Perinatal pulse oximetry sensor
First Claim
1. An intrauterine sensor system, comprising:
- a probe adapted for insertion into a uterus, the probe having a deformable outer body;
means for connecting the probe to a vacuum source to positively attach the probe to the fetal tissue surface;
means for forming a deformable seal, the deformable seal means being mounted to a surface of the outer body that contacts the fetal tissue surface having a compliancy greater than the compliancy of the fetal tissue;
a light source and a light detector mounted in the probe and adapted to generate a signal for use in measuring at least one fetal blood flow characteristic by pulse oximetry;
first electrode means for detecting a fetal body function and for generating a signal responsive to the detected body function, the first electrode means being mounted in the probe and adapted to contact the fetal tissue surface when the probe is in place; and
means for connecting the light source to an external source of power, and for connecting the light detector and the first electrode means to external components adapted to receive and monitor the signals generated by the light detector and the first electrode means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for use in measuring fetal blood flow characteristics. The apparatus includes a non-invasive pulse oximetry probe that is inserted into the uterus between the fetus and the uterine wall. The probe is deformable and is positively attached to the fetal tissue surface using a vacuum pump which causes the probe to deform from a pre-set curvature to the curvature of the fetal tissue surface and to form a gasket-type seal with the fetal tissue surface. The probe is manually inserted into the uterus using a curved insertion tool, and is shaped to fit through a slightly dilated cervix. In a preferred embodiment, the probe includes fetal and maternal ECG sensors and additional sensing devices, and is provided with apparatus for improving the efficiency of the pulse oximetry optics.
307 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An intrauterine sensor system, comprising:
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a probe adapted for insertion into a uterus, the probe having a deformable outer body; means for connecting the probe to a vacuum source to positively attach the probe to the fetal tissue surface; means for forming a deformable seal, the deformable seal means being mounted to a surface of the outer body that contacts the fetal tissue surface having a compliancy greater than the compliancy of the fetal tissue; a light source and a light detector mounted in the probe and adapted to generate a signal for use in measuring at least one fetal blood flow characteristic by pulse oximetry; first electrode means for detecting a fetal body function and for generating a signal responsive to the detected body function, the first electrode means being mounted in the probe and adapted to contact the fetal tissue surface when the probe is in place; and means for connecting the light source to an external source of power, and for connecting the light detector and the first electrode means to external components adapted to receive and monitor the signals generated by the light detector and the first electrode means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification