Wearable ultrasound system for labor progression monitoring and labor progression state determination method

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a wearable ultrasound system for labor progression monitoring and a labor progression state determination method, wherein a labor progression state, fetal station, and fetal heart rate may be simultaneously identified in real time through wearable ultrasonic transducers in place of medical staff, and in this process, fetal heart signals and cranial signals are obtained through transducers attached to the mother's abdomen and perineum, and different weights for collected information are set according to labor progression information to determine the labor progression state.

Description

Wearable ultrasound system for monitoring labor progress and method for judging labor progress

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a wearable ultrasound system for monitoring labor progress and a method for judging labor progress, and more particularly, to a wearable ultrasound system and a method for judging labor progress that monitor labor progress by analyzing signals acquired from a plurality of ultrasound transducers attached to the abdomen and perineum of a patient, and share the information with the patient in real time.

[0002] Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims of this application, and their inclusion in this section is not intended to be admitted as prior art.

[0003] Healthcare technology is rapidly evolving, incorporating digital solutions, mobile apps, smart monitoring devices, and artificial intelligence. According to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)’s recent Future of Healthcare Report, 58% of healthcare systems expect to spend at least $10 million annually on digital health programs by 2026.

[0004] Femtech, the women's health care sector, encompasses software, diagnostic devices, and services specifically tailored to women's health, including pregnancy. Femtech is a sector with significant market potential and is expected to grow in the future. While femtech related to childbirth is also attracting significant attention, it currently focuses primarily on non-professional areas such as nutritional management, exercise, blood pressure, and nutritional supplements, rather than specialized medical practices.

[0005] Integrating femtech with professional medical practices requires identifying key medical perspectives currently considered important during labor. For example, these medical perspectives refer to assessment information necessary for assessing a healthy delivery and the condition of the fetus and mother. These assessment information could include whether the fetus remains healthy during labor stress, whether the intensity and interval of uterine contractions are appropriate for a successful delivery, and whether the fetus is passing through the pelvis smoothly.

[0006] Traditionally, information on the labor process has been gathered through NST (Non-Stress Test), internal examination, and ultrasound. However, this traditional labor process requires continuous observation by medical staff, and it still has limitations in that it is largely based on subjective judgments among individual medical professionals. On the other hand, from the mother's perspective, the internal examinations performed frequently by medical staff to monitor the progress of labor can be extremely distressing, and repeated internal examinations can even lead to postpartum infections. Minimizing these internal examinations can reduce both maternal pain and the risk of postpartum infections. Furthermore, by providing objective information to the mother, the main agent of labor, it can help her understand and actively participate in the labor process.

[0007] The technical task of the present disclosure includes simultaneously monitoring the progress of labor, the degree of fetal descent, and the fetal heart rate in real time on behalf of medical staff through a wearable transducer. This process may include acquiring fetal heart and skull signals through transducers attached to the mother's abdomen and perineum, and setting different weights for the collected information based on the progress of labor, thereby enabling the determination of the progress of labor.

[0008] In addition, the wearable ultrasound system for monitoring labor progress according to the present disclosure and its control method can measure not only fetal heart sounds but also fetal movement within the pelvis and confirm uterine contractions. To this end, in the embodiment, three or more ultrasound transducers for collecting fetal heart sounds, a uterine contraction detection device, and one ultrasound transducer for measuring the distance between the fetal anterior cervix and the perineum are attached to a maternity garment.

[0009] In addition, the present disclosure utilizes changes in the intensity of fetal heart signals distinguished from three or more transducers mounted on the abdomen to detect changes in the position of the heart, thereby enabling determination of whether the fetus has moved into the pelvis.

[0010] In addition, in the present disclosure, the distance to the advanced stage of the fetus can be calculated using a signal collected by a transducer located in the perineum, thereby confirming the progress of labor.

[0011] A wearable ultrasound system for monitoring the progress of labor according to the present disclosure includes an ultrasound transducer mounted on the abdomen and perineum of a pregnant woman to sense a heart signal and skull information of a fetus, a memory storing at least one command, and a processor, wherein the at least one command is executed by the processor, thereby analyzing the heart signal and skull information of the fetus collected from the ultrasound transducer to determine the progress of labor.

[0012] At this time, the ultrasound transducer is attached to at least four points, and the at least four points may include three points on the mother's abdomen and one point on the perineum.

