Tool for placement of a monitoring probe in the scalp of a fetus
First Claim
1. An article for securely attaching a monitoring device to the scalp of a fetus, comprising:
- a probe including a spiral needle element and connections extending therefrom;
a drive element having a forward end supporting the probe and a rear end, the drive element being flexible along its length and containing therewithin said connections for the probe, the drive element including means in the vicinity of the rear end thereof for rotating the drive element and hence the probe;
a rigid applicator tool receiving the drive element and the probe, the applicator tool having a longitudinal slot along one side thereof of sufficient width to accommodate passage of the drive element therewithin.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The combination of a rigid, elongated applicator tool (200) and an elongated integral drive rod/probe (202). The drive rod/probe (202) is a rigid cable which includes a monitoring probe (204) with an extending spiral needle (206) at the front end thereof. At the rear end of the cable is a drive knob (236). The applicator tool (200) includes a hood element at the front end thereof which overlies the probe (204) and the needle (206) of the drive rod/probe (202) when the drive rod/probe (202) is positioned within the applicator tool (200). The applicator tool (200) includes a longitudinal slot (208) which permits insertion and removal of the drive rod/probe (202).
24 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An article for securely attaching a monitoring device to the scalp of a fetus, comprising:
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a probe including a spiral needle element and connections extending therefrom; a drive element having a forward end supporting the probe and a rear end, the drive element being flexible along its length and containing therewithin said connections for the probe, the drive element including means in the vicinity of the rear end thereof for rotating the drive element and hence the probe; a rigid applicator tool receiving the drive element and the probe, the applicator tool having a longitudinal slot along one side thereof of sufficient width to accommodate passage of the drive element therewithin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An article for securely attaching a probe to the scalp of a fetus, comprising:
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a probe including means for attaching the probe to the scalp of a fetus; an elongated drive element having a front end thereof, supporting the probe while the probe is being attached to the scalp of the fetus, wherein the drive element includes a joint along its length which separates the drive element into front and rear portions, wherein the front portion is hollow for receiving the probe therein and the rear portion is solid, wherein the joint is configured to permit the rear portion of the drive element to be angled relative to the front portion thereof without distortion of the front portion and without imparting a bending force to the front portion and further such that rotation of the rear portion results in corresponding rotation of the front portion without lateral movement of the front portion, including the probe, even when the rear portion is angled relative to the forward portion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A probe for monitoring a fetus, comprising:
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a probe body having a forward end surface; a spiral-shaped needle element which extends from the forward end surface of said probe body and away from said probe body; and a plurality of generally saw-toothed shaped gripping feet members arranged at spaced intervals on the forward end surface of the probe body, the gripping feet each having a sloping leading end and an opposing blunt trailing end, so as to substantially prevent the probe body from being turned in a direction opposite from that for insertion of the probe body, following insertion of the probe body into the scalp of the fetus. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification