Portable non-invasive testing apparatus with logarithmic amplification

• US 5,265,613 A
• Filed: 04/03/1992
• Issued: 11/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telmed Inc.
• Original Assignee: Telmed Inc.
• Inventors: Rapoport, Isaac, Feldman, Yacob Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): JAWORSKI, FRANCIS J
• Application Number:
  US07/863,184
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 128/660.07, 128/661.07, 128/662.04
• US Class Current: 600/453
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/02 Measuring pulse or heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0866 involving foetal diagnosis; pre-natal or peri-natal diagnosis of the baby

Abstract

A portable apparatus for the non-invasive, simultaneous, self-testing of fetal and maternal signals which comprises: a user display means to indicate that the device is operational; an ultrasonic means connected to the device for detecting fetal heart rate; a detection means connected to the device for detecting maternal input signals; signal processing means including a logarithmic amplification means for simultaneously processing fetal heart rate and maternal input signals; and a communication linking mean for the simultaneous transmission of fetal heart rate and maternal input data to a remote output device.

Claims

1. Portable testing apparatus for non-invasive simultaneous self-testing of fetal and maternal signals, which comprises:

a) first receiver means for receiving ultrasonic fetal signals;

b) second receiver means for receiving maternal signals;

c) signal processing means including a logarithmic amplification mean for amplifying the detected fetal heart signal;

d) first communication means extending between said signal processing means and said first and second receiver means; and

e) data output means connected to said signal processing means for simultaneous plural signal output.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said data output means is also connected to a communication linking means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said logarithmic amplification means has an input range of at least about -70 dbm to about +10 dbm and a low level gain of at least about 30 db.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said logarithmic amplification means has an input range of about -50 dbm to about +10 dbm and a low level gain of about 30 db to about 85 db.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said logarithmic amplification means has an input range of about -30 dbm to about +10 dbm and a low level gain of about 30 db to about 55 db.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said signal processing means includes filtering means for filtering the fetal heart signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said logarithmic amplification means has an input range of at least about -70 dbm to about +10 dbm.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said logarithmic amplification means has a low level gain of about 30 db.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said logarithmic amplification means has an input range of about -30 dbm to about +10 dbm.

10. Portable testing apparatus for non-invasive simultaneous self testing of fetal and maternal signals which comprises:

a) ultrasonic means connected to said device for detecting a fetal heart rate;

b) detection means connected to said device for detecting a maternal input signal;

c) signal processing means for simultaneously processing fetal heart rate and maternal input signals, said signal processing means including a logarithmic amplification means for amplifying the detected fetal heart signal; and

d) communication linking means for the simultaneous transmission of fetal heart rate and maternal input data to a remote output device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said logarithmic amplification means has an input range of at least about -70 dbm to about +10 dbm and a low level gain of at least about 30 db.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said logarithmic amplification means has an input range of about -50 dbm to about +10 dbm and a low level gain of about 30 db to about 85 db.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said logarithmic amplification means has an input range of about -30 dbm to about +10 dbm and a low level gain of about 30 db to about 55 db.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said signal processing means includes filtering means for filtering the fetal heart signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said logarithmic amplification means has an input range of about -50 dbm to about 10 dbm.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said logarithmic amplification means has a low level gain of at least about 30 db.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said logarithmic amplification means has an input range of at least about -70 dbm to about +10 dbm.

18. Portable testing apparatus for non-invasive simultaneous self-testing of fetal and maternal signals, which comprises:

a) ultrasonic means connected to said device for detecting fetal heart rate;

b) detection means connected to said device for detecting a maternal input signal;

c) signal processing means for simultaneously processing fetal heart rate and maternal input signals, said signal processing means including a logarithmic amplification means for amplifying the detected fetal heart signal;

d) communication linking means for the simultaneous transmission of fetal heart rate and maternal input data to a remote output device; and

e) an output device for reading transmitted data.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said logarithmic amplification means has an input range of at least about -70 dbm to about +10 dbm and a low level gain of at least about 30 db.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said logarithmic amplification means has an input range of about -50 dbm to about 10 dbm and a low level gain of about 30 db to about 85 db.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said logarithmic amplification means has an input range of about -30 dbm to about +10 dbm and a low level gain of about 30 db to about 55 db.

22. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said signal processing means includes filtering means for filtering the fetal heart signal.

23. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said logarithmic amplification means has an input range of about -50 dbm to about 30 dbm.

24. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said logarithmic amplification means has a low level gain of at least about 30 db.

25. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said logarithmic amplification means has an input range of at least about -70 dbm to about +10 dbm.

26. A method of determining the condition of a fetus in a maternal uterus, which comprises:

a) measuring a pressure in the uterus as a function of time;

b) measuring a heart rate of the fetus using an ultrasonic detection means;

c) logarithmically amplifying the detected fetal heart rate;

d) simultaneously recording the uterine pressure measurements and the fetal heart rate;

e) simultaneously transmitting said pressure measurements and fetal heart rate by communication linking means to a remote location.