NETWORK SUPPORTING INTRAVAGINAL MONITORING DEVICE

• US 20110190595A1
• Filed: 09/27/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illuminare Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Illuminare Holdings Limited
• Inventors: BENNETT, James D., Ziarno, Witold Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,679,014 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 generally relates to intravaginal monitoring devices, supporting networks, web services, billing services, modes of operation of the devices and networks, and processing of data harvested by an intravaginal device and communication to the network. Methods, systems and networks for advertising are provided herein.

Claims

1. A method used by a device that can be communicatively coupled with a computing device, the device sized for at least partial insertion into a female reproductive system via a vaginal channel, the method comprising:

capturing by a first sensor, when the device is at least partially inserted within the vaginal channel, first sensor data relating to the female reproductive system;

capturing by a second sensor, when the device is at least partially inserted within the vaginal channel, second sensor data relating to the female reproductive system; and

communicating at least the first sensor data to the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is of a different type than the second sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is selected from the group consisting of an infrared detector, a temperature sensor, an imager, a piezo microphone, an EKG sensor, a pressure transducer, a glucose sensor, a pH sensor, an electrolyte sensor, a sonogram sensor, a pressure sensor, a contraction sensor, a nucleic acid related sensor, a protein related sensor, a fluid sensor, a heart rate sensor, a fetal status related sensor, an oxygen sensor, a brain activity sensor, and an ultrasound sensor.

4. A device that is used to gather information from a female reproductive system via a vaginal channel, the device comprising:

a single housing sized for at least partial insertion into the female reproductive system via the vaginal channel;

processing circuitry disposed in the single housing;

an imager, disposed in the single housing, that captures imager data upon receipt of a control signal;

an illuminator, disposed in the single housing, that provides illumination support to the imager upon receipt of illumination power;

a user input mechanism disposed in the single housing;

a battery power system disposed in the single housing; and

the processing circuitry responding to the user input mechanism by both delivering the control signal to the imager, and causing delivery of the illumination power from the battery power system to the illuminator.

5. A device that is used to gather information from a female reproductive system via a vaginal channel, the device comprising:

a housing sized for at least partial insertion into the female reproductive system via the vaginal channel;

processing circuitry disposed in the housing;

a battery power system disposed in the housing;

a first sensor disposed in the housing at a location that supports gathering of first sensor data from the female reproductive system;

communication circuitry, coupled to the processing circuitry, that supports receipt of an external control signal by the processing circuitry, the external control signal originating outside of the housing, and the communication circuitry being disposed in the housing;

memory, disposed in the housing, that is coupled to the processing circuitry, the memory storing operating instructions to be carried out by the processing circuitry;

operating instructions defining a first mode of independent operation and a second mode of directed operation; and

the processing circuitry selecting the second mode of directed operation in response to receipt of the external control signal via the communication circuitry.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the external control signal relates to operation of the first sensor.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the external control signal only originates from a supporting system in communication with the device, and, otherwise, in which the device operates independently.

8. A device that is sized for at least partial insertion into a female reproductive system via a vaginal channel, the device comprising:

a housing;

a first sensor disposed in the housing at a location that supports gathering of first sensor data from the female reproductive system;

processing circuitry disposed in the housing that receives input;

memory, disposed in the housing, that is coupled to the processing circuitry;

the memory storing operating instructions to be carried out by the processing circuitry, the operating instructions defining at least two operating procedures; and

the processing circuitry selecting one of the at least two operating procedures based on the input.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the input received comprises set up information.

10. The device of claim 8, further comprising communication circuitry, and the input being received by the processing circuitry via the communication circuitry.

11. The device of claim 8, further comprising a user interface, and the input being received by the processing circuitry via the user interface.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein a first operating procedure of the at least two operating procedures is designed for a first physiologic purpose, in which a second operating procedure is designed for a second physiologic purpose, and the first physiologic purpose being different from the second physiologic purpose.

13. A method used by a computing device to interact with a first sensor device and a second sensor device, wherein the first sensor device captures first sensor data via a first vaginal channel of a first female reproductive system, and wherein the second sensor device captures second sensor data via a second vaginal channel of a second female reproductive system, the method comprising:

establishing communication with the first sensor device;

receiving the first sensor data from the first sensor device;

establishing communication with the second sensor device;

receiving the second sensor data from the second sensor device; and

storing the first sensor data and the second sensor data.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising producing display data from the first sensor data.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising delivering control signals to the first sensor device.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the communication established with the first sensor device comprises network communication.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the first sensor data relates to a pregnancy associated with the first female reproductive system.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying in a visual working environment representations of at least a portion of the first sensor data or at least a portion of the second sensor data.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing location data associated with the first sensor device.

20. A method used by a computing device that interacts with a monitoring device, the monitoring device having an optical imager that captures imager data from a female reproductive system via a vaginal channel, the method comprising:

receiving a first portion of the imager data, the first portion of the imager data having been captured by the optical imager during a first imaging session;

storing the first portion of the imager data;

receiving a second portion of the imager data, the second portion of the imager data having been captured by the optical imager during a second imaging session;

retrieving the first portion of the imager data from storage; and

providing a visual output through which differences between the first portion of the imager data and the second portion of the imager data can be detected.