Child birth assisting system
First Claim
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1. A system for assisting in childbirth, the system comprising:
- a girdle having at least one inflatable bladder adapted to be positioned over a patient'"'"'s abdomen for applying pressure to the abdomen, said at least one inflatable bladder having means for introducing air into and releasing air from said at least one bladder;
an air source for providing air to inflate said at least one inflatable bladder;
a contraction monitor positioned over the patient'"'"'s abdomen for generating an electrical signal indicative of the patient'"'"'s contractions, said contraction monitor comprising a housing formed from a pliable material and having means for transferring a force from an exterior surface to its interior, a solid state force sensor embedded within the housing for receiving the force transferred from the exterior surface, and means for applying a conforming pressure to said housing so that said housing substantially conforms to the patient'"'"'s abdomen;
an automatic controller means in electrical communication with said contraction monitor for controlling the inflation and deflation of said at least one inflatable bladder in response to said electrical signal wherein the pressure applied to the patient'"'"'s abdomen is increased to a target pressure at the onset of a contraction and decreased after a pre-determined delay, said automatic controller means having means for controlling air from said air source; and
tubing having a first end attached to said at least one inflatable bladder and a second end attached to said automatic controller means for conducting air between said at least one inflatable bladder and said automatic controller means.
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Abstract
The childbirth-assisting device uses an automatically synchronized expandable pneumatic girdle to externally augment the secondary force of labor. The girdle through which the pressure is applied is fitted around the abdomen of the woman. An inflatable bladder within the girdle is inflated to create a downward pressure on the abdomen upon detection of a contraction. An external pressure monitor is used to detect contractions to provide a signal for synchronizing inflation of the girdle. The external pressure monitor includes a solid state force sensor embedded within a pliable housing which is conformable to the patient'"'"'s abdomen to improve accuracy.
261 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A system for assisting in childbirth, the system comprising:
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a girdle having at least one inflatable bladder adapted to be positioned over a patient'"'"'s abdomen for applying pressure to the abdomen, said at least one inflatable bladder having means for introducing air into and releasing air from said at least one bladder; an air source for providing air to inflate said at least one inflatable bladder; a contraction monitor positioned over the patient'"'"'s abdomen for generating an electrical signal indicative of the patient'"'"'s contractions, said contraction monitor comprising a housing formed from a pliable material and having means for transferring a force from an exterior surface to its interior, a solid state force sensor embedded within the housing for receiving the force transferred from the exterior surface, and means for applying a conforming pressure to said housing so that said housing substantially conforms to the patient'"'"'s abdomen; an automatic controller means in electrical communication with said contraction monitor for controlling the inflation and deflation of said at least one inflatable bladder in response to said electrical signal wherein the pressure applied to the patient'"'"'s abdomen is increased to a target pressure at the onset of a contraction and decreased after a pre-determined delay, said automatic controller means having means for controlling air from said air source; and tubing having a first end attached to said at least one inflatable bladder and a second end attached to said automatic controller means for conducting air between said at least one inflatable bladder and said automatic controller means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification