Method and apparatus for providing contraction information during labour

• US 9,805,164 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PeriGen, Inc. (Halma PLC)
• Original Assignee: PeriGen, Inc. (Halma PLC)
• Inventors: Hamilton, Emily
• Primary Examiner(s): LAM, ELIZA ANNE
• Application Number:
  US11/716,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20080039744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,889 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0011 Foetal or obstetric data
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02411 of foetuses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/344 Foetal cardiography
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4356 Assessing uterine contractions A61B5/033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4362 Assessing foetal parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/02 Measuring pulse or heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/0866 involving foetal diagnosis; pre-natal or peri-natal diagnosis of the baby
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A system and apparatus for implementing a user interface for displaying uterine contraction information is provided. The graphical user interface displays first information conveying a rate of uterine contractions, the first information being derived at least in part on the basis of at least a portion of a contraction signal. The graphical user interface also displays, concurrently with the first information, second information conveying a threshold rate of uterine contractions. In specific examples of implementation, the graphical user interface is adapted for selectively causing an alarm event based at least in part on a rate of uterine contractions conveyed by the first information and the threshold rate of uterine contractions.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program element suitable for execution by a processor, said program element implementing a process for monitoring an obstetrics patient during labour, said processor when executing said program element being configured for:

(a) receiving a contraction signal associated with the obstetrics patient, the contraction signal conveying information related to uterine contractions over time;

(b) processing the contraction signal to derive first information conveying rates of uterine contractions over time;

(c) causing said first information to be displayed in a viewing window on a display device;

(d) deriving information conveying if an anomalous contraction rate has persisted for a prolonged period of time, said information being derived at least in part by determining if the rates of uterine contractions conveyed by said first information have fallen outside a limit set by a threshold rate of uterine contractions for a time duration exceeding a predetermined time duration;

(e) receiving contraction medication information conveying whether contraction inducing medication was administered to the obstetrics patient;

(f) selectively causing an alarm event at least in part based on;

(i) the information conveying if the anomalous contraction rate has persisted for the prolonged period of time; and

(ii) said contraction medication information.

2. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, said processor when executing said program element being configured for:

(a) receiving fetal heart rate information;

(b) selectively causing the alarm event based at least in part;

(i) on the information conveying if the anomalous contraction rate has persisted for the prolonged period of time;

(ii) on said contraction medication information; and

(iii) on said fetal heart rate information.

3. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1, wherein said first information includes a first tracing conveying the rates of uterine contractions over time;

and wherein said processor when executing said program element is operative for causing said first tracing to be displayed in the viewing window concurrently with a second tracing, said second tracing conveying the threshold rate of uterine contractions.

4. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as described in claim 1, wherein said alarm event includes displaying a visual indicator.

5. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as described in claim 1, wherein said alarm event includes causing an audio signal to be issued.

6. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as described in claim 1, wherein said alarm event includes causing a message signal to be transmitted to a remote device.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as described in claim 6, wherein the remote device is a device selected from the set consisting of a PDA, telephone, pager and computing terminal.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as described in claim 6, wherein said alarm event includes causing a message signal to be transmitted over a network to the remote device.

9. An apparatus for monitoring an obstetrics patient during labour, said apparatus comprising:

(a) an input for receiving a contraction signal associated with the obstetrics patient, the contraction signal conveying information related to occurrences of uterine contractions over time;

(b) a processing unit in communication with said input, said processing unit being programmed for;

(i) processing the contraction signal to derive first information conveying rates of uterine contractions over time;

(ii) displaying said first information in a viewing window on a display device;

(iii) deriving information conveying if an anomalous contraction rate has persisted for a prolonged period of time, said information being derived at least in part by determining if the rates of uterine contractions conveyed by said first information have fallen outside a limit set by a threshold rate of uterine contractions for a time duration exceeding a predetermined time duration;

(iv) receiving contraction medication information conveying whether contraction inducing medication was administered to the obstetrics patient;

(v) selectively causing an alarm event at least in part based on;

(1) the information conveying if the anomalous contraction rate has persisted for the prolonged period of time; and

(2) the contraction medication information.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, said processing unit being programmed for:

(a) receiving fetal heart rate information;

(b) selectively causing the alarm event based at least in part;

(i) on the information conveying if the anomalous contraction rate has persisted for the prolonged period of time;

(ii) on said contraction medication information; and

(iii) on said fetal heart rate information.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein:

(a) said first information includes a first tracing conveying rates of uterine contractions over time;

(b) said processing unit is programmed for displaying said first tracing in the viewing window concurrently with a second tracing, said second tracing conveying the threshold rate of uterine contractions.

12. An apparatus as described in claim 9, wherein said alarm event includes displaying a visual indicator.

13. An apparatus as described in claim 9, wherein said alarm event includes causing an audio signal to be issued.

14. An apparatus as described in claim 9, wherein said alarm event includes causing a message signal to be transmitted to a remote device.

15. An apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein the remote device is a device selected from the set consisting of a PDA, telephone, pager and computing terminal.

16. An apparatus as described in claim 14, wherein said alarm event includes causing a message signal to be transmitted over a network to the remote device.

17. A method for monitoring an obstetrics patient during labour, said method comprising:

(a) receiving at an input of a computing apparatus having a processor a contraction signal associated with the obstetrics patient, said contraction signal conveying information related to occurrences of uterine contractions over time;

(b) using the processor of the computing apparatus;

(i) processing the contraction signal to derive first information conveying rates of uterine contractions over time;

(ii) causing said first information to be displayed in a viewing window on a display device;

(iii) deriving information conveying if an anomalous contraction rate has persisted for a prolonged period of time, said information being derived at least in part by determining if the rates of uterine contractions conveyed by said first information have fallen outside a limit set by a threshold rate of uterine contractions for a time duration exceeding a predetermined time duration;

(iv) receiving contraction medication information conveying whether contraction inducing medication was administered to the obstetrics patient;

(v) selectively causing an alarm event at least in part based on;

(1) the information conveying if the anomalous contraction rate has persisted for the prolonged period of time; and

(2) said contraction medication information.

18. A method as defined in claim 17, said method comprising:

(a) receiving fetal heart rate information;

(b) selectively causing the alarm event based at least in part;

(i) on the information conveying if the anomalous contraction rate has persisted for the prolonged period of time; and

(ii) on said contraction medication information; and

(iii) on said fetal heart rate information.

19. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein:

(a) said first information includes a first tracing conveying rates of uterine contractions over time;

(b) said method comprising causing said first tracing to be displayed in the viewing window concurrently with a second tracing, said second tracing conveying the threshold rate of uterine contractions.

20. A method as described in claim 17, wherein said alarm event includes displaying a visual indicator.

21. A method as described in claim 17, wherein said alarm event includes causing an audio signal to be issued.

22. A method as described in claim 17, wherein said alarm event includes causing a message signal to be transmitted to a remote device.

23. A method as described in claim 22, wherein the remote device is a device selected from the set consisting of a PDA, telephone, pager and computing terminal.

24. A method as described in claim 22, wherein said alarm event includes causing a message signal to be transmitted over a network to the remote device.