Method and apparatus for analyzing uterine electrical activity from surface measurements for obstetrical diagnosis
First Claim
1. A method of analyzing surface electromyographic data to characterize uterine activity, comprising:
- applying action potential measuring electrodes to a surface of a patient;
measuring electromyographic signals produced by said electrodes;
analyzing frequency components of said electromyographic signals; and
characterizing uterine activity of said patient based on said analysis of frequency components.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus is presented for recording uterine electrical activity from the surface of the abdomen or vagina for the purpose of diagnosing contractile patterns of the uterus in pregnant and nonpregnant patients. The present invention provides data analysis techniques for analyzing electromyographic data measured from the surface of a patient to characterize uterine activity. The method and apparatus described include algorithms for the systematic analysis of electrical signals recorded from the abdominal surface. Such processing comprises integration of signals, frequency spectral analysis, 3-dimensional power density mesh plots, vector analysis, fast wavelet transform, and joint time-frequency characteristics. These techniques and apparatus are appropriate for use in a clinic or through communication lines for use as a remote or home uterine monitoring system. As such, uterine electrical activity may be measured at a remote location and processed at a central facility through on-line communications channels, such as a telephone line. The techniques and apparatus disclosed are also useful in predicting successful treatment for cases where either the uterus fails to develop forceful contractions at term or begins to contract pre-term.
124 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of analyzing surface electromyographic data to characterize uterine activity, comprising:
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applying action potential measuring electrodes to a surface of a patient; measuring electromyographic signals produced by said electrodes; analyzing frequency components of said electromyographic signals; and characterizing uterine activity of said patient based on said analysis of frequency components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of analyzing surface electromyographic data to characterize uterine activity, comprising:
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applying a plurality of action potential measuring electrodes to a surface of a patient; measuring electromyographic signals produced by said electrodes; analyzing said electromyographic signals determining potential vector characteristics of said electromyographic signals to identify a direction of propagation of uterine electrical activity; and characterizing uterine activity of said patient based on said potential vector characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method of analyzing surface electromyographic data to characterize uterine activity, comprising:
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applying action potential measuring electrodes to a surface of a patient; measuring electromyographic signals produced by said electrodes; analyzing said electromyographic signals; integrating energy corresponding to bursts of action potentials within said electromyographic signals to determine an approximate total energy of said bursts of action potentials, and characterizing uterine activity of said patient based on said approximate total energy. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. An apparatus for recording and analyzing uterine electrical activity from the abdominal surface, comprising:
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at least one action potential measuring electrode applicable to a surface of a patient under analysis; an analog-to-digital converter, connected to said at least one electrode, for converting electromyographic signals produced by said electrode into digitized data indicative of said electromyographic signals; a memory for storing said digitized signals; and a programmed computer for analyzing frequency components of said stored digitized electromyographic signals, and for providing an indication of uterine electrical activity of said patient under analysis as a function of said stored digitized signals. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for recording and analyzing uterine electrical activity from the abdominal surface, comprising:
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a plurality of action potential measuring electrodes applicable to a surface of a patient under analysis; an analog-to-digital converter, connected to said plurality of electrodes, for converting electromyographic signals produced by said electrodes into digitized data indicative of said electromyographic signals; a memory for storing said digitized signals; and a programmed computer for analyzing said stored digitized electromyographic signals, for determining potential vector characteristics of said electromyographic signals to identify a direction of propagation of uterine electrical activity, and for providing an indication of uterine electrical activity of said patient under analysis as a function of said potential vector characteristics.
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29. A remote uterine monitoring system for analyzing surface electromyographic data to characterize uterine activity, comprising:
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a remote uterine monitor including; at least one action potential measuring electrode applicable to a surface of a patient under analysis; and a remote analog-to-digital converter, connected to said at least one electrode, for converting electromyographic signals produced by said electrode into digitized data indicative of said electromyographic signals; and a central programmed computer in communication with said remote uterine monitor for analyzing said stored digitized electromyographic signals, and for providing an indication of uterine electrical activity of said patient under analysis as a function of said stored digitized signals. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification