Wireless vacuum extraction monitoring

• US 20040199356A1
• Filed: 03/06/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medevco Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medevco Inc.
• Inventors: George, Vince L., Kennard, Robert M., Vines, Darrell L., VanHooydonk, Neil C., Vines, Victor L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,069,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/138
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/442 without pivotal connections, e.g. using vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/06 Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for

Abstract

The invention aids a person who is assisting with fetal extraction by monitoring and recording the pressure inside a vacuum device, and then passing this information wirelessly to a recording and/or displaying device.

Claims

1. A device for recording a pressure produced by a vacuum extraction device, the vacuum extraction device enabled to couple to a fetus via a suction device, comprising:

a wireless communication system comprising a receiver in a monitor, the monitor being enabled to record a detected pressure;

a pressure detection device comprising a transmitter, the pressure detection device adapted to couple to a cavity of a vacuum extraction device for use with fetal extraction, such that the pressure detection device is enabled to detect a pressure in the cavity;

the pressure detection device further adapted to communicate a detected vacuum pressure to the monitor via the transmitter;

the vacuum extraction device being adapted to produce a vacuum therein via hand-actuation; and

the vacuum extraction device comprising a suction device being vacuum attachable to a scalp portion of a fetus.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the receiver is a receiver portion of a transceiver.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is a transmitter portion of a transceiver.

4. A vacuum extraction device for aiding a person who is assisting with fetal extraction, comprising:

a suction device that is enabled for vacuum attachment to a fetus;

a pump that is capable of producing a vacuum pressure;

a tubing that fluidly couples the suction device to the pump;

a means for detecting a vacuum pressure comprising a transmitter coupled between the vacuum device and the suction device; and

a means for automatically recording a vacuum pressure comprising a receiver communicatively coupled to the means for detecting a vacuum pressure.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the receiver is a receiver portion of a transceiver.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein the transmitter is a transmitter portion of a transceiver.

7. A method of aiding a person who is assisting with fetal extraction, comprising:

attaching a suction device to a fetus by placing the vacuum device on the fetus and then inducing a vacuum pressure in the suction device;

detecting the vacuum pressure;

transmitting the detected pressure wirelessly;

receiving the detected pressure wirelessly at a recording device; and

automatically recording the vacuum pressure.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the vacuum device comprises a means for transmitting a wireless signal.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the monitor comprises a means for receiving a wireless signal.

10. A method of using a recording device to record a pressure in a vacuum extraction device, comprising:

wirelessly coupling a recording device comprising a receiver to a vacuum extraction device comprising a transmitter;

placing the vacuum extraction device on a fetus, the space between the fetus and the vacuum extraction device defining a pressure area in the vacuum extraction device, the vacuum extraction device adapted to couple to a fetus via a suction device;

inducing a vacuum pressure in the pressure area by hand-actuating the vacuum extraction device;

detecting the vacuum pressure in the pressure area to generate a vacuum pressure reading;

wirelessly transmitting the vacuum pressure reading;

wirelessly receiving the vacuum pressure reading; and

recording the vacuum pressure reading to produce a record.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the vacuum device employs a pump to generate a vacuum, the pump being a vacuum extractor, comprising:

a vacuum cup having a cup portion for application to a fetus, the cup portion defining a cup chamber;

a handle connected to the vacuum cup, the handle including a grip surface, the handle for maneuvering the vacuum cup; and

a vacuum pump defining a vacuum chamber fluidly couplable to the cup chamber,

wherein the vacuum pump includes an activation surface for creating a vacuum in the vacuum chamber,

wherein the grip surface of the handle and the activation surface of the vacuum pump are in a proximity such that a single human hand can grasp both the grip surface and the activation surface simultaneously,

wherein compression of the activation surface of the vacuum pump towards the grip surface of the handle reduces the volume within the vacuum chamber.

12. A vacuum extraction pump-attachable device that monitors a vacuum pressure in a vacuum extraction device, comprising:

an adaptor enabled to attach to a pressure gauge receiver of a hand actuated vacuum extraction device, the vacuum extraction device comprising a suction device adapted to couple to a scalp portion of a fetus;

a vacuum pressure detector secured in the adapter such that the vacuum pressure detector is exposed to an air cavity in the vacuum extraction device; and

a transmitter coupled to the vacuum pressure detector, the transmitter enabled to transmit a wireless signal to a monitor having a receiver for recording a detected vacuum pressure.