System and method for analyzing progress of labor and preterm labor
Inventors
Principe, Jose C. • Maroserro, Dorothee • Euliano, Tammy Y. • Euliano, II, Neil Russell
Assignees
CONVERGENT ENGINEERING Inc • University of Florida Research Foundation Inc
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Publication Number
US-10987047-B2
Publication Date
2021-04-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
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.
Core Innovation
The invention is a uterine monitoring system that receives or determines a location of each surface sensor on a patient's abdomen, records uterine electrical signals over time, and converts the electrical signals into contraction intensity information. Based on the sensor locations, it creates a movie comprising a plurality of uterine contractile maps and determines a center of uterine electrical activity based on the plurality of contractile maps.
The system tracks movement of the center of uterine electrical activity to establish a contraction pattern. The contraction pattern is based at least in part on a percentage of time the contraction pattern occurs within a period of time, and clinically relevant findings stemming from the contraction pattern are used to diagnose normal or abnormal labor.
In the described implementations, the contractile maps are created from surface sensor electrical signals using spatio-temporal mapping that supports extraction of a contraction pattern from sequential contractile maps. Additional described functionality includes generating location signals from electrical signals using pair-wise subtraction to provide local information about the contraction pattern.
Claims Coverage
The document contains three independent claims: one directed to a uterine monitoring system, one directed to a method for monitoring uterine contractility, and one directed to a computer program product. Across these independent claims, the main inventive features are centered on generating spatio-temporal uterine contractile maps from abdominal surface sensors, determining and tracking a center of uterine electrical activity, establishing a contraction pattern based at least in part on a percentage-of-time occurrence, and diagnosing normal or abnormal labor based on clinically relevant findings from that contraction pattern.
Abdominal surface sensors for uterine electrical signals
A uterine monitoring system comprising a plurality of surface sensors suitable for attaching to a patient's abdomen and receiving uterine electrical signals; a user interface; one or more processors; a connector interface connected to the plurality of surface sensors; and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer software that causes the processors to receive or determine a location of each surface sensor and record the location of each surface sensor.
Contractile intensity conversion and uterine contractile maps movie
The software causes the processors to record electrical signals from each surface sensor over time, convert the electrical signals from each surface sensor into contraction intensity information, and create a movie comprising a plurality of uterine contractile maps based on the location of each surface sensor.
Center determination and movement tracking to establish contraction pattern
The software causes the processors to determine a center of uterine electrical activity based on the plurality of contractile maps and track movement of the center of uterine electrical activity to establish a contraction pattern, wherein the contraction pattern is based at least in part on a percentage of time the contraction pattern occurs within a period of time.
Diagnosis of normal or abnormal labor from clinically relevant findings
Based on clinically relevant findings stemming from the contraction pattern, diagnose normal or abnormal labor.
Uterine contractility monitoring workflow with sensor-based maps and contraction pattern
A method for monitoring uterine contractility comprising placing a plurality of surface sensors on a patient's abdomen and receiving uterine electrical signals; receiving or determining, by one or more processors, a location of each surface sensor and recording the location of each surface sensor; recording electrical signals from each surface sensor over time; converting the electrical signals from each surface sensor into contraction intensity information; creating a movie comprising a plurality of uterine contractile maps based on the location of each surface sensor; determining a center of uterine electrical activity based on the plurality of contractile maps; tracking movement of the center of uterine electrical activity to establish a contraction pattern, wherein the contraction pattern is based at least in part on a percentage of time the contraction pattern occurs within a period of time; and based on clinically relevant findings stemming from the contraction pattern, diagnosing normal or abnormal labor.
Computer program product for performing center-tracking contraction pattern diagnosis
A computer program product comprising one or more non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer software that, when executed, causes a processor of a uterine monitoring system having a plurality of surface sensors to perform receiving or determining a location of each surface sensor disposed on a patient's abdomen and recording the location of each surface sensor; recording electrical signals from each surface sensor over time; converting the electrical signals from each surface sensor into contraction intensity information; creating a movie comprising a plurality of uterine contractile maps based on the location of each surface sensor; determining a center of uterine electrical activity based on the plurality of contractile maps; tracking movement of the center of uterine electrical activity to establish a contraction pattern, wherein the contraction pattern is based at least in part on a percentage of time the contraction pattern occurs within a period of time; and based on clinically relevant findings stemming from the contraction pattern, diagnosing normal or abnormal labor.
Across the independent claims, the inventive core is the combination of abdominal surface sensor-based uterine electrical signal recording, conversion to contraction intensity information, creation of a movie of uterine contractile maps tied to sensor locations, computation of a center of uterine electrical activity and tracking its movement to form a contraction pattern using a percentage-of-time occurrence criterion, and diagnosing normal versus abnormal labor from clinically relevant findings derived from that contraction pattern.
Stated Advantages
Enables diagnosis of normal or abnormal labor based on clinically relevant findings stemming from the contraction pattern.
Uses a contraction pattern defined at least in part by a percentage of time the contraction pattern occurs within a period of time.
Documented Applications
Monitoring uterine contractility to diagnose normal or abnormal labor based on clinically relevant findings stemming from a contraction pattern.
Uterine monitoring using a system/method where contractile maps and a center of uterine electrical activity are used to establish a contraction pattern for diagnosing normal or abnormal labor.
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