Method for monitoring a childbirth process

• US 8,172,767 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Obstecare AB
• Original Assignee: Obstecare AB
• Inventors: Itzel, Johan, Itzel, Eva
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANEGA, RENEE A
• Application Number:
  US11/569,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20070166830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,506 Days
• Field of Search: 600/551, 600/407
• US Class Current: 600/551
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0048 for taking amniotic fluid samples
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/02 Foetus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14507 specially adapted for measuring characteristics of body fluids other than blood devices for taking samples of body liquids A61B10/0045
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4343 Pregnancy and labour monitoring, e.g. for labour onset detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/435 Assessing cervix alteration or dilation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4362 Assessing foetal parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/70 for mining of medical data, e.g. analysing previous cases of other patients
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/201666 Carboxylic acid

Abstract

The method is for monitoring a childbirth process of a pregnant woman. A plurality of cervix dilatation data and fetal positioning data are obtained and fed to a device. A plurality of lactate concentrations is measured at time intervals. The measured lactate concentrations are shown on a display of the device at the time intervals to show a trend of the lactate concentrations. The cervix dilation data and the fetal positioning data are also shown on the display. The lactate concentrations are evaluated to determine whether the lactate concentrations are rising to indicate that an individual lactate threshold value of the pregnant woman has been exceeded. The medical practitioner may also evaluate the cervix dilation data and the fetal positioning data.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a childbirth process of a pregnant woman, comprising:

providing a lactate concentration measuring device having means for displaying measured lactate concentration;

obtaining a first sample of amniotic fluid from said woman at a first time interval;

measuring a first lactate concentration in said first sample of amniotic fluid and displaying the obtained first lactate concentration with said device;

obtaining a second sample of amniotic fluid from said woman at a second time interval;

measuring a second lactate concentration in said second sample of amniotic fluid and displaying the obtained second lactate concentration with said device;

evaluating, with said device, said first and second lactate concentrations to identify a trend in lactate concentrations between said first time interval and said second time interval.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises determining whether the lactate concentrations are rising to indicate that an individual lactate threshold value of the pregnant woman has been exceeded.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises using the trend as a means to decide how to administer stimulating substances to the pregnant woman.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises measuring lactate concentrations in blood of a fetus at time intervals and presenting the lactate concentration from the fetus simultaneously with the lactate concentration from the pregnant woman.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises obtaining a plurality of cervix dilatation data, feeding the cervix dilatation data to the device and showing the cervix dilation data on a display.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises obtaining a plurality of fetal positioning data, feeding the fetal positioning data to the device and showing the fetal positioning data on a display.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises presenting the lactate concentration from the pregnant woman simultaneously with a presentation of lactate concentration from a fetus, the cervix dilation data and fetal positioning data on a display.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the method further comprises storing data and later retrieving the data together with time of measurement of the data.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the method further comprises storing and presenting the data in electronic medical records.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the method comprises using the display to see how a pregnant woman is and fetus are reacting to treatment.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises determining there is no longer a need to apply stimulation substances to the pregnant woman based on a display showing the trend is rising and a lactate concentration level being high.