Uterine contraction detection
First Claim
1. A system for detecting contractions in and adapted for coupling to a human body, said body having a variable mechanical impedance which changes with contractions, said system comprising:
- a transducer including a relatively rigid interface having a first side for contacting the body and a second side disposed away from the body;
vibrating means being arranged for converting drive signals into vibrations and being connected to said second side of the transducer so that vibrations can be mechanically coupled by said relatively rigid interface into said body, said vibrations having a frequency which varies with the mechanical impedance of said body;
a drive circuit coupled to said vibrating means for providing a drive signal thereto; and
monitor means coupled to said drive circuit and said vibration means for detecting contractions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for tracing uterine contraction is disclosed. The system comprises a probe and an electronics module. The electronics module includes a drive circuit and an output section having a frequency counter. The output section also includes a strip-chart recorder driven by a frequency-to-voltage converter. The probe includes an electro-mehanical transducer which is driven at resonance by the action of the drive circuit. When the probe contacts the abdomen of a pregnant subject, changes in the mechanical impedance of bodily tissue during a contraction affect the resonant frequency of the probe and thus the frequency output by the drive circuit. This frequency can be read directly from the frequency counter and recorded on the strip-chart so that contractions can be traced.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A system for detecting contractions in and adapted for coupling to a human body, said body having a variable mechanical impedance which changes with contractions, said system comprising:
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a transducer including a relatively rigid interface having a first side for contacting the body and a second side disposed away from the body; vibrating means being arranged for converting drive signals into vibrations and being connected to said second side of the transducer so that vibrations can be mechanically coupled by said relatively rigid interface into said body, said vibrations having a frequency which varies with the mechanical impedance of said body; a drive circuit coupled to said vibrating means for providing a drive signal thereto; and monitor means coupled to said drive circuit and said vibration means for detecting contractions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification