System, method, and kit for positioning a monitor transducer on a patient

• US 20070167753A1
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rachelle Van Wyk, Robert Van Wyk
• Original Assignee: Rachelle Van Wyk, Robert Van Wyk
• Inventors: Van Wyk, Robert, Van Wyk, Rachelle
• Granted Patent: US 7,789,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/02 Foetus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02411 of foetuses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1107 Measuring contraction of parts of the body, e.g. organ, muscle apparatus for measuring work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4356 Assessing uterine contractions A61B5/033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4362 Assessing foetal parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/68 Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• 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 8/4227 characterised by straps, belts, cuffs or braces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4236 characterised by adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4281 characterised by sound-transmitting media or devices for coupling the transducer to the tissue

Abstract

An improved patient monitoring system is described herein. In particular, the present invention provides an improved system, method, and kit for positioning and removably mounting, often repeatedly, a monitor transducer on a patient, for example, an external fetal monitor used during pregnancy and childbirth labor. The improved system of the present invention avoids many of the disadvantages of conventional monitoring systems in that it maintains transducer position during patient movement, allows the position of the transducer to be changed without repositioning the patient, allows for simple and expeditious adjustment so as to maximize signal quality without causing patient discomfort, eliminates the need for a belt circumferentially disposed about the patient'"'"'s abdomen, and can be applied to a wide array of body types, including patients having round abdomens. The system, method, and kit of the present invention is not only both efficient and effective but also economical.

Claims

1. An external fetal monitoring system comprising:

a. two or more anchor strips, each of which include a layer of adhesive material disposed on one side and one or more fasteners disposed on the opposite side;

b. one or more elastomeric straps, each of which include one or more fastener receivers disposed at either end, wherein said fasteners and fastener receivers mate to form a fastener pair; and

c. one or more monitor transducers, each of which include retaining features on one side thereof, said retaining features allowing said one or more transducers to be affixed to said one or more elastomeric straps.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more transducers are slidably affixed to said one or more elastomeric straps.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more elastomeric straps are comprised of a first portion and a second portion, each portion having a first end for attachment to a transducer and a second end for attachment to an anchor strip.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said fastener and said fastener receiver mate to form a hook and loop fastener pair.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said fastener comprises a plurality of hooked protrusions and said fastener receiver comprises a plurality of eyes or a pile fabric pad.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said fastener comprises a button and said fastener receiver comprises a button hole.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said fastener and said fastener receiver comprise snaps.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more anchor strips comprise a medial edge and a lateral edge, wherein said lateral edge comprises a plurality of elongated, laterally extending tabs.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more anchor strips are formed from a compliant material.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said complaint material is polymeric foam.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said elastomeric strap comprises a fabric belt.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said monitor transducer comprises a sonic or ultrasonic transducer.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said monitor transducers comprise an acoustic signal transducer and a pressure signal transducer.

14. A method for positioning at least one monitor transducer on a patient comprising the steps of:

a. attaching two or more anchor strips, each of which include a layer of adhesive material disposed on one side and one or more fasteners disposed on the opposite side, in a more or less vertical and laterally spaced fashion, to a patient'"'"'s abdomen;

b. providing one or more elastomeric straps, each of which include one or more fastener receivers disposed at either end and one or more monitor transducers mounted thereon;

c. extending said one or more elastomeric straps in a relatively horizontal fashion across the patient'"'"'s abdomen and attaching either end of said straps to said anchor strips by means of said mating fasteners and fastener receivers; and

d. positioning said one or more transducers so that it measures a desired parameter.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said one or more transducers are slidably affixed to said one or more elastomeric straps.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said one or more elastomeric straps are comprised of a first portion and a second portion, each portion having a first end for attachment to a transducer and a second end for attachment to an anchor strip.

17. The method of claim 14, further including the step of adjusting said one or more transducers without detaching said elastomeric straps from said anchor strips.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said one or more transducers comprise an acoustic signal monitor and a pressure signal monitor.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the desired parameter comprises fetal heartbeat.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the desired parameter comprises intrauterine contractions.

21. A kit for external fetal monitoring comprising:

a. one or more pairs of anchor strips, each of which include a layer of adhesive material disposed on one side and one or more fasteners disposed on the opposite side;

b. one or more elastomeric straps, each of which include one or more fastener receivers disposed at either end, wherein said fasteners and fastener receivers mate to form a fastener pair; and

c. one or more monitor transducers, each of which include retaining features on one side thereof, said retaining features allowing said one or more transducers to be slidably affixed to said one or more elastomeric straps.