An electronic system for foetal surveillance includes at least two ultrasound sensors to emit and receive ultrasound waves either simultaneously, or simultaneously by groups, or sequentially. The ultrasound sensors configured to be positioned on at least one maternal abdominal portion to cover the foetal cardiac structure in movement and carry out measurements of foetal cardiac frequency. The distance between two ultrasound sensors is maintained by a link. A controller controls the ultrasound sensors with a piece of information to control the ultrasound waves sent to at least one ultrasound sensor. A processor to process the ultrasound signals to continuously estimate the position of the heart, the foetal cardiac rhythm and the foetal movements of one or more foetuses on the basis of the signal or signals received from the ultrasound sensors.

Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for treating and/or monitoring a patient with a prematurely dilated cervix during pregnancy or a patient with a history of a prematurely dilated cervix in a previous pregnancy. The systems, devices, and methods described herein further provide monitoring of the status of a cervix by, for example, sensing a change associated with the cervix of a patient. The systems, devices, and methods described herein are configured to either partially or completely encircle the cervix of a patient and constrict the encircled cervix. In some embodiments, the systems, devices, and methods described herein comprise a first and a second coupler that reversibly couple together so that these embodiments are configured to be manually placed (i.e. the couplers are coupled together) and then either removed or adjusted by a healthcare provider (i.e. the couplers are decoupled from each other).

System (10) for extracting a fetal heart rate from at least one maternal signal using a computer processor (26). The system includes sensors (12-18) attached to a patient to receive abdominal ECG signals and a recorder and digitizer (20) to record and digitize each at least one maternal signal in a maternal signal buffer (22A-22D). The system further includes a peak detector (40) to identify candidate peaks in the maternal signal buffer. The signal stacker (42) of the system stacks the divides at least one maternal signal buffer into a plurality of snippets, each snippet including one candidate peak and a spatial filter (44) to identify and attenuate a maternal QRS signal in the plurality of snippets of the maternal signal buffer, the spatial filter including at least one of principal component analysis and orthogonal projection, to produce a raw fetal ECG signal which is stored in a raw fetal ECG buffer. The system further includes a fetal QRS identifier (46) for identifying peaks in the raw fetal ECG buffer by at least one of principal component analysis and a peak-detector followed by rule based fQRS extraction and a merger (48) to calculate and merge the fetal heart rate from the identified peaks.

System (10) for extracting a fetal heart rate from at least one maternal signal using a computer processor (26). The system includes sensors (12-18) attached to a patient to receive abdominal ECG signals and a recorder and digitizer (20) to record and digitize each at least one maternal signal in a maternal signal buffer (22A-22D). The system further includes a peak detector (40) to identify candidate peaks in the maternal signal buffer. The signal stacker (42) of the system stacks the divides at least one maternal signal buffer into a plurality of snippets, each snippet including one candidate peak and a spatial filter (44) to identify and attenuate a maternal QRS signal in the plurality of snippets of the maternal signal buffer, the spatial filter including at least one of principal component analysis and orthogonal projection, to produce a raw fetal ECG signal which is stored in a raw fetal ECG buffer. The system further includes a fetal QRS identifier (46) for identifying peaks in the raw fetal ECG buffer by at least one of principal component analysis and a peak-detector followed by rule based fQRS extraction and a merger (48) to calculate and merge the fetal heart rate from the identified peaks.

Apparatus and methods for monitoring pregnancy or labour are disclosed. In one embodiment the apparatus includes an electromyography (EMG) sensor having two or more EMG electrodes to monitor fetal or maternal activity during pregnancy or labour and one or more position sensors to monitor the relative positioning of the two or more EMG electrodes during the fetal or maternal activity. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a monitoring device to be placed on a body and having a plurality of sensors integrated into the monitoring device, the plurality of sensors including at least: a first sensor configured to detect a first type of signal from the body indicative of a first type of fetal or maternal activity during pregnancy or labour; and a second sensor configured to detect a second type of signal from the body, different from the first type of signal, also indicative of the first type of fetal or maternal activity during pregnancy or labour.

The invention is generally a system, apparatus, and method for monitoring and measuring a change in intrauterine pressure without rupturing the amniotic sac. A catheter is coupled to a pressure sensing module. The pressure sensing module is configured with a chamber that is in fluid communication with a balloon of the catheter. The chamber includes a pressure-sensing membrane coupled to sensing circuitry. The sensing circuitry is configured to detect a pressure applied to the pressure-sensing membrane and communicate the condition to a monitor of the system. Methods include inserting the catheter through the cervix so that the balloon may be inflated and situated in the lower segment of the uterus, resting against the amniotic sac. Because the balloon of the catheter is in fluid communication with the pressure-sensing membrane, pulsations of the amniotic sac will be sensed by the sensing circuitry of the pressure sensing module.

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.

The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to tracking abdominal orientation and activity for purposes of preventing or treating conditions of pregnancy, respiratory diseases or other types of medical conditions. In certain specific embodiments, the system, device, or method relates to identifying abdominal or sleep position orientation risk values, calculating and updating a cumulative risk value, comparing the cumulative risk value to a threshold, and outputting a warning when the cumulative risk value crosses the threshold.

Internal cervical exams during labor pose multiple challenges, including infection risk, subjectivity, invasiveness, and discomfort. A monitoring system described herein enables non-invasive and accurate measurement of cervical dilation and assessment of the baby's station. By inserting a narrow linear ultrasound probe through the working channel, high-resolution ultrasound images of the cervix can be obtained, eliminating the need for painful and subjective exams, reducing infection risk, and enhancing patient comfort. Moreover, the ultrasound capability allows for potential monitoring of maternal and fetal blood oxygenation levels, providing a comprehensive picture of fetal well-being.

The present invention relates to an improved tocodynamometer transducer that exhibits increased mechanical stability, dynamic range, accuracy, and reliability. Improvement components include top and bottom enclosures, plunger, ferrite core, LVDT transformer, transformer housing, flat spring, and other components. The flat spring includes four spring ribs that are symmetrical, curvilinear in shape, identical in path length, separated by an air gap, and equally spaced between the outer ring, inner ring, and the spring ribs that are adjacent. The spring constant is identical along two or more axes improving the accuracy of the improved tocodynamometer transducer. The ferrite core travel length is increased and mechanically constrained to remain between the LVDT transforming winding increasing the dynamic range and the linearity of the voltage output of the improved tocodynamometer transducer.