The present development is a device for monitoring uterine activity and sending an alert signal through a wireless communication means when uterine activity significantly changes relative to a preset standard. The device, which comprises at least one sensor, is intended to continuously monitor a prescribed activity, such as uterine contractions. The information gathered by the sensors is fed to a computer application for comparison to preset values and, if the gathered information falls outside of the range of the preset values, feeds a signal to a second application designed to send out notifications to preprogrammed devices indicating the physical location of the source data, or where the pregnant patient is located.

A method for detecting fetal blood oxygen saturation, including: using at least two detection light of different wavelengths, to irradiate a fetus in an examined pregnant woman's abdomen in a time-sharing manner and acquiring first photoplethysmography signals corresponding to the abdomen under irradiation of the respective wavelengths of detection light, and to irradiate a detection site except the examined pregnant woman's abdomen in a time-sharing manner and acquiring second photoplethysmography signals corresponding to the detection site under irradiation of the respective wavelengths of the detection light; determining a target photoplethysmography signal of the fetus that corresponds to the detection light of each wavelength, according to the first photoplethysmography signals and the second photoplethysmography signals that correspond to the detection light of each wavelength; and determining the fetal blood oxygen saturation, according to respective target photoplethysmography signals determined.

The present invention relates to differential receivers, and more particularly to a fail-safe circuit for low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) receivers having single differential input disconnect detection with a latchable control signal interrupt capability. In operation, the receiver output is applied to a Vout output as long as the control signal is in a normal operating state, and on the first occurrence of a fault condition trigger is applied to the input of a latch, the latch latches applying a fault state to the control signal which causes the Vout output to follow the control signal blocking the receiver output until the latch is reset after the fault has been corrected.

The invention concerns a multi-electrode patch for abdominal electrophysiological detection. The patch has a flexible substrate interconnecting multiple electrodes and a module unit for removably engaging with an electronic readout device for detecting a maternal and/or fetal electrophysiological signal from the electrodes. The module has a mechanical module unit for removable mechanical engagement with a housing of the readout device, and an electrical module unit for making an electrical connection from the electrodes to the readout device. Engaging the patch with the readout device comprises engaging both the mechanical module unit and the electrical module unit. The patch may be flexible in a manner that allows variation in the relative positioning between the electrodes. The patch and/or electronic readout device may comprise a security device for communication of an authentication code.

A method for monitoring a fetal heart rate may include the steps of: acquiring fetal heart rate monitoring data; determining a fetal heart rate value by dividing the acquired fetal heart rate monitoring data by a predetermined time interval; and determining a fetal state by applying, to the determined fetal heartbeat value, a learned artificial intelligence algorithm using a learning database including the fetal heartbeat monitoring data pre-acquired in association with a plurality of fetuses.

A multi-lumen catheter for monitoring uterine contraction pressure having an elongated body configured and dimensioned for insertion into a bladder of a patient, the catheter having a first lumen, a second lumen, and a first balloon at a distal portion, the first lumen communicating with the first balloon. The second lumen communicates with the bladder to remove fluid from the bladder. The first balloon is filled with a gas to form along with the first lumen a gas filled chamber to monitor pressure within the bladder to thereby monitor uterine contraction pressure of the patient.

An apparatus for monitoring an obstetrics patient during labour is provided. The apparatus receives a contraction signal conveying information related to occurrences of uterine contractions over time and processes his signal to derive a sequence of rates of uterine contractions over time. The apparatus also implements a Graphical User Interface (GUI) presenting a tracing of at least part of the sequence of rates of uterine contractions over time along with a threshold rate of uterine contractions GUI is dynamically adapted over time based on the contraction signal received. The sequence of rates of uterine contractions derived over time is also processed to detect occurrences of anomalous contraction rates and to identify one or more portions of the tracing corresponding to sustained anomalous contraction rate segments during which anomalous contraction rates have persisted for time durations exceeding a pre-determined time duration. The GUI is configured to trigger an alarm event in response to identification of a specific sustained anomalous contraction rate segment.

Independent component analysis may be performed on a plurality of detected electronic signals to separate signals within the detected electronic signals that are contributed by different sources. Each of the plurality of detected electronic signals may be received from a separate detector and may correspond to a detected optical signal emanating from a pregnant mammal's abdomen and a fetus contained therein. The detected optical signals may correspond to light that is projected into the pregnant mammal's abdomen from a light source. The separated signals may be analyzed to determine a separated signal that corresponds to light incident upon the fetus, which may be analyzed to determine a fetal hemoglobin oxygen saturation level of the fetus. An indication of the fetal hemoglobin oxygen saturation level may then be provided to the user.

A sensor interface system for providing a connection between at least one sensor and a maternal-fetal monitor, wherein the interface system converts electrical muscle activity captured by the sensor(s) into uterine activity data signals for use by the maternal-fetal monitor. The sensor interface system of the invention preferably includes a conversion means for converting the signals from the sensor(s) into signals similar to those produced by a tocodynamometer.

A multi-lumen catheter for monitoring uterine contraction pressure having an elongated body configured and dimensioned for insertion into a bladder of a patient, the catheter having a first lumen, a second lumen, and a first balloon at a distal portion, the first lumen communicating with the first balloon. The second lumen communicates with the bladder to remove fluid from the bladder. The first balloon is filled with a gas to form along with the first lumen a gas filled chamber to monitor pressure within the bladder to thereby monitor uterine contraction pressure of the patient.