Electrode interface system

• US 20080139967A1
• Filed: 10/18/2006
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips North America LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Convergent Engineering, Inc.
• Inventors: Euliano, Neil Russell, Marossero, Dorothee
• Granted Patent: US 7,828,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/591
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02411 of foetuses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/033 Uterine pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/288 for foetal cardiography, e.g. scalp electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/316 Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/344 Foetal cardiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4362 Assessing foetal parameters

Abstract

An electrode interface system for providing a connection between at least one electrode and a maternal-fetal monitor, wherein the interface system converts electrical muscle activity captured by the electrode(s) into uterine activity data signals for use by the maternal-fetal monitor. The electrode interface system of the invention preferably includes a conversion means for converting the signals from the electrode(s) into signals similar to those produced by a tocodynometer.

Claims

1. An interface system comprising:

_______an electrode interface for operably connecting to at least one electrode and receiving at least one electrode signal from the at least one electrode,

a signal converter capable of operably connecting to the electrode interface, wherein said signal converter receives the at least one electrode signal from the electrode interface and processes same said electrode signal into output data comparable to tocodynamometer or intra-uterine pressure catheter output data,

_______a maternal-fetal monitor port interface for operably connecting to a maternal-fetal monitor, wherein the maternal-fetal monitor port is capable of operably connecting to the signal converter and receives and subsequently transmits the output data to the maternal-fetal monitor.

2. The interface system of claim 1, wherein said interface system further comprises a cable portion, wherein the cable portion is formed integrally with the electrode interface, the maternal-fetal monitor port interface, and the signal converter to provide a unitary cable structure.

3. The interface system of claim 2, wherein the cable portion comprises a means for filtering the at least one signal from the at least one electrode.

4. The interface system of claim 3, wherein the filtering means is any one or combination of items selected from the group consisting of;

high pass filters, low pass filters, multiple signal channels, analog filters, and digital filters.

5. The interface system of claim 1, wherein the signal converter further possesses the ability to convert the electrode signal(s) into digital signal(s) and the digital signal(s) are converted into output data comparable to tocodynamometer or intra-uterine pressure catheter output data.

6. The interface system of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode signal is communicated to the signal converter in analog format and the signal converter further possesses the ability to process and convert the electrode signal(s) in analog format into output data comparable to tocodynamometer or intra-uterine pressure catheter output.

7. The interface system of claim 1, wherein the electrode interface further comprises a wireless signal transmitter and a wireless signal receiver.

8. The interface system of claim 7, wherein the wireless signal transmitter and the wireless signal receiver use communication protocols selected from the group consisting of:

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbie, and wireless USB.

9. The interface system of claim 7, wherein the wireless signal transmitter includes an internal power source.

10. The interface system of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode transmits data regarding fetal heart rate.

11. The interface system of claim 1, further comprising a power adapter.

12. The interface system of claim 1, further comprising a digital-analog converter.

13. The interface system of claim 1, wherein the maternal-fetal monitor port interface is comparable to a port interface selected from the group consisting of:

an intrauterine pressure catheter-maternal fetal port interface;

a fetal scalp electrode-maternal fetal port interface; and

a tocodynamometer-maternal fetal port interface.

14. The interface system of claim 1, wherein the electrode(s) is selected from the group consisting of:

printed circuit electrodes, disposable electrodes, reusable disc electrodes, headbands, and saline-based electrodes.

15. The interface system of claim 14, wherein the electrode(s) provides signals for monitoring any one or combination selected from the group consisting of:

electrocardiography (ECG/EKG);

electroencephalography (EEG);

electromyography (EMG);

electonystagmography (ENG);

electro-oculography (EOG), and electroretinography (ERG).

16. A method for monitoring progress of labor, comprising:

_______attaching at least one electrode onto a pregnant maternal abdomen;

attaching to the electrode(s) an interface system having,

an electrode interface for operably connecting to the at least one electrode and capable of receiving at least one electrode signal from the at least one electrode,

a signal converter capable of operably connecting to the electrode interface, wherein said signal converter receives the at least one electrode signal from the electrode interface and processes same said electrode signal into output data comparable to tocodynamometer or intra-uterine pressure catheter output data,

a maternal-fetal monitor port interface for operably connecting to a maternal-fetal monitor, wherein the maternal-fetal monitor port interface is capable of operably connecting to the signal converter and receives and subsequently transmits the output data to the maternal-fetal monitor and

assessing the data regarding progress of labor generated from the maternal-fetal monitor based on analysis of the output data provided by the interface system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the data regarding the progress of labor generated from the maternal-fetal monitor is any one or combination selected from the group consisting of:

EHG data;

uterine contractions during and after labor;

uterine atony;

intrauterine pressure; and

Montevideo units.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the pregnant maternal abdomen is of an obese patient.