Ambulatory, ultrasonic transit time, real-time, cervical effacement and dilatation monitor with disposable probes
First Claim
1. A probe for use with an ultrasonic transit time cervimeter, the probe comprising:
- a transducer in the substantial shape of a three-dimensional, non-planar, body characterized in that ultrasound emissions from the transducer are along a multiplicity of axis in multiple different directions;
means for securing the transducer to the wall of the cervix uteri of human female; and
an electrical wire adapted for connecting between the transducer in its position secured to the wall of the cervix and an ultrasonic transit time cervimeter in a location exterior to human female'"'"'s body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Preferred transducers in the substantial shapes of a three-dimensional bodies, normally spheres or cylinders, emit ultrasound omni-directionally. The transducers are secured to the wall of the cervix uteri of human female, preferably by a barb or corkscrew coil, so that a straight line ultrasonic acoustic path exists between them. An ultrasonic transit time sonomicrometer detecting a variable propagation delay between the transducers dependent upon the dilatation or effacement of the cervix uteri serves as a ultrasonic cervimeter. Cervical dimension, and changes in dimension, developed by the ultrasonic cervimeter directly in millimeters are (i) validated for reasonableness, (ii) monitored so as to generate several alarms upon the occurrence(s) of several predetermined conditions, (iii) displayed, and (iv) archived all in a battery-powered ambulatory instrument.
71 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A probe for use with an ultrasonic transit time cervimeter, the probe comprising:
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a transducer in the substantial shape of a three-dimensional, non-planar, body characterized in that ultrasound emissions from the transducer are along a multiplicity of axis in multiple different directions; means for securing the transducer to the wall of the cervix uteri of human female; and an electrical wire adapted for connecting between the transducer in its position secured to the wall of the cervix and an ultrasonic transit time cervimeter in a location exterior to human female'"'"'s body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An ultrasonic transit time cervimeter comprising:
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an ultrasonic transmitter in the substantial shape of a three-dimensional, non-planar, body characterized in that ultrasound is emitted from the transmitter along a multiplicity of axis in multiple different directions; an ultrasonic receiver in the substantial shape of a three-dimensional, non-planar, body characterized in that ultrasound is received along a multiplicity of axis from multiple different directions; a means for securing the ultrasonic transmitter, and also the ultrasonic receiver, to the wall of the cervix uteri of human female at spaced apart positions so that a straight line ultrasonic acoustic path at least partially through the cervix exists between the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver, the path being simultaneously along at least one ultrasound emission axis of the ultrasonic transmitter and at least one ultrasound reception axis of the ultrasonic receiver; an ultrasonic transit time micrometer for detecting a delay in the propagation of ultrasound from the ultrasonic transmitter to the ultrasonic receiver as an indication of the dilatation of the cervix uteri; and electrical wires adapted for connecting both the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver in their positions secured to the wall of the cervix to the ultrasonic transit time micrometer. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An ultrasonic transit time cervical dilatation monitor comprising:
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an ultrasonic transmitter; an ultrasonic receiver; a means for securing the ultrasonic transmitter, and also the ultrasonic receiver, to the wall of the cervix uteri of human female at spaced apart positions so that an ultrasonic acoustic path at least partially through the cervix exists between the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver; an ultrasonic transit time micrometer, connected to both the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver in their positions secured to the wall of the cervix, for detecting a delay in the propagation of ultrasound from the ultrasonic transmitter to the ultrasonic receiver as an indication of the dilatation of the cervix uteri; a monitor for monitoring dilatation of the cervix uteri and for causing an alarm if a predetermined condition of dilatation is detected. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An automated method of monitoring cervical dilatation comprising:
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securing an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver at spaced-apart positions upon the wall of the cervix uteri; energizing the secured ultrasonic transmitter and ultrasonic receiver with and by an ultrasonic transit time micrometer; detecting the ultrasound propagation transit time from the ultrasonic transmitter to the ultrasonic receiver with and by use of the ultrasonic transit time micrometer in order to provide an indication of the corresponding dilatation of the cervix uteri; electronically monitoring the detected transit time, and the indicated dilatation of the cervix uteri corresponding to the detected transit time, in order so as to sound an alarm if a predetermined condition of dilatation is detected. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A real-time ambulatory recording and displaying monitor of the cervix uteri comprising;
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an ultrasonic transmitter; an ultrasonic receiver; a means for securing the ultrasonic transmitter, and also the ultrasonic receiver, to the wall of the cervix uteri of human female at spaced apart positions so that a straight line ultrasonic acoustic path at least partially within the cervix exists between the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver; and a case suitable for attachment to the body containing an ultrasonic transit time micrometer electrically connected to both the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver in their positions secured to the wall of the cervix, for detecting a delay in the propagation of ultrasound from the ultrasonic transmitter to the ultrasonic receiver as an indication of the dilatation of the cervix uteri, a memory for storing the delays as are detected over time as an indication of the dilatation of the cervix uteri over time, and a display for displaying at times each of the present dilatation of the cervix uteri, and also the dilatation of the cervix uteri over time. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification