Labor Management Methods for Decreasing the Duration of Second Stage Labor

• US 20140276918A1
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stetrix, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Plexus Biomedical, Inc.
• Inventors: Blurton, David D., Buchanan, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,993,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/121
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/42 Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0053 by applying pressure, e.g. compression, indentation, palpation, grasping, gauging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4255 Intestines, colon or appendix
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4343 Pregnancy and labour monitoring, e.g. for labour onset detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/435 Assessing cervix alteration or dilation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4356 Assessing uterine contractions A61B5/033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6813 Specially adapted to be attached to a specific body part A61B5/6802 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 : User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 : Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0093 : Rectal devices, e.g. for the treatment of haemorrhoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 6/08 : Pessaries, i.e. devices worn in the vagina to support the uterus, remedy a malposition or prevent conception , e.g. combined with devices protecting against contagion

Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods for decreasing the duration of second stage labor by managing the labor process. In one aspect, a tactile feedback device is positioned adjacent the perianal tissues. A mother'"'"'s labor is monitored for the progression of the baby along the birth canal and adjustments are performed in response to the progression of labor to promote a vaginal childbirth. A perianal support device includes a perianal support member having a pressure surface configured for engagement with tissue adjacent an anal orifice and a pressure detecting system associated with the perianal support member to detect pressure indicative of pressure on the perianal tissue of a patient.

Claims

1. A method of managing child birth labor to reduce the duration of second stage labor, the method comprising:

positioning a tactile feedback device proximate the perianal area of a mother undergoing child birth labor in a manner that provides perianal tactile sensation to the mother in labor;

monitoring child-birth progression; and

responding to a lack of child-birth progression of the mother in labor by modifying the interaction between the tactile feedback device and the mother in labor to provide a change in perianal tactile sensation to the mother in labor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring child-birth progression of a mother in labor comprises:

detecting a contraction of the mother in labor with the tactile feedback device while applied against perianal tissue of the mother in labor; and

tracking the time between contractions of the mother in labor with the tactile feedback device.

3. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 2, wherein monitoring child-birth progression of labor further comprises receiving an input from a health care provider of information indicating the child-birth progression of the mother in labor.

4. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 3, wherein the input is indicative of at least one of a thickness of the cervix, cervical dilation, and an amount of movement of the child toward the vaginal opening.

5. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 2, further comprising tracking the overall time of second stage labor as detected by the tactile feedback device.

6. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 1, comprising applying the tactile feedback device to the mother in labor in a manner that the tactile feedback device does not provide tactile tissue compression between contractions and does provide tactile tissue compression during a push by the mother in labor.

7. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 1, wherein modifying the interaction includes advancing the tactile feedback device inward towards the anus of the mother to increase pressure on the perianal tissue.

8. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 1, comprising monitoring pressure applied to the perianal tissue as the tactile feedback device is being applied to the mother in labor.

9. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 1, wherein monitoring child-birth progression includes receiving feedback from the tactile feedback device indicative of pressure applied to the perianal tissue during a child birth labor contraction by the mother.

10. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 1, wherein modifying the interaction includes moving the tactile feedback device to a second tactile position applying less pressure on the perianal tissue.

11. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 1, comprising changing a tactile sensation provided by the tactile feedback device in response to administration of a numbing medication to the mother in labor.

12. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 1, including alerting the mother or a healthcare provider when contractions generate a change in pressure on the perianal tissue.

13. A method of managing child birth labor to reduce the duration of second stage labor, the method comprising:

applying a tactile feedback device to a mother in labor adjacent a perianal tissue in a first tactile position in a manner that provides perianal tactile sensation to the mother in labor;

securing the tactile feedback device to maintain the device in the first tactile position;

monitoring progression of labor; and

modifying the interaction between the tactile feedback device and the mother in labor in response to changes in the progression of labor.

14. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 13, wherein applying a tactile feedback device to a mother in labor comprises applying the tactile feedback device so that the tactile feedback device does not provide tactile tissue compression between contractions and does provide tactile tissue compression during a push by the mother in labor.

15. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 13, wherein monitoring progression of labor comprises tracking the time between contractions of the mother in labor with the tactile feedback device adjacent the perianal tissue of the mother in labor.

16. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 15, wherein monitoring progression of labor further comprises receiving an input from a health care provider of information indicating the progression of labor, the input being indicative of at least one of a thickness of the cervix, cervical dilation, and an amount of movement of the child toward the vaginal opening.

17. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 13, wherein modifying the interaction comprises moving the tactile feedback device to a second tactile position adjacent the perianal tissue in response to changes in the progression of labor.

18. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 13, wherein modifying the interaction includes advancing the tactile feedback device inward towards the anus of the mother to increase pressure on the perianal tissue.

19. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 13, wherein monitoring includes receiving feedback from the tactile feedback device indicative of pressure applied to the perianal tissue during a child birth labor contraction by the mother.

20. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 13, further including alerting the mother or a healthcare provider when contractions generate a change in pressure on the perianal tissue.

21. A method of managing child birth labor to reduce the duration of second stage labor, the method comprising:

providing a support member having a pressure surface configured to engage a perianal area of a mother undergoing child birth labor;

positioning the pressure surface proximate the perianal area of the mother undergoing child birth labor; and

monitoring the progression of labor by detecting pressure on the perianal area of the mother in labor applied by the pressure surface against the perianal area of the mother undergoing child birth labor.

22. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 21, wherein monitoring progression of labor comprises tracking time between contractions of the mother in labor with the pressure surface of the support member while engaged with the perianal tissue of the mother in labor.

23. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 21, wherein monitoring progression of labor further comprises receiving an input from a health care provider of information indicating the progression of labor.

24. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 23, wherein the input is indicative of at least one of a thickness of the cervix, cervical dilation, and an amount of movement of the child toward the vaginal opening.

25. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 21, comprising alerting a healthcare provider or the mother when the detected pressure detects application of a therapeutic pressure level on the perianal tissue.

26. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 25, wherein alerting the healthcare provider or the mother comprises changing a color of a component associated with the support member.

27. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 25, wherein alerting the health care provider or mother comprises generating feature changes in a securing member when stretching is sufficient to apply a therapeutic pressure on the perianal tissue.

28. A method of managing child birth labor to reduce the duration of second stage labor, the method comprising:

positioning a tactile feedback device proximate the perianal area of a mother undergoing child birth labor in a manner that provides perianal tactile sensation to the mother in labor;

monitoring child-birth progression of the mother in labor;

detecting pressure on the perianal area of the mother in labor applied by the tactile feedback device against the perianal area of the mother undergoing child birth labor; and

responding to a lack of child-birth progression of the mother in labor by modifying the interaction between the tactile feedback device and the perianal area of the mother in labor.

29. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 28, wherein modifying the interaction comprises adjusting the tactile feedback device to a second tactile position adjacent the perianal tissue to provide a change in perianal tactile sensation to the mother in labor.

30. The method of managing child birth labor of claim 28, wherein modifying the interaction comprises adjusting a stretch amount of a securing member of the tactile feedback device to provide a change in perianal tactile sensation to the mother in labor.