Automatic apparatus for controlling the childbirth labour

• US 20050283056A1
• Filed: 11/03/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pierfrancesco Belli
• Original Assignee: Pierfrancesco Belli
• Inventors: Belli, Pierfrancesco
• Granted Patent: US 7,144,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/304
• 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 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4356 Assessing uterine contractions A61B5/033 takes precedence

Abstract

Apparatus for controlling the childbirth labour comprising: an electromyographic unit (4) with sensors (3) associated therewith for detecting the electrical signals of a parturient'"'"'s uterus and means (6) for analysing and processing said electrical signals, and a pneumatic belt (1) to be fixed around the parturient'"'"'s abdomen and having sensors (15) associated therewith to detect the variation of the internal pressure due to uterine contractions, and means (2) for inflating said belt to provide a thrust as an aid for the expulsion of the fetus, characterized in that a device (7) is provided, associated with said sensors (15) and (3), to control the activation of said means (2) for the inflation of the pneumatic belt (1).

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling the childbirth labour comprising:

an electromyographic unit with sensors associated therewith for detecting the electrical signals of a parturient'"'"'s uterus and means for analyzing and processing said electrical signals, and

a pneumatic belt to be fixed around the parturient'"'"'s abdomen and having sensors associated therewith to detect the variation of the internal pressure due to uterine contractions, and means for inflating said belt to provide a thrust as an aid for the expulsion of the fetus, characterized in that a device is provided associated with said sensors and to control the activation of said means for the inflation of the pneumatic belt.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the said device comprises an AND gate with its inputs being connected, respectively, to the output of said electromyographic unit and to the output of an A/D converter located downstream of said sensors which are housed in the belt, and with its output being connected with the input of a D/A converter whose output is connected with said means for the inflation of the belt.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that a first switch is inserted on the line connecting the gate with the converter.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that a second switch is inserted on the line connecting the converter with the converter, said second switch operating in push-pull mode with respect to said first switch.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the said means of the electromyographic unit consist of a PC associated with the electromyographic unit.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that a second switch is inserted on the line connecting the converter with the converter, said second switch operating in push-pull mode with respect to said first switch.