Intrauterine pressure and fetal heart rate sensor
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for monitoring intrauterine pressure pulses and fetal heart rate, comprising:
- a pressure transducer diaphragm with first and second sides, said first side being in communication with said intrauterine pressure pulses;
cable means for providing a plurality of electrical conductors, at least two of said plurality of conductors being connected to said pressure transducer;
vent means for introducing atmospheric pressure to said second side of said diaphragm;
means for connecting the plurality of electrical conductors to a monitoring device; and
a pair of electrode means for independently receiving electrical signals through amniotic fluid generated by the heart of a fetus, each said electrode means being located on outside surface of said cable means so as to be in electrical contact with said amniotic fluid and being positioned at a leading end of said cable means adjacent said transducer such that when said leading end is inserted into the uterus of a patient, each said electrode means senses fetal heart rate through amniotic fluid within the uterus, each said electrode means being connected to at least one of the plurality of electrical conductors such that the fetal heart rate and the intrauterine pressure may be displayed by said monitoring device.
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Abstract
An apparatus for sensing intrauterine pressure and fetal heart rate. The apparatus comprises an elongated flat, flexible tubular housing; at least one electrode mounted on the housing; apparatus for connecting the electrode to apparatus for monitoring the heart rate signal. In one embodiment of the invention, apparatus for sensing intrauterine pressure is also mounted to the housing, either as a separate segment or as a part of the heart rate pickup electrode.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring intrauterine pressure pulses and fetal heart rate, comprising:
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a pressure transducer diaphragm with first and second sides, said first side being in communication with said intrauterine pressure pulses; cable means for providing a plurality of electrical conductors, at least two of said plurality of conductors being connected to said pressure transducer; vent means for introducing atmospheric pressure to said second side of said diaphragm; means for connecting the plurality of electrical conductors to a monitoring device; and a pair of electrode means for independently receiving electrical signals through amniotic fluid generated by the heart of a fetus, each said electrode means being located on outside surface of said cable means so as to be in electrical contact with said amniotic fluid and being positioned at a leading end of said cable means adjacent said transducer such that when said leading end is inserted into the uterus of a patient, each said electrode means senses fetal heart rate through amniotic fluid within the uterus, each said electrode means being connected to at least one of the plurality of electrical conductors such that the fetal heart rate and the intrauterine pressure may be displayed by said monitoring device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
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11. An apparatus for monitoring intrauterine pressure pulses and fetal heart rate, comprising:
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a pressure transducer having a diaphragm with first and second sides; means for communicating said intrauterine pressure pulses to the first side of said diaphragm; means for venting the second side of said diaphragm to atmospheric pressure; cable means for providing a plurality of individual conductors at least two of the individual conductors being connected to said pressure transducer; means for connecting the individual conductors to monitoring equipment; and a first pair of electrodes spaced one from the other and disposed on said cable means on an exterior surface at a leading end thereof, said first pair of electrodes being adapted for receiving independent of one another electrical signals through amniotic fluid generated by the heart of a fetus when inserted into the uterus of a patient, each of said electrodes being individually connected to at least one of said plurality of individual conductors such that the fetal heart rate may be displayed by said monitoring equipment simultaneously with the intrauterine pressure pulses. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for sensing intrauterine pressure and fetal electrocardiogram comprising:
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(a) a housing having a distal end and a proximal end and further having a prefilled pressure cavity sealed with a highly compliant membrane; (b) a first electrode mounted on the housing; (c) a second electrode mounted on the housing suitably distanced from the first electrode such that ECG signals are sensed in cooperation with the first electrode; (d) means for connecting the first and second electrodes to a means for monitoring the ECG signals; (e) pressure tubing embedded in the housing and connected to the pressure cavity and prefilled with a bubble-free, sterile, biocompatible liquid and completely sealed and terminating at the proximal end of the housing in a Luer fitting.
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22. A system for sensing and monitoring intrauterine pressure and fetal electrocardiogram comprising:
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(a) a housing having a distal end and a proximal end and further having a prefilled pressure cavity sealed with a highly compliant membrane; (b) a first electrode mounted on the housing; (c) a second electrode mounted on the housing suitably distanced from the first electrode such that ECG signals are sensed in cooperation with the first electrode; (d) means for connecting the first and second electrodes to a means for monitoring the ECG signals; (e) pressure tubing embedded in the housing and connected to the pressure cavity and prefilled with a bubble-free, sterile, biocompatible liquid and completely sealed and terminating at the proximal end of the housing in a Luer fitting; (f) means for monitoring fetal ECG connected to the first and second electrodes; and (g) means for monitoring intrauterine pressure connected to the Luer fitting.
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23. A sensor for detecting electrical signals and pressure variations within a uterus for presentation to a signal monitoring means comprising:
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(a) an elongated flexible tubular housing having a flattened ovalular cross-section, a proximal end and a distal end; (b) at least one surface electrode mounted on said tubular housing near said distal end and a first conductor connected to said surface electrode and extending through a first lumen of said tubular housing to said proximal end; (c) a pressure transducer assembly including a substrate having piezoresistive elements disposed thereon and mounted in said housing so as to be exposed to fluid pressure forces when immersed in a fluid medium; (d) further conductors electrically coupled to said piezoresistive elements and extending through said first lumen of said tubular housing to said proximal end; and (e) electrical connector means affixed to said proximal end of said housing and connected to said first and further conductors for facilitating coupling of said sensor to said signal monitoring means. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification