System and method for analyzing progress of labor and preterm labor
First Claim
1. A uterine contractile monitoring system comprising:
- a) a plurality of surface sensors to receive and communicate myometrium signals from a patient'"'"'s abdomen;
b) a data storage device for collecting information communicated by the sensors; and
c) a computing means comprising hardware and software, wherein said software comprises an electrohysterogram (EHG) extraction function to extract multiple channels of EHG signals based on information communicated by the plurality of sensors and a function for utilizing and analyzing the multiple EHG signals;
wherein the function for utilizing and analyzing the multiple EHG signals of the software is adapted to perform at least;
(i) pairwise subtraction of the multiple EHG signals to emphasize local contractility of the patient'"'"'s uterus at the respective surface sensor;
(ii) derivation of data detailing differences in timing and amplitude of the signals following step (i);
(iii) assessment of values for the data of step (ii) and assigning the values to a grid of locations corresponding to the sensors placed on the patient'"'"'s abdomen;
wherein the function for utilizing and analyzing the multiple EHG signals extracts any single one or combination of the following parameters from the grid;
time of contraction, location of contraction, extent of contraction, direction of propagation, speed of propagation over the abdomen, average contraction over time, spatial location of the peak of contraction and its variance, spread of the contraction, abdominal intensity distribution, abdominal frequency distribution, patterns of contraction intensity over time, distance of peak power propagation, power changes over time, and frequency changes over time,wherein the computing means further comprises a means for utilizing the grid to ascertain any single one or combination of the following data;
uterine tonus, fundal dominance, and spatio-temporal patterns of uterine contractions.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for monitoring uterus contraction activity and progress of labor. The system of the subject invention can comprises (1) a plurality of sensors; (2) an amplifying/filtering means; (3) a computing means; and (4) a graphical user interface. Accurate clinical data, which can be extracted and provided to the user in real-time using the system of the invention, include without limitation, progress of labor, prediction and monitoring of preterm labor, and intrauterine pressure prediction. In a preferred embodiment, the system of the invention includes an intelligence means, such as a neural network system, to analyze and interpret clinical data for use in clinical diagnosis as well as delivery strategy.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A uterine contractile monitoring system comprising:
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a) a plurality of surface sensors to receive and communicate myometrium signals from a patient'"'"'s abdomen; b) a data storage device for collecting information communicated by the sensors; and c) a computing means comprising hardware and software, wherein said software comprises an electrohysterogram (EHG) extraction function to extract multiple channels of EHG signals based on information communicated by the plurality of sensors and a function for utilizing and analyzing the multiple EHG signals; wherein the function for utilizing and analyzing the multiple EHG signals of the software is adapted to perform at least;
(i) pairwise subtraction of the multiple EHG signals to emphasize local contractility of the patient'"'"'s uterus at the respective surface sensor;
(ii) derivation of data detailing differences in timing and amplitude of the signals following step (i);
(iii) assessment of values for the data of step (ii) and assigning the values to a grid of locations corresponding to the sensors placed on the patient'"'"'s abdomen;wherein the function for utilizing and analyzing the multiple EHG signals extracts any single one or combination of the following parameters from the grid;
time of contraction, location of contraction, extent of contraction, direction of propagation, speed of propagation over the abdomen, average contraction over time, spatial location of the peak of contraction and its variance, spread of the contraction, abdominal intensity distribution, abdominal frequency distribution, patterns of contraction intensity over time, distance of peak power propagation, power changes over time, and frequency changes over time,wherein the computing means further comprises a means for utilizing the grid to ascertain any single one or combination of the following data;
uterine tonus, fundal dominance, and spatio-temporal patterns of uterine contractions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for monitoring uterine contractions in a patient comprising:
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a) placing a plurality of surface sensors connected to a computing means onto the patient'"'"'s abdomen to receive myometrium signals; b) operating the computing means, wherein the computing means comprises hardware and software, wherein said software comprises an EHG extraction function to extract multiple channels of EHG signals based on information communicated by the plurality of sensors and a function for utilizing and analyzing the multiple EHG signals; wherein the function for utilizing and analyzing the multiple EHG signals comprises the steps of;
(i) pairwise subtracting the multiple EHG signals to emphasize the local contractility of the patient'"'"'s uterus at the respective surface sensor;
(ii) deriving data detailing differences in timing and amplitude of the signals following step (i); and
(iii) assessing values for the data of step (ii) and assigning the values to a grid of locations corresponding to the sensors placed on the patient'"'"'s abdomen;wherein the function for utilizing and analyzing the multiple EHG signals extracts any single one or combination of the following parameters;
time of contraction, location of contraction, extent of contraction, direction of propagation, speed of propagation over the abdomen, average contraction over time, spatial location of the peak of contraction and its variance, spread of the contraction, abdominal intensity distribution, abdominal frequency distribution, patterns of contraction intensity over time, distance of peak power propagation, power changes over time, and frequency changes over time,wherein the software further comprises a function for utilizing the grid to ascertain any single one or combination of the following data;
uterine tonus, fundal dominance, and spatio-temporal patterns of uterine contractions;c) extracting from the software clinically relevant data with regard to uterine contraction; and d) communicating the clinically relevant data to a clinician. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification