NONINVASIVE MEASUREMENT OF UTERINE EMG PROPAGATION AND POWER SPECTRUM FREQUENCY TO PREDICT TRUE PRETERM LABOR AND DELIVERY
First Claim
1. A method operable to predict True Preterm Labor and Delivery comprising:
- applying at least two pairs of electrodes to a maternal abdomen;
measuring a first time associated with a voltage spike of a propagating myometrial wave traveling through a first electrode pair of the at least two pairs of electrodes;
measuring a second time associated with the voltage spike of the propagating myometrial wave traveling through a second electrode pair of the at least two pairs of electrodesdetermining an amount of time (T) required for the propagating myometrial wave to traverse a distance (D) between the first and the second electrode pairs;
calculating a propagation velocity (PV) of the propagating myometrial wave; and
comparing the PV of the propagating myometrial wave to a labor positive predictive value (PPV) PV, wherein a favorable comparison between the PPV PV and the calculated PV indicates an increased probability of True Preterm Labor and Delivery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method operable to more accurately predict true preterm labor and delivery is provided. Trans-abdominal uterine electromyography (EMG) and power spectrum (PS) analysis can identify electrical signals characteristic of labor at term and preterm with relatively high positive and negative predictive values. The use of propagation velocity (PV) of uterine EMG signals may either be done independently or in conjunction with PS analysis. This method involves applying at least two pairs of electrodes to a maternal abdomen. The time associated with measuring a voltage spike of a propagating myometrial wave traveling through the pairs of electrodes allows the amount of time required for the propagating myometrial wave to transverse the distance between electrodes to be determined. With this information a propagation velocity (PV) of the propagating myometrial wave may be determined. This PV may be compared to a labor positive predictive value (PPV). A favorable comparison indicates an increased probability of true preterm labor and delivery.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method operable to predict True Preterm Labor and Delivery comprising:
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applying at least two pairs of electrodes to a maternal abdomen; measuring a first time associated with a voltage spike of a propagating myometrial wave traveling through a first electrode pair of the at least two pairs of electrodes; measuring a second time associated with the voltage spike of the propagating myometrial wave traveling through a second electrode pair of the at least two pairs of electrodes determining an amount of time (T) required for the propagating myometrial wave to traverse a distance (D) between the first and the second electrode pairs; calculating a propagation velocity (PV) of the propagating myometrial wave; and comparing the PV of the propagating myometrial wave to a labor positive predictive value (PPV) PV, wherein a favorable comparison between the PPV PV and the calculated PV indicates an increased probability of True Preterm Labor and Delivery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system operable to predict True Preterm Labor and Delivery, the system comprising:
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at least two pairs of electrodes in communication with a maternal abdomen, the pairs of electrodes operable to acquire raw uterine electromyography (EMG) signals associated with a propagating myometrial wave; a signal processing module communicably coupled to the pairs of electrodes, the signal processing module operable to; filter and amplify the raw uterine EMG signals; obtain a processed EMG signal; calculate a propagation velocity (PV) of the propagating myometrial wave based on the processed EMG signal and a known location of the pair of electrodes; comparing the PV of the propagating myometrial wave to a labor positive predictive value (PPV) PV, wherein a favorable comparison between the PPV PV and the calculated PV indicates an increased probability of True Preterm Labor and Delivery; and display a communication indicating the increased probability of True Preterm Labor and Delivery. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification