Cervical dilation measurement apparatus

• US 7,654,970 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intrapartum LLC
• Original Assignee: Intrapartum LLC
• Inventors: Baird, Tim, Dubey, Dharmesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, SEAN PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US12/015,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20080114268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 600/488, 600/587, 600/591, 600/459, 738/665
• US Class Current: 600/591
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/303 for the vagina, i.e. vaginoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/043 in a linear array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/435 Assessing cervix alteration or dilation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6826 Finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6885 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure

Abstract

The present invention provides a medical device for measuring cervical dilation, where the medical device is positionable about a hand having first and second fingers, with each finger having a tip and a side surface. The medical device may include a housing, a first extension element movably coupled to the housing, a second extension element movably coupled to the housing, and a dilation indication mechanism to measure a distance between the first and second extension elements. The medical device may also include a first lateral pressure sensor positionable about a side surface of the first finger, a second lateral pressure sensor positionable about a side surface of the second finger, a third pressure sensor positionable about a tip of the first finger, and a fourth pressure sensor positionable about a tip of the second finger.

Claims

1. A medical device for measuring cervical dilation comprising:

a substantially spherical base housing;

a first elongated rod movably coupled to the base housing;

a second elongated rod movably coupled to the base housing, wherein each of the first and second elongate rods are movable about the base housing in at least two planes of motion;

a dilation indication mechanism coupled to at least one of the base housing, first elongate rod, and second elongate rod to provide a measurement of a distance between the first and second elongated rods; and

a first pressure measurement sensor positionable about a side surface of a finger;

a second pressure measurement sensor positionable about a side surface of a finger;

a third pressure measurement sensor positionable about a tip surface of a finger;

a fourth pressure measurement sensor positionable about a tip surface of a finger; and

wherein the substantially spherical base housing, first elongate rod, second elongate rod, first pressure sensor, second pressure sensor, third pressure sensor, and fourth pressure sensor are disposed within a sterile lubricious sheath.

2. The medical device according to claim 1, wherein the dilation indication mechanism includes a processor in electrical communication with at least one of the base housing, first elongated rod, and second elongated rod.

3. The medical device according to claim 2, wherein the processor is in electrical communication with at least one of the pressure measurement sensors.