Device and methods for counting, timing, recording, and charting fetal movement frequency

• US 20070102501A1
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Unisar Inc.
• Original Assignee: Unisar Inc.
• Inventors: Nguyen, Diep
• Application Number:
  US11/219,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20070102501A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/1.R
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0011 Foetal or obstetric data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/02 Measuring pulse or heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0866 involving foetal diagnosis; pre-natal or peri-natal diagnosis of the baby
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/462 characterised by constructional features of the display

Abstract

Methods and a device for charting fetal movements. The device may record 10 fetal movements in a session, wherein each movement is recorded by pressing a button on the device. The device may display an additional footprint icon each time the button is pressed, wherein the user can count the recorded movements during the session. The device may record the elapsed time (KickTime) for each session and store up to 10 KickTimes so that the user can review the frequency of the movements from one sequence to the next. The device may also have a sound recording and playback function, where user may record the fetal heartbeat for playback. The device may store and update the weeks and days of the mother'"'"'s pregnancy progress. The device may also calculate the countdown days-to-go and display the countdown if the countdown is less than 100.

Claims

1. A device for charting fetal movements perceived by a pregnant woman comprising:

an input member actuatable by a user to input fetal movement information into said device, the information corresponding to one or more perceived fetal movements and to be input by actuating said input member each time a fetal movement is perceived by a pregnant woman;

a kick counter for recording the fetal movement information during a kick count session, the kick count session being a period for recording a preset number of fetal movements; and

a display screen for displaying icons during the kick count session, each icon corresponding to one of the perceived fetal movements,

whereby the user is able to count the perceived fetal movements recorded during the kick count session by counting the icons displayed during the kick count session.

2. A device for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a timer for measuring the duration of the period, KickTime; and

a data storage for storing the KickTime;

wherein the user actuates the input member to cause said display screen to display the KickTime stored in said data storage.

3. A device for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 2, further comprising:

a Doppler instrument for picking up a fetal heartbeat sound and storing the heartbeat sound into said data storage.

4. A device for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 2, further comprising an audio member for receiving a sound and communicating the sound to said data storage, said audio member operable as a speaker.

5. A device for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 4, wherein the sound is one selected from the group consisting of heartbeat sound from a Doppler instrument, baby'"'"'s first cry and baby'"'"'s first words.

6. A device for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 4, wherein each of the icons is in the form of a footprint and wherein, upon completion of the kick count session, said display screen sequentially displays the icons to perform an animation of feet walking and said audio member operates as a speaker to play the sound during the animation.

7. A device for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 4, further comprising a voice recognizer coupled to said audio member and operable to recognize the user'"'"'s voice command.

8. A device for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 1, further comprising a global positioning system for determining the user'"'"'s current location and providing a navigational guidance for the user.

9. A device for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 1, further comprising a processor, wherein the information further includes pregnancy progress data in weeks and days, wherein said processor calculates a countdown of days-to-go using the pregnancy progress data, and wherein said display screen displays the countdown if the countdown is less than a predetermined number.

10. A device for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 1, wherein said display screen has multiple language settings.

11. A device for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 1, wherein said display screen displays a digital image of a baby'"'"'s ultrasound scan.

12. A device for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 1, further comprising an Input/Output for communicating with an electronic device.

13. A device for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 12, wherein the electronic device is one selected from the group consisting of a computer and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

14. A device for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 12, wherein the Input/Output is a wireless device.

15. A device for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 1, further comprising a flash memory for storing one or more audio instructions for use of the device.

16. The device for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an ultrasound device for sensing and imaging the perceived fetal movements.

17. A method for charting fetal movements perceived by a pregnant woman using a device that includes a display screen and an input member, comprising:

causing the device to receive fetal movement information from the user thereof, the information corresponding to one or more perceived fetal movements and to be input by actuating said input member each time a fetal movement is perceived by a pregnant woman;

causing the device to record the fetal movement information during a kick count session, the kick count session being a period for recording a preset number of fetal movements; and

causing the device to display icons on the display screen during the kick count session, each icon corresponding to one of the perceived fetal movements,

whereby the user is able to count the perceived fetal movements recorded during the kick count session by counting the icons displayed during the kick count session.

18. A method for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

causing the device to measure the duration of the period, KickTime; and

causing the device to store the KickTime in a data storage thereof; and

causing the device to display the stored KickTime on the display screen.

19. A method for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

recording a heartbeat sound into a data storage of the device; and

causing the device to play the heartbeat sound.

20. A method for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 19, wherein each of the icons is in the form of a footprint, further comprising:

upon completion of the kick count session, causing the device to display sequentially the icons on the display screen to perform an animation of feet walking; and

causing the device to play the heartbeat sound during the animation.

21. A method for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 17, wherein said device further includes a voice recognizer, further comprising:

causing the voice recognizer to recognize the user'"'"'s voice command.

22. A method for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

providing one or more verbal instructions for use of the device.

23. A method for charting fetal movements as recited in claim 17, wherein said device further includes an ultrasound device, further comprising, prior to the step of causing the device to record:

causing the ultrasound device to sense and image the perceived fetal movements.

24. A device for charting fetal movements, comprising:

an input member actuatable by a user to input fetal movement information into said device, the information corresponding to one or more perceived fetal movements;

a kick counter for recording the fetal movement information during a kick count session, the kick count session being a period for recording a preset number of fetal movements;

a display screen for displaying icons during the kick count session, each icon corresponding to one of the perceived fetal movements,

a timer for measuring the duration of the period, KickTime; and

a data storage for storing the KickTime;

an audio member for receiving a sound and communicating the sound to said data storage, said audio member operable as a speaker,

wherein the user actuates the input member to cause said display screen to display the KickTime stored in said data storage and wherein each of the icons is in the form of a footprint and wherein, upon completion of the kick count session, said display screen sequentially displays the icons to perform an animation of feet walking and said audio member operates as a speaker to play the sound during the animation,

whereby the user is able to count the perceived fetal movements recorded during the kick count session by counting the icons displayed during the kick count session.

25. A method for charting fetal movements using a device that includes a display screen, comprising:

causing the device to receive fetal movement information from the user thereof, the information corresponding to one or more perceived fetal movements;

causing the device to record the fetal movement information during a kick count session, the kick count session being a period for recording a preset number of fetal movements;

causing the device to display icons on the display screen during the kick count session, each icon corresponding to one of the perceived fetal movements, wherein each of the icons is in the form of a footprint;

recording a heartbeat sound into a data storage of the device;

causing the device to play the heartbeat sound;

upon completion of the kick count session, causing the device to display sequentially the icons on the display screen to perform an animation of feet walking; and

causing the device to play the heartbeat sound during the animation,

whereby the user is able to count the perceived fetal movements recorded during the kick count session by counting the icons displayed during the kick count session.