Method and apparatus for monitoring the progress of labor

Abstract

A method of monitoring the progress of labor in a mother during childbirth, by using a position sensor to measure a predetermined point on the mother, monitoring the location of the position sensor in three-dimensional space; and monitoring the location of the fetal presenting part with respect to the predetermined point on the mother. The location of the fetal presenting part may be indicated by a similar position sensor, or by imaging. Other conditions, such as effacement, cervical dilatation, and cervical position may also be monitored in a similar manner. A reference or affixation point may be provided to the position sensor by, for example, attaching a key or shaped object to one or more points on the fetus or mother.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for monitoring the progress of labor during childbirth. [0002] Normal labor is generally divided into three stages: the first stage begins with the onset of labor and ends when dilatation of the cervix is complete; the second stage begins at that point and ends with the complete birth of the baby; and this is followed by the third stage which ends with the delivery of the placenta. During labor it is common to use either an external ultrasonic system for recording the baby's heart rate, and an external system for detecting the mothers uterine contractions, or an electronic system to sense the baby's heart pulses by an electrode attached to the baby's head and the mother's contractions by a pressure catheter applied to the mother inside the uterus. [0003] However, a number of other physiological conditions of the mother and baby during labor can also be monitored in order to determine...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019] As will be described more particularly below, such a method and apparatus permits the progress of labor to be monitored in a manner which is either continuous or intermittent, which is less dependent for accuracy on the experience, judgment or finger size of the attendant in the conventional “finger examination”, which subjects the mother to less discomfort, and which involves less risk of contamination, infection, dislodgment of a fetal monitor, or injury to or death of the baby or mother due to a wrong assessment of the fetal position or of labor progress. Moreover, this technique enables more precise monitoring of the critical condition, namely the changes in the spatial distance of the BPD of the baby's head with respect to the pelvic inlet.

Problems solved by technology

However, the accuracy of such a “finger” examination is very subjective and depends to a great extent on the experience, judgment, and even finger size, of the physician.

Other drawbacks in such a physical examination are that it can be done only at spaced intervals, it generally produces discomfort to the mother, and it involves a number of risks including contamination, infection, dislodgment of a fetal monitor, injury to the baby, etc.

Failure to interpret the precise stage of the labor progress from the physical examination can result in injury or even death of the baby or of the mother.

However, for one reason or another, none of the previously proposed devices has come into any widespread use, and the historical “finger” examination continues to be the one in common use to this day.

The inaccurate assessment of the station or the position of the head also lead to decisions to use forceps or vacuum when the baby's head is too high in the birth canal, as well as delay in performing C-section when needed.

In both cases the end result can be lethal to the fetus and highly damaging to the mother.

It also puts a heavy workload on the delivery room staff, particularly during peak periods.

Furthermore, since the digital examination is intermittent, trends and sharp changes in the progress of labor are sometimes missed, again leading to potentially wrong decisions.

Also, multiple digital examinations increase the risk of inflammation.

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