User-interface for displaying fetal condition information during labor and apparatus implementing same

• US 20090240158A1
• Filed: 10/09/2008
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PeriGen, Inc. (Halma PLC)
• Original Assignee: LMS Medical Systems, Ltd. (Halma PLC)
• Inventors: Macieszczak, Maciej, Hamilton, Emily
• Application Number:
  US12/285,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20090240158A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/511
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02411 of foetuses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4343 Pregnancy and labour monitoring, e.g. for labour onset detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A computer readable storage medium storing a program element for execution by a computer to implement a user interface. The user interface conveys fetal condition information to a user. The user interface has a first section showing one or more vital signs of a fetus. The first section includes at least one tracing associated with a vital sign of the fetus and a marker to visually highlight an area of the tracing corresponding to an event of interest. The first section also has a control component that can be activated by the user to deliver additional information about the event of interest.

Claims

1. ) A computer readable storage medium holding a program element for execution by a computer to implement a user interface conveying fetal condition information to a user, the user interface comprising a first section showing one or more vital signs of a fetus, said section including:

a) at least one tracing associated with a vital sign;

b) a marker to visually highlight an area of the tracing corresponding to an event of interest;

c) a control component that can be activated by the user to deliver additional information about the event of interest.

2. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the vital sign is the FHR.

3. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 2, wherein the marker has a dimension corresponding to a duration of the event of interest.

4. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 3, wherein the event of interest is an FHR deceleration.

5. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 3, wherein the event of interest is an FHR acceleration.

6. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the additional information is delivered via a text box appearing on the display.

7. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 6, wherein the text box displays the duration of the event of interest.

8. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 6, wherein the text box displays an average FHR variation over the duration of the event of interest.

9. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 6, wherein the text box displays a confidence factor.

10. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the control component is a first control component, the user interface further including a second control component which can be activated to allow a user to edit the marker.

11. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 10, wherein the second control component allows the user to erase the marker.

12. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein said section is a first section, said user interface further including a second section showing a contraction information.

13. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 12, wherein the first section and the second sections are time synchronized.

14. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the user interface is rendered on a display of a mobile computing device.

15. ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 14, wherein the mobile computing device includes a PDA.

16. ) An apparatus for conveying fetal condition information during labour, said apparatus comprising:

a) an first input for receiving a contraction signal;

b) a second input for receiving a fetal heart rate signal;

c) a processing unit in communication with said first and second inputs, said processing unit implementing a user interface conveying fetal condition information to a user, the user interface comprising a section showing one or more vital signs of a fetus, said section including;

i) at least one tracing associated with the fetal heart rate signal;

ii) a marker to visually highlight an area of the tracing corresponding to an event of interest;

iii) a control component that can be activated by the user to deliver additional information about the event of interest;

d) an output for releasing control information for causing the user interface to be displayed on a display unit.

17. ) An apparatus as defined in claim 16, said apparatus further comprising a third input for receiving data from the user for activating the control component on the user interface.