDS

Abstract

The present invention is directed to satisfying the need to measure and monitor uterine activity non-invasively and accurately. Using superconducting quantum interference device sensors, we have established the feasibility of recording uterine contractile activity with high enough spatial-temporal resolution to determine the regions of localized activation and propagation over the uterus. With the large surface area and the shape of the array, spatial-temporal recordings of uterine activity were obtained using 151 sensors yielding a better insight into the mechanism of uterine contraction. By obtaining a contour plot of the magnetic field distribution, we were able to localize the areas of activation over the uterus during a contraction.

Claims

1. A non-invasive method for characterizing uterine magnetomyographic activity comprising:

a) providing a system consisting of a plurality of superconducting quantum interference device sensors shaped in a configuration adapted to a gravid abdomen of a pregnant patient;

b) placing said gravid abdomen of said pregnant patient in proximity to said sensors;

c) collecting from said sensors magnetomyographic signals produced by electrophysiological activity of uterine muscle cells of said pregnant patient;

d) analyzing said magnetomyographic signals produced by said electrophysiological activity of uterine muscle cells;

e) characterizing uterine activity of said pregnant patient based on an analysis of said magnetomyographic signals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said sensors are horizontal, vertical, and diagonally oriented in a concave array to collect said magnetomyographic signals.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, the step of cross-correlation analysis to calculate propagation time and velocity of said magnetomyographic signals.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said calculated propagation time and velocity of said magnetomyographic signals is used to produce a spatial temporal propagation map of changing magnetic field distribution.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, the step of diagnosing labor as a function of said analyzed magnetomyographic signals produced by the electrophysiological activity of uterine muscle cells of said pregnant patient.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said diagnosis step comprises predicting term labor.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said diagnosis step comprises predicting preterm labor.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said diagnosis step comprises an obstetrical diagnosis.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein said diagnosis step comprises an obstetrical treatment plan.