Device and method for measuring fetal blood pH

• US 20040092843A1
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Amir Belson, Doron Kreiser
• Original Assignee: Amir Belson, Doron Kreiser
• Inventors: Kreiser, Doron, Belson, Amir
• Application Number:
  US10/082,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20040092843A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/576
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1464 specially adapted for foetal tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1482 specially adapted for foetal tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150236 Pistons, i.e. cylindrical bodies that sit inside the syringe barrel, typically with an air tight seal, and slide in the barrel to create a vacuum or to expel blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150244 Rods for actuating or driving the piston, i.e. the cylindrical body that sits inside the syringe barrel, typically with an air tight seal, and slides in the barrel to create a vacuum or to expel blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150412 Pointed piercing elements, e.g. needles, lancets for piercing the skin blade-like piercing elements A61B5/150442
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15087 short range, e.g. between console and disposable using implanted devices A61B5/150877
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6853 with a balloon

Abstract

A hand-mounted device for obtaining a sample of blood from the scalp of a fetus and for measuring the pH of the blood sample includes a lancet for incising the scalp of the fetus, a capillary for obtaining a drop-sized sample of blood and a pH electrode within the capillary for analyzing the pH of the blood. Optionally, a motorized actuator may be provided for automatically advancing and withdrawing the lancet and the capillary. The pH measuring device includes an isolating mechanism, in the form of an everting bell-shaped member, an inflatable balloon member or an expandable funnel member, and a flushing/aspiration lumen for clearing the distal region of the device of amniotic fluid while in use.

Claims

1. A device for measuring fetal blood pH, comprising:

means for mounting the device to an operator'"'"'s hand;

a lancet extendable from a distal end of the device for incising tissue; and

a capillary extendable from the distal end of the device for collecting a sample of blood for pH analysis.

2. The device for measuring fetal blood pH of claim 1, wherein the means for mounting the device to an operator'"'"'s hand is in the form of a surgical glove to which the device is mounted.

3. The device for measuring fetal blood pH of claim 1, wherein the means for mounting the device to an operator'"'"'s hand is in the form of a finger cot to which the device is mounted.

4. The device for measuring fetal blood pH of claim 1, wherein the means for mounting the device to an operator'"'"'s hand is in the form of a finger ring to which the device is mounted.

5. The device for measuring fetal blood pH of claim 1, wherein the lancet is slidably mounted in a lancet guide tube.

6. The device for measuring fetal blood pH of claim 5, wherein the lancet is connected by a lancet actuator rod to a lancet actuator located at a proximal end of the lancet guide tube.

7. The device for measuring fetal blood pH of claim 1, wherein the capillary is slidably mounted in a capillary guide tube.

8. The device for measuring fetal blood pH of claim 7, wherein the capillary is connected by a capillary actuator rod to a capillary actuator located at a proximal end of the capillary guide tube.

9. The device for measuring fetal blood pH of claim 7, wherein the capillary is configured to be withdrawn from a proximal end of the capillary guide tube.

10. The device for measuring fetal blood pH of claim 1, wherein the capillary has a distal end configured as a capillary bulb.

11. The device for measuring fetal blood pH of claim 10, further comprising a pH electrode positioned within the capillary bulb.

12. The device for measuring fetal blood pH of claim 1, further comprising means for isolating a distal region of the pH measuring device from a surrounding region.

13. The device for measuring fetal blood pH of claim 12, wherein the means for isolating a distal region of the pH measuring device from a surrounding region is in the form of an everting bell-shaped member.

14. The device for measuring fetal blood pH of claim 12, wherein the means for isolating a distal region of the pH measuring device from a surrounding region is in the form of an inflatable balloon member.

15. The device for measuring fetal blood pH of claim 12, wherein the means for isolating a distal region of the pH measuring device from a surrounding region is in the form of an expandable funnel member.

16. The device for measuring fetal blood pH of claim 1, further comprising a motorized actuator for sequentially advancing the lancet and the capillary.

17. The device for measuring fetal blood pH of claim 1, further comprising a light source for illuminating a region distal to the device.

18. A device for measuring fetal blood pH, comprising:

a lancet guide tube;

a lancet slidably mounted in the lancet guide tube and connected by a lancet actuator rod to a lancet actuator located at a proximal end of the lancet guide tube, wherein the lancet is selectively extendable from a distal end of the lancet guide tube for incising tissue;

capillary guide tube;

a capillary slidably mounted in the capillary guide tube and connected by a capillary actuator rod to a capillary actuator located at a proximal end of the capillary guide tube, wherein the capillary is selectively extendable from a distal end of the capillary guide tube for collecting a sample of blood for pH analysis; and

means for mounting the lancet guide tube and the capillary guide tube to an operator'"'"'s hand.

19. The device for measuring fetal blood pH of claim 18, further comprising means for isolating a distal region of the pH measuring device from a surrounding region.

20. The device for measuring fetal blood pH of claim 18, further comprising a motorized actuator for sequentially advancing the lancet and the capillary.

21. A method for measuring fetal blood pH, comprising:

inserting a hand-mounted pH device in proximity of a presenting part of a fetus in parturition;

isolating a region adjacent to a distal end of the pH device from a surrounding region;

advancing a lancet from the distal end of the pH device and incising tissue in the presenting part of the fetus; and

advancing a capillary from the distal end of the pH device and collecting a sample of blood from the incised tissue for pH analysis.