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

• Current Assignee: PHOX Medical Optics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PHOX Medical Optics Incorporated
• Inventors: Morrison, James P., Yue, Samual K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US08/480,254
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 128/634, 128/635, 128/642, 128/633
• US Class Current: 600/338
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/02 Foetus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1464 specially adapted for foetal tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/288 for foetal cardiography, e.g. scalp electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4362 Assessing foetal parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6848 Needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means

Abstract

Disclosed is a fetal probe that is insertable through the mother'"'"'s vagina and cervixes and connectable to a pulse oximeter for monitoring the EKG and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin of a fetus during labor and delivery. The probe incorporates at least one spiral electrode and optical fiber or fibers and/or solid state light sources for monitoring oxygen saturation. Light emitting diodes, or an optical fiber or fiber pair, transmit light of two different wavelengths through the fetal skin to perfused fetal tissue while either the EKG needle or another needle extends into fetal tissue and contains a light collecting optical fiber having a distal light collecting surface adjacent the relative needle distal end for collecting transmitted light that has passed through perfused fetal tissue that is interior of the fetal skin.

Claims

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.

2. 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 the same side 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 light receiving means for receiving collected light from the second means for determining the oxygen saturation of arterial hemoglobin.

3. 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 probe body distal surface, the first needle being generally linear external of the probe body and having a distal terminal end portion that has an opening to open to fetal tissue inwardly of fetal skin and into perfused fetal tissue, the first means further including a spiral second needle extending distally of the probe body distal surface for monitoring EKG;

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

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, the distal light transmitting surface being adjacent to the body distal surface and external of both the first needle and the fetal skin;

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 distally remote from the probe body distal surface and the third means has 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.