Uterine contraction sensor device

• US 7,753,860 B1
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mary-Page Smith
• Original Assignee: Mary-Page Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Mary-Page
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUONG Q
• Application Number:
  US11/413,343
• Time in Patent Office: 1,534 Days
• Field of Search: 600/587, 600/588, 600/591, 600/304, 600/594, 600/595
• US Class Current: 600/588
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4356 Assessing uterine contractions A61B5/033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure

Abstract

A uterine contraction sensor device for non-invasively monitoring uterine contractions passing through an abdomen includes a base including a top wall, a bottom wall and a perimeter wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall to define an interior space. The base is positionable on an abdomen. A tube is positioned in the interior space of the base and is coupled to the bottom wall. The tube is filled with a low viscosity fluid. A first end of the tube is closed to inhibit the low viscosity fluid exiting the first end. A second end of the tube extends upwardly from the top wall to be engage by a fetal monitor. A diaphragm is coupled to the tube adjacent the second end of the tube and is engaged by the fetal monitor to transfer vibrations passing through the low viscosity fluid to the fetal monitor.

Claims

1. A uterine contraction sensor device for being connected to a fetal monitor to monitor uterine contractions, said device comprising:

a base including a top wall, a bottom wall and a perimeter wall extending between said top wall and said bottom wall to define an interior space;

a tube being positioned in said interior space of said base and being coupled to said bottom wall, said tube filled with a low viscosity liquid, a first end of said tube being closed to inhibit said low viscosity liquid exiting said first end, a second end of said tube extending upwardly from said top wall to permit said second end to be engaged by the fetal monitor, said tube including a lower portion extending through said bottom wall to permit said tube to directly abut against an abdomen when said base is on said abdomen, said tube forming a serpentine pattern extending through said bottom wall; and

a diaphragm being coupled to said tube adjacent said second end of the tube, said diaphragm being engaged by the fetal monitor to transfer vibrations passing through said low viscosity liquid to the fetal monitor.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said base comprises a flexible material to permit said base to conform to an arcuate contour of the abdomen.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a gelatinous material being positioned in said interior space of said base, said gelatinous material dampening waves passing through said base from uterine contractions passing through the abdomen.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said tube comprises a resiliently flexible material to transfer vibrations from contractions passing through the abdomen into said tube.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said tube is positioned in a serpentine configuration to maximize contact of said tube with the abdomen.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said diaphragm extends across said second end to inhibit said low viscosity liquid from exiting said second end.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a cover being coupled to a top surface of said top wall, said second end of said tube extending through said cover.

8. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of brackets, each of said brackets being coupled to said perimeter wall of said base, each of said brackets being engaged by a strap to permit said base to be strapped across the abdomen.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein one of said brackets is coupled to one of a pair of ends of said base and positioned opposite the other one of said brackets.

10. A uterine contraction sensor device for being connected to a fetal monitor to monitor uterine contractions, said device comprising:

a base including a top wall, a bottom wall and a perimeter wall extending between said top wall and said bottom wall to define an interior space, said base being positionable on an abdomen, said base comprising a flexible material to permit said base to conform to an arcuate contour of the abdomen;

a gelatinous material being positioned in said interior space of said base, said gelatinous material dampening waves passing through said base from uterine contractions passing through the abdomen;

a tube positioned in said interior space of said base and being coupled to said bottom wall, a lower portion of said tube extending through said bottom wall to permit said tube to directly abut against the abdomen when said base is on said abdomen, said tube comprising a resiliently flexible material to transfer vibrations from contractions passing through the abdomen into said tube, said tube being filled with a low viscosity liquid, a first end of said tube being closed to inhibit said low viscosity liquid exiting said first end, a second end of said tube extending upwardly from said top wall to permit said second end to be engaged by the fetal monitor, said tube being positioned in a serpentine configuration to maximize contact of said tube with the abdomen;

a diaphragm being coupled to said tube adjacent said second end of said tube, said diaphragm inhibiting said low viscosity liquid from exiting said second end, said diaphragm being engaged by the fetal monitor to transfer vibrations passing through said low viscosity liquid to the fetal monitor;

a cover being coupled to a top surface of said top wall, said second end of said tube extending through said cover; and

a plurality of brackets, each of said brackets being coupled to said perimeter wall of said base, one of said brackets being coupled to one of a pair of ends of said base and positioned opposite the other one of said brackets, each of said brackets being engaged by a strap to permit said base to be strapped across the abdomen.

11. A uterine contraction sensor system comprising:

a fetal monitor to monitor uterine contractions;

a base including a top wall, a bottom wall and a perimeter wall extending between said top wall and said bottom wall to define an interior space, said base being positionable on an abdomen;

a tube being positioned in said interior space of said base and being coupled to said bottom wall, said tube being filled with a low viscosity liquid, a first end of said tube being closed to inhibit said low viscosity liquid exiting said first end, a second end of said tube engaging the fetal monitor, said tube including a lower portion extending through said bottom wall to permit said tube to directly abut against the abdomen when said base is on said abdomen, said tube forming a serpentine pattern extending through said bottom wall; and

a diaphragm being coupled to said tube adjacent said second end of said tube, said diaphragm being engaged by the fetal monitor to transfer vibrations passing through said low viscosity liquid to the fetal monitor.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said base comprises a flexible material to permit said base to conform to an arcuate contour of the abdomen.

13. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a gelatinous material being positioned in said interior space of said base, said gelatinous material dampening waves passing through said base from uterine contractions passing through the abdomen.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said tube comprises a resiliently flexible material to transfer vibrations from contractions passing through the abdomen into said tube.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein said tube is positioned in a serpentine configuration to maximize contact of said tube with the abdomen.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said diaphragm extends across said second end to inhibit said low viscosity liquid from exiting said second end.

17. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of brackets, each of said brackets being coupled to said perimeter wall of said base, each of said brackets being engaged by a strap to permit said base to be strapped across the abdomen.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein one of said brackets is coupled to one of a pair of ends of said base and positioned opposite the other one of said brackets.