Vacuum extraction monitor with attachment for hand pump

• US 6,872,212 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medevco Inc., Texas Tech University System
• Original Assignee: Medevco Inc.
• Inventors: Vines, Victor L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reip, David O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VI X
• Application Number:
  US09/727,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20020065520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 606/122, 606/123, 606/124, 606/119, 604/35, 604/73, 604/36, 604/149
• US Class Current: 606/123
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/442 without pivotal connections, e.g. using vacuum

Abstract

The present invention aids a person who is assisting with fetal extraction by monitoring and recording the pressure inside a vacuum device. The device includes a cable that is attachable to a monitor enabled to record a detected pressure, and a pressure detection device coupled to the cable. The pressure detection device is coupled to tubing such that the pressure detection device detects the pressure in the tubing. In yet another embodiment, the invention is a pump-attachable device for monitoring and recording a pressure in a vacuum device. In another embodiment, the invention is embodied as a method that includes the acts of attaching a suction device to a fetus, detecting the vacuum pressure, and recording the vacuum pressure.

Claims

1. A method of using a recording device to record a pressure in a vacuum extraction device, comprising:

coupling a recording device to a vacuum extraction device;

placing the vacuum extraction device on a fetus, the space between the fetus and the vacuum extraction device defining a pressure area in the vacuum extraction device, the vacuum extraction device adapted to couple to a fetus via a suction device;

inducing a vacuum pressure in the pressure area by hand-actuating the vacuum extraction device;

detecting the vacuum pressure in the pressure area; and

recording the vacuum pressure to produce a record.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the act of calibrating the recording device by zeroing the pressure.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the vacuum device employs a pump to generate a vacuum, the pump being a vacuum extractor, comprising:

a vacuum cup having a cup portion for application to a fetus, the cup portion defining a cup chamber;

a handle connected to the vacuum cup, the handle including a grip surface, the handle for maneuvering the vacuum cup; and

a vacuum pump defining a vacuum chamber fluidly couplable to the cup chamber,

wherein the vacuum pump includes an activation surface for creating a vacuum in the vacuum chamber,

wherein the grip surface of the handle and the activation surface of the vacuum pump are in a proximity such that a single human hand can grasp both the grip surface and the activation surface simultaneously,

wherein compression of the activation surface of the vacuum pump towards the grip surface of the handle reduces the volume within the vacuum chamber.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein recording is achieved electronically.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein recording is achieved with a paper printout.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the act of storing the record.