CHILDBIRTH LABOR COACH WITH PACED BREATHING

• US 20140007877A1
• Filed: 03/13/2012
• Published: 01/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: O'Connor, Nathan Francis
• Application Number:
  US14/006,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20140007877A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4356 Assessing uterine contractions A61B5/033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/161 with means for measuring the humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0033 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/102 Measuring a parameter of the content of the delivered gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/14 Female reproductive, genital organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/30 : Blood pressure A61M2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 : Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 : Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2213/005 : with respiratory gas delivering means, e.g. O2
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 : Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 : heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/207 : P-O2, i.e. partial O2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/42 : rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/433 : partial CO2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/436 : partial O2 value
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 : temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/185 : Rhythm indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/003 : Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements

Abstract

A system (10) configured to prompt a subject (12) to consciously alter one or more breathing parameters during childbirth. The system includes a pressure generator (14) that generates a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to an airway of the subject during childbirth and a processor (22) that controls the pressure generator to adjust one or more gas parameters of the gas in the pressurized flow of breathable gas to provide breathing cues to the subject in accordance with a breathing regime associated with labor contractions, wherein the breathing cues prompt the subject to consciously alter one or more breathing parameters of respiration.

Claims

1. A system configured to prompt a subject to consciously alter one or more breathing parameters during childbirth, the system comprising:

a pressure generator configured to generate a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to an airway of the subject during childbirth; and

a processor configured to control the pressure generator to adjust one or more gas parameters of the gas in the pressurized flow of breathable gas to provide breathing cues to the subject in accordance with a breathing regime associated with labor contractions, wherein the processor is configured to receive information about the labor contractions from a contraction monitor (23) configured to monitor the labor contractions and generate output signals related to the labor contractions, and wherein the breathing cues prompt the subject to consciously alter one or more breathing parameters of respiration.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a contraction monitor, wherein the processor is configured to control the pressure generator to adjust the one or more gas parameters responsive to at least the output signals generated by the contraction monitor indicating the labor contractions.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to communicate with the subject, wherein the processor is further configured to control the user interface such that the user interface communicates information to the subject related to the meaning of the breathing cues provided to the subject by the pressurized flow of breathable gas generated by the device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to control the user interface such that the user interface communicates information related to a recommended body position of the subject.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the process is further configured to adjust the one or more gas parameters according to a predetermined target associated with the breathing regime.

6. A method of controlling a pressure generator to prompt a subject to consciously alter one or more breathing parameters during childbirth, the method comprising:

generating a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to an airway of the subject during childbirth;

controlling an adjustment to the one or more gas parameters of the gas in the pressurized flow of breathable gas in order to provide breathing cues to the subject based on a breathing regime associated with labor contractions, wherein information related to the labor contractions is received from a contraction monitor configured to monitor the labor contractions and generate output signals related to the labor contractions, and wherein the breathing cues prompt the subject to consciously alter one or more breathing parameters of respiration.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising monitoring labor contractions and generating output signals responsive to the labor contractions, wherein the one or more gas parameters are adjusted responsive to at least the output signals indicating the labor contractions.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising communicating information to the subject related to the meaning of the breathing cues provided to the subject by the pressurized flow of breathable gas, wherein the information is communicated to the subject dynamically with the provision of the breathing cues.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising communicating information related to a recommended body position of the subject.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more gas parameters are adjusted according to a predetermined target associated with the breathing regime.

11. A system configured to prompt a subject to consciously alter one or more breathing parameters during childbirth, the system comprising:

means for generating a pressurized flow of breathable gas for delivery to an airway of a subject during childbirth;

means for controlling an adjustment to one or more gas parameters of the gas in the pressurized flow of breathable gas in order to provide breathing cues to the subject based on a breathing regime associated with labor contractions, wherein the means for controlling is configured to receive information about the labor contractions from means for monitoring labor contractions (23) and generating output signals related to the labor contractions, and wherein the breathing cues prompt the subject to consciously alter one or more breathing parameters of respiration.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising means for monitoring labor contractions and generating output related to the labor contractions, wherein the means for controlling is further configured to control the adjustment to the one or more gas parameters responsive to at least the output signals generated by the means for monitoring labor contractions indicating the labor contractions.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising means for communicating information to the subject related to the meaning of the breathing cues provided to the subject by the pressurized flow of breathable gas, wherein the information is communicated to the subject dynamically with the provision of the breathing cues.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the means for communicating is further configured to communicate information related to a recommended body position of the subject.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the means for controlling is further configured to control the adjustment to the one or more gas parameters according to a predetermined target associated with the breathing regime.