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Fetal probe apparatus

  • US 5,551,424 A
  • Filed: 06/07/1995
  • Issued: 09/03/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. Fetal probe monitoring apparatus for continuously monitoring a constituent of arterial blood of a fetus during labor and delivery, comprising:

  • a fetal probe body having a longitudinal central axis and a distal end surface;

    first means mounted by the probe body for penetrating fetal skin and at least in part removably attaching the body to the fetus, the first means including a first needle mounted by the probe body to extend distally of the body distal surface, the first needle having a distal linear portion extending distally of the probe body surface and having a central axis at least substantially coextensive with the probe body central axis and the first needle having a distal terminal end portion that has an opening to open to fetal tissue inwardly of fetal skin and into perfused fetal tissue;

    second means having a distal light collecting surface for collecting light after the light has passed through adjacent perfused fetal tissue;

    third means having a distal light transmitting surface for transmitting light to pass through the perfused fetal tissue and then to the second means collecting surface wherein the third means comprise first and second diodes that emit visible and infrared light, respectively, the diodes having the light transmitting surfaces exterior of the fetal skin when the probe body is attached to the fetus and adjacent to the probe body distal surface to transmit light through the fetal skin, the diodes being generally located on diametric opposite sides of the first needle linear portion and transversely spaced from the first needle linear portion;

    wherein the second means extends within the first needle to have its distal light collecting surface adjacent to the first needle opening so that the collected light passes through the first needle opening and the third means having its distal light transmitting surface exterior of the first needle and spaced from the first needle sufficiently that light in being transmitted has to travel through perfused tissue prior to being collected, each of the second and third means at least in part extending within the probe body and adjacent to the body distal surface; and

    a pulse oximeter having means for cooperating with the third means and having means for receiving collected light from the second means for determining the oxygen saturation of arterial hemoglobin.

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