A computer-implemented method includes providing, by at least one computer processor, a plurality of signal channels, wherein the plurality of signal channels includes a plurality of electrical uterine monitoring signal channels and a plurality of acoustic uterine monitoring signal channels; determining, by the at least one computer processor, a plurality of channel weights, wherein each of the channel weights corresponds to a particular one of the signal channels; and generating, by the at least one computer processor, a combined uterine monitoring signal channel by calculating a weighted average of the signal channels based on the channel weight for each of the signal channels.

A computer-implemented method includes providing, by at least one computer processor, a plurality of signal channels, wherein the plurality of signal channels includes a plurality of electrical uterine monitoring signal channels and a plurality of acoustic uterine monitoring signal channels; determining, by the at least one computer processor, a plurality of channel weights, wherein each of the channel weights corresponds to a particular one of the signal channels; and generating, by the at least one computer processor, a combined uterine monitoring signal channel by calculating a weighted average of the signal channels based on the channel weight for each of the signal channels.

A method of measuring at least one biomechanical property of a reproductive cellular structure is provided. The method includes illuminating the reproductive cellular structure with radiation; detecting at least a portion of radiation scattered from the illuminated reproductive cellular structure; analyzing a frequency spectrum of the detected scattered radiation to identify at least one Brillouin frequency shift in the frequency spectrum; and determining the at least one biomechanical property based on the Brillouin frequency shift. The method further includes determining a viability index of the reproductive cellular structure based on the at least one biomechanical property.

Systems and methods for monitoring uterus contraction activity and progress of labor. The system of the subject invention can comprises (1) a plurality of sensors; (2) an amplifying/filtering means; (3) a computing means; and (4) a graphical user interface. Accurate clinical data, which can be extracted and provided to the user in real-time using the system of the invention, include without limitation, progress of labor, prediction and monitoring of preterm labor, and intrauterine pressure prediction. In a preferred embodiment, the system of the invention includes an intelligence means, such as a neural network system, to analyze and interpret clinical data for use in clinical diagnosis as well as delivery strategy.

In various embodiments of the invention, a manipulator attaches to and allows a sheath to be positioned inside the cervix and a catheter to thereby be inserted through the sheath and be positioned in a desired location in the uterus. In various embodiments of the invention, the manipulator may be attached or permanently connected to the sheath. In various embodiments of the invention, the sheath is fenestrated to allow the catheter to be detached from the sheath. In various embodiments of the invention, the manipulator allows the sheath to be positioned through the cervix canal to allow for catheter transmitted intrauterine pressure monitoring or balloon catheter assisted ripening of the cervix.

Provided are a fetal electrocardiographic signal processing method and a fetal electrocardiographic signal processing device that can appropriately select a signal reliably including a fetal electrocardiographic component from a plurality of signals separated by independent component analysis with reference. The fetal electrocardiographic signal processing method according to the invention includes: a fetal feature display signal extraction step of separating separation signals for a plurality of channels from biological signals of the plurality of channels acquired from a pregnant mother, using independent component analysis with reference, and removing noise from the separation signal for each channel to extract a fetal feature display signal; and a maternal electrocardiographic signal removal step of removing the fetal feature display signal at a timing when an electrocardiographic signal of the mother is likely to appear from the fetal feature display signals to obtain fetal feature signals including a large number of fetal electrocardiographic signals.

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.

A patient monitoring system includes: a biomedical sensor including: a transducer configured to produce a signal corresponding to a biological function; a sensor converter configured to convert the signal to a converted signal; and a transmitter configured to produce a communication, based on the converted signal, that is indicative of one or more values of the biological function, and to send the communication wirelessly; and a base station including: a receiver configured to receive the communication wirelessly and to produce a receiver output signal; a base station interface configured to produce a base station output signal indicative of the one or more values of the biological function; and at least one output port to receive the base station output signal and configured to be hard-wire connected to a display that is configured to display information indicative of the biological function.

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.

The balloon includes a pouch formed of a sealed wall delimiting an internal space, and a valve for filling the internal space with a fluid, capable of being occluded after filling the internal space. The pouch delimits a fluid-draining orifice opening into the internal space. The balloon further includes an occluding ball that occludes the draining orifice. The occluding ball can be spherical or polyhedral, and be capable of releasing the draining orifice under the effect of a magnetic field, so as to enable the at least partial drainage of the fluid contained in the internal space. The occluding ball is movable along at least two distinct axes in relation to the pouch.