Intravaginal monitoring device

• US 8,679,013 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2010
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Illuminare Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Illuminare Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Ziarno, Witold Andrew, Bennett, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, Bill
• Assistant Examiner(s): SORIANO, BOBBY GILES
• Application Number:
  US12/890,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20110190579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: 600135-136, 600300-301, 600/476, 600/591
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00034 rechargeable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00096 Optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00135 Oversleeves mounted on the endoscope prior to insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00142 with means for preventing contamination, e.g. by using a sanitary sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00177 for 90 degrees side-viewing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/042 characterised by a proximal camera, e.g. a CCD camera
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/05 characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/303 for the vagina, i.e. vaginoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/42 Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/425 for reproduction or fertilisation specially adapted for use with animals A61D19/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/035 Intra-uterine probes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/344 Foetal cardiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4318 Evaluation of the lower reproductive system A61B5/4343 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4343 Pregnancy and labour monitoring, e.g. for labour onset detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/68 Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6846 specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/023 : for introduction into the body, e.g. into the oesophagus oesophageal ECG probes A61B5/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 : in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4416 : related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 : Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 : Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0611 : Vagina
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 : for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 : ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 : for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

The invention relates to an intravaginal monitoring device, method of intravaginal monitoring, and system and network for intravaginal monitoring. The intravaginal monitoring device and or network includes multiple modes of operation that enable non-pregnancy monitoring, pregnancy testing, pregnancy monitoring, STD detection, precancerous condition monitoring, cancerous condition monitoring, pre-birth monitoring and prediction, neo-natal monitoring, ovulation monitoring, an automated rhythm method, among various applications of the device, method and network of the present invention.

Claims

1. A self-powered, removable, electronic sensor device sized to be inserted within a vaginal channel to image a cervical region within the vaginal channel, the sensor device comprising:

a housing having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the housing being at least partially deformable and balloonless;

a sensor disposed in the first portion of the housing;

the first portion of the housing being sized to support sensing within the cervical region within the vaginal channel;

the second portion of the housing being sized to at least partially conform to the vaginal channel; and

, the sensor device having a first mode of operation within the sensor device for capturing and wirelessly communicating image sensor data to a geographically remote receiving device, the first mode of operation adapted for sending the image sensor data to a smart phone or tablet, and a second mode of operation adapted for operating the sensor device in a female reproductive condition specific manner and being downloadable to the sensor device from a server.

2. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein at least part of the first portion of the housing is movably connected to the second portion of the housing.

3. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the entire sensor device is sized and dimensioned to completely fit within the vaginal channel.

4. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the entire sensor device is sized to be worn within the vaginal channel.

5. A self-powered, removable, electronic sensor device sized to be inserted within a vaginal channel to image a cervical region within the vaginal channel, the sensor device comprising:

at least a partially deformable, balloonless housing having a first portion and a second portion;

a sensor disposed on the first portion of the housing;

the first portion of the housing being sized to support sensing within the cervical region within the vaginal channel; and

,

the second portion of the housing being sized to at least partially conform to the vaginal channel; and

, the sensor device having a first mode of operation for communicating sensor data to a geographically remote receiving device, and a second mode of operation for assisting in interacting with a global positioning system application.

6. The sensor device of claim 5, in which the sensor device further comprises a mode of operation for assisting in interacting with an advertising related server.

7. The sensor device of claim 5 further in which the sensor device further comprises a mode of operation for assisting in interacting with a sales related server.

8. The sensor device of claim 5 in which the sensor device further comprises a mode of operation for interacting with a female reproductive application server hosting a plurality of applications, the plurality of applications selected from the group consisting of smartphone applications and tablet applications.

9. The sensor device of claim 8 in which the plurality of applications is selected from the group of non-pregnancy related applications and pregnancy related applications.

10. The sensor device of claim 5 further comprising a fluid delivery member.

11. The sensor device of claim 5 further comprising an external electronic patch interacting mode of operation.

12. A self-powered, removable, electronic sensor device sized to be inserted within a vaginal channel to image a cervical region within the vaginal channel, the sensor device comprising:

at least a partially deformable, balloonless housing having a first portion and a second portion;

a sensor disposed on the first portion of the housing;

the first portion of the housing being sized to support sensing within the cervical region within the vaginal channel; and

,

the second portion of the housing being sized to at least partially conform to the vaginal channel; and

, the sensor device having a first mode of operation for communicating sensor data to a geographically remote receiving device, and a second mode of operation for interacting with a female reproductive application server hosting a plurality of applications, the plurality of applications selected from the group consisting of smart phone applications and tablet applications.

13. The sensor device of claim 12 in which the plurality of applications is selected from the group of non-pregnancy related applications and pregnancy related applications.

14. The sensor device of claim 12 further comprising a mode of operation for assisting in GPS navigation.

15. The sensor device of claim 12 further comprising a mode of operation for assisting in advertising.

16. The sensor device of claim 12 further comprising a mode of operation for assisting in sales.

17. The sensor device of claim 12 further comprising a removable cap.

18. The sensor device of claim 12 in which the plurality of applications comprise a non-human female pregnancy related application.

19. The sensor device of claim 12 in which the plurality of applications comprise a non-human female insemination related application.

20. The sensor device of claim 12 in which the plurality of applications comprise a human female insemination related application.

21. The sensor device of claim 12 in which the plurality of applications comprise a female conception related application.

22. The sensor device of claim 21 in which the female conception related application is selected from the group consisting of a non-human female conception related application and a human female conception related application.

23. The sensor device of claim 22 further comprising a semen delivery member.