WIRELESS FETAL MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20120232398A1
• Filed: 11/04/2011
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gary and Mary West Health Institute
• Original Assignee: Gary and Mary West Health Institute
• Inventors: Roham, Masoud, Saldivar, Enrique, Raghavan, Srinivas, Mehregany, Mehran, Shah, Mitul
• Granted Patent: US 9,717,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/453
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0011 Foetal or obstetric data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02411 of foetuses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02444 Details of sensor A61B5/02427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0245 by using sensing means generating electric signals, i.e. ECG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/033 Uterine pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/391 of genito-urinary organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4356 Assessing uterine contractions A61B5/033 takes precedence
• 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 8/4472 Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/488 involving Doppler signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 involving data transmission via a network

Abstract

A wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system includes a fetal sensor unit adapted to receive signals indicative of a fetal heartbeat, the sensor optionally utilizing a Doppler ultrasound sensor. A short-range transmission unit sends the signals indicative of fetal heartbeat to a gateway unit, either directly or via an auxiliary communications unit, in which case the electrical coupling between the short-range transmission unit and the auxiliary communications unit is via a wired connection. The system includes a contraction actuator actuatable upon a maternal uterine contraction, which optionally is a EMG sensor. A gateway device provides for data visualization and data securitization. The gateway device provides for remote transmission of information through a data communication network. A server adapted to receive the information from the gateway device serves to store and process the data, and an interface system to permits remote patient monitoring.

Claims

1. A wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system comprising:

a fetal sensor unit adapted to receive signals indicative of a fetal heartbeat, the fetal sensor unit including a short-range transmission unit,

a contraction actuator actuatable upon a maternal uterine contraction,

a gateway device, the gateway device including a display to provide for data visualization, the gateway device including data securitization and remote transmission of information through a data communication network,

a server adapted to receive the information from the gateway device, and

an interface system to permit remote patient monitoring.

2. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the fetal sensor unit includes an ultrasound sensor.

3. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 2 wherein the ultrasound sensor is a Doppler ultrasound sensor.

4. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the fetal sensor unit is an sound sensor.

5. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 4 wherein the sound sensor includes a sensor array.

6. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 5 wherein the sensor array is a MEMS microphone array.

7. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 5 wherein the sensor array is a directional sensor array.

8. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 1 further including a noise suppression system.

9. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the fetal sensor unit includes an ECG sensor.

10. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the short range transmitter is a Bluetooth transmitter.

11. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the short range transmitter operates at a specific absorption rate (SAR) of less than or equal to 0.1 watts/kg.

12. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the short range transmitter operates at a specific absorption rate (SAR) of less than or equal to 0.05 watts/kg.

13. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the short range transmitter operates at a specific absorption rate (SAR) of less than or equal to 0.01 watts/kg.

14. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 1 further including an auxiliary communication unit for receiving transmissions from the central sensor unit.

15. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 14 wherein the transmissions between the central sensor unit and the auxiliary communication unit is via a wired connection.

16. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 14 wherein the transmissions between the central sensor unit and the auxiliary communication unit is not wireless.

17. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 14 wherein the auxiliary communication unit is a maternal necklace.

18. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the contraction actuator is a toco sensor.

19. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the contraction actuator is a button.

20. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 1 wherein short-range transmission system includes a Class 3 Bluetooth transmitter.

21. The wireless fetal and maternal monitoring system of claim 1 further including a pack adapted to contain one or more of the maternal monitoring device, a blood pressure device, a glucometer, a reagent dip stick, a cell phone gateway and a wireless hub.