A fetal scalp monitor is disclosed that enables a medical professional to monitor the well-being of a fetus in utero. The fetal scalp monitor has a main body, with a central core having a temperature sensor, conductive dome, grounding ring, and tocodynamometer. The main body also has at least one adhesive portion to facilitate the attachment of the device onto the scalp of a fetus, and a plurality of concentric rings to militate against amniotic fluids from entering the adhesive portion. The vital signs of the infant and conditions inside the uterus are then transmitted, either wired or wirelessly, to a fetus monitoring device.

A fetal scalp monitor is disclosed that enables a medical professional to monitor the well-being of a fetus in utero. The fetal scalp monitor has a main body, with a central core having a temperature sensor, conductive dome, grounding ring, and tocodynamometer. The main body also has at least one adhesive portion to facilitate the attachment of the device onto the scalp of a fetus, and a plurality of concentric rings to militate against amniotic fluids from entering the adhesive portion. The vital signs of the infant and conditions inside the uterus are then transmitted, either wired or wirelessly, to a fetus monitoring device.

Fetal tissue oxygenation may be performed transabdominally by, for example, receiving a plurality of detected electronic signals that correspond to light emitted from a pregnant mammal's abdomen and a fetus contained therein that has been detected by the detector and converted into the detected electronic signal. An indication of a depth of the fetus within the pregnant mammal's abdomen may be received and a portion of the detected electronic signals that correspond to light that was incident upon the fetus may be isolated responsively to the indication of the depth of the fetus using, for example, time of flight of photons that correspond to the detected electronic signals. A fetal tissue oxygen saturation level may then be determined using the isolated portion of the detected electronic signals that correspond to light that was incident upon the fetus.

Fetal tissue oxygenation may be performed transabdominally by, for example, receiving a plurality of detected electronic signals that correspond to light emitted from a pregnant mammal's abdomen and a fetus contained therein that has been detected by the detector and converted into the detected electronic signal. An indication of a depth of the fetus within the pregnant mammal's abdomen may be received and a portion of the detected electronic signals that correspond to light that was incident upon the fetus may be isolated responsively to the indication of the depth of the fetus using, for example, time of flight of photons that correspond to the detected electronic signals. A fetal tissue oxygen saturation level may then be determined using the isolated portion of the detected electronic signals that correspond to light that was incident upon the fetus.

Described herein is an apparatus to detect fetal acidosis during labor. This apparatus, which is noninvasive to the fetus, has a pH sensor and at least one fetal tissue detector. When the apparatus is inserted into the vaginal canal of a patient during labor, the pH reading determined by the pH sensor correlates to the pH of the fetus's blood. The fetal tissue detector may be a pulse oximeter, which may allow for a user to obtain the pulse rate reading of a surface contacted by the pH sensor. This pulse rate reading may be compared to an external reading of a pulse rate of the patient to confirm whether the pH sensor is contacting the fetus. During travel through the vaginal canal, the pH sensor may be protected by a protective sheath with an area of weakness to allow exposure of the pH sensor when the fetus is reached.

Described herein is an apparatus to detect fetal acidosis during labor. This apparatus, which is noninvasive to the fetus, has a pH sensor and at least one fetal tissue detector. When the apparatus is inserted into the vaginal canal of a patient during labor, the pH reading determined by the pH sensor correlates to the pH of the fetus's blood. The fetal tissue detector may be a pulse oximeter, which may allow for a user to obtain the pulse rate reading of a surface contacted by the pH sensor. This pulse rate reading may be compared to an external reading of a pulse rate of the patient to confirm whether the pH sensor is contacting the fetus. During travel through the vaginal canal, the pH sensor may be protected by a protective sheath with an area of weakness to allow exposure of the pH sensor when the fetus is reached.

Optoacoustic diagnostic systems, devices, and methods are described. A system may comprise a console unit and a handheld probe. The console unit comprises a controller, a processor, a photodiode array, an acoustic processing subsystem, and a cooling subsystem. The probe directs light signals from the photodiode array to patient tissue. The light signals each have different wavelengths selected based on the physiological parameter of interest. The probe further comprises an acoustic transducer that receives acoustic signals generated in response to the directed light signals. The probe may comprise a finger-held working end that can be directed to the skull of a fetus within the uterus during labor. The probe can then accurately determine blood oxygenation of the fetus to determine if a caesarian section is necessary.

Optoacoustic diagnostic systems, devices, and methods are described. A system may comprise a console unit and a handheld probe. The console unit comprises a controller, a processor, a photodiode array, an acoustic processing subsystem, and a cooling subsystem. The probe directs light signals from the photodiode array to patient tissue. The light signals each have different wavelengths selected based on the physiological parameter of interest. The probe further comprises an acoustic transducer that receives acoustic signals generated in response to the directed light signals. The probe may comprise a finger-held working end that can be directed to the skull of a fetus within the uterus during labor. The probe can then accurately determine blood oxygenation of the fetus to determine if a caesarian section is necessary.

A modular patient monitor has a docking station configured to accept a handheld monitor. The docking station has standalone patient monitoring functionality with respect to a first set of parameters. At least some of the first parameter set are displayed simultaneously on a full-sized screen integrated with the docking station. The handheld monitor also has standalone patient monitoring functionality with respect to a second set of parameters. At least some of the second set of parameters are displayed simultaneously on a handheld-sized screen integrated with the handheld monitor. The docking station has a port configured to accept the handheld monitor. While the handheld monitor is docket in the port, the docking station functionally combines the first set of parameters and the second set of parameters, and at least some of the combined first and second sets of parameters are displayed simultaneously on the full-sized screen.

A modular patient monitor has a docking station configured to accept a handheld monitor. The docking station has standalone patient monitoring functionality with respect to a first set of parameters. At least some of the first parameter set are displayed simultaneously on a full-sized screen integrated with the docking station. The handheld monitor also has standalone patient monitoring functionality with respect to a second set of parameters. At least some of the second set of parameters are displayed simultaneously on a handheld-sized screen integrated with the handheld monitor. The docking station has a port configured to accept the handheld monitor. While the handheld monitor is docket in the port, the docking station functionally combines the first set of parameters and the second set of parameters, and at least some of the combined first and second sets of parameters are displayed simultaneously on the full-sized screen.