Method for monitoring a childbirth process

• US 8,951,212 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2012
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• 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:
  US13/442,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20120232428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 600/588, 482/5, 514/557, 514/558
• US Class Current: 600/588
• 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:

measuring a lactate concentration in a vaginal fluid of said pregnant woman;

determining whether the measured lactate concentration is within a lactate threshold interval; and

subjecting the pregnant woman to alternative child birth options, or stimulation with drugs, when the lactate concentration is outside the lactate threshold interval.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises stimulating the pregnant woman to give birth when the lactate concentration is less than the lactate threshold interval.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the method further comprises determining whether labor is progressing normally after said step of stimulating the woman.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the method comprises repeating said step of measuring a lactate concentration in the vaginal fluid of said pregnant woman and said step of determining whether said measured lactate concentration is within the lactate threshold interval when the labor is not progressing normally, and subjecting the pregnant woman to alternative child birth options, or stimulation with drugs, when the lactate concentration is outside the lactate threshold interval.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises determining whether labor is progressing normally when the lactate concentration measured is within the lactate threshold interval and providing stimulation to the pregnant woman when it is determined that the labor is not progressing normally.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method comprises measuring a plurality of lactate concentrations at a plurality of time intervals and evaluating whether the lactate concentration in the vaginal fluid of the pregnant woman is rising over the time intervals.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises measuring a lactate concentration in a vaginal fluid of said pregnant woman;

determining whether the measured lactate concentration is greater than a predetermined lactate concentration, and determining the pregnant woman'"'"'s membrane has ruptured and amniotic fluid has passed from an amnion of the pregnant woman if the measured lactate concentration is greater than the predetermined lactate concentration.

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

measuring a lactate concentration in a vaginal fluid from said pregnant woman; and

comparing the measured lactate concentration to a predetermined lactate concentration, wherein a measured lactate concentration above said predetermined lactate concentration indicates that the pregnant woman'"'"'s membrane has ruptured and amniotic fluid has passed from an amnion of the pregnant woman.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the method further comprises waiting a waiting period when the lactate concentration is less than the predetermined lactate concentration and again measuring the lactate concentration.

10. The method according to claim 8 wherein the method further comprises waiting a waiting period when the lactate concentration is greater than the predetermined lactate concentration and thereafter determining whether labor is progressing normally following said waiting period.

11. The method according to claim 8 wherein the method further comprises, when labor has not started or is not progressing normally,

measuring a lactate concentration in a vaginal fluid of said pregnant woman;

determining whether the measured lactate concentration is within a lactate threshold interval; and

subjecting the pregnant woman to alternative child birth options, or stimulation with drugs, when the lactate concentration is outside the lactate threshold interval.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the method further comprises stimulating the pregnant woman to give birth when the lactate concentration is less than the lactate threshold interval.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the method further comprises determining whether labor is progressing normally after said step of stimulating the pregnant woman.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the method comprises repeating said step of measuring a lactate concentration in the vaginal fluid of said pregnant woman and said step of determining whether said measured lactate concentration is within the lactate threshold interval when the labor is not progressing normally, and subjecting the pregnant woman to alternative child birth options, or stimulation with drugs, when the lactate concentration is outside the lactate threshold interval.

15. The method according to claim 11 wherein the method further comprises determining whether labor is progressing normally when the lactate concentration measured is within the lactate threshold interval and providing stimulation to the pregnant woman when it is determined that the labor is not progressing normally.

16. The method according to claim 11 wherein the method comprises measuring a plurality of lactate concentrations at a plurality of time intervals and evaluating whether the lactate concentration in the vaginal fluid of the pregnant woman is rising over the time intervals.