[0013] In addition, three or more ultrasound transducers mounted on the maternal abdomen sense heart signals of the fetus, and one ultrasound transducer mounted on the perineum senses skull information, and the heart signals of the fetus include heart sounds and heartbeats per minute, and the skull information may include the distance from the perineum to the skull visible from the perineum.

[0014] In addition, the mounting position of the ultrasonic transducer is determined according to the specifications of the ultrasonic transducer, and the specifications of the ultrasonic transducer may include frequency, number of sensors, diameter, array size, ultrasonic waveform, and ultrasonic wavelength speed.

[0015] In addition, the above-described labor progress monitoring device can extract a center frequency and bandwidth based on the acquired fetal heart signal and filter out noise to recognize the fetal heart sound.

[0016] In addition, the labor progress monitoring device can measure the position of the fetal heart based on the position of the ultrasound transducer mounted on the abdomen of the mother using the fetal heart sound and ultrasound signal.

[0017] In addition, the labor progress monitoring device can determine the labor status based on the position of the fetal heart and the rate of change in the position of the heart.

[0018] In addition, in the seventh paragraph, the labor progress monitoring device can determine the labor status as rapid labor if the rate of change in the heart position of the fetus is greater than or equal to a predetermined rate, and can determine the labor status as dystocia if the rate of change in the heart position of the fetus is less than the predetermined rate.

[0019] In addition, the labor progress monitoring device can measure the positional relationship between the skull of the fetus and the perineum of the mother based on skull information obtained from an ultrasonic transducer mounted on the perineum of the mother, and determine the state of labor based on the measured positional relationship.

[0020] In addition, the labor progress monitoring device can determine the state of labor as rapid labor if the rate of change in the positional relationship between the skull of the fetus and the perineum of the mother is greater than a predetermined rate, and can determine it as dystocia if the rate of change in the positional relationship is less than the predetermined rate.

[0021] In addition, the labor progress monitoring device can apply weights to each of the heart information and skull information of the fetus according to the position of the fetus and the elapsed time of labor, and determine the state of labor based on the heart information and skull information of the fetus to which the weights are applied.

[0022] In addition, the above-mentioned labor progress monitoring device can apply a certain level of weight to the fetal heart information in the early stage of labor, and increase the weight of the skull information as the expected time of labor approaches.

[0023] In addition, the above-mentioned labor progress monitoring device can output the labor progress status including the size of the fetus, the position of the fetus' heart, the contour of the fetus, whether or not there is a difficult labor, and the labor progress stage.

[0024] In addition, a method for determining the progress of labor by a wearable ultrasound system including an ultrasound transducer and a labor progress monitoring device according to the present disclosure may include a step of sensing a heart signal and skull information of a fetus by mounting the ultrasound transducer on the abdomen and perineum of a pregnant woman; a step of analyzing the heart signal and skull information of the fetus collected from the ultrasound transducer in the labor progress monitoring device to determine the progress of labor; and a step of outputting the progress of labor by the labor progress monitoring device.

[0025] The wearable ultrasound system for monitoring labor progress and the method for judging labor progress according to the present disclosure can monitor labor status on behalf of medical personnel, thereby enabling quantitative data to be used to evaluate the labor process and accurately determine the labor progress. As demonstrated in the examples, this innovative medical solution provides real-time notification of labor progress to the mother and medical staff, enabling prompt response to emergency situations that may arise during labor, thereby ensuring the safety of the mother and the health of the fetus.

[0026] Additionally, it can help the mother, who is the subject of childbirth, participate actively in childbirth by sharing objective information and helping her push on her own.

[0027] Additionally, by minimizing the number of internal examinations performed by medical staff to determine the progress of labor, both the mother's pain and the risk of postpartum infection can be reduced.

[0028] Additionally, it can monitor all stages of labor to replace the insufficient obstetric staff and notify medical staff at the most necessary moments, allowing for efficient staff allocation and contributing greatly to ensuring the safety of the mother and fetus.

[0029] Additionally, the international market for femtech that can monitor the progress of childbirth is still small, so there is a high possibility of winning R&D contracts and commercialization after development.

[0030] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and should be understood to include all effects that can be inferred from the detailed description of the present invention or the composition of the invention described in the claims.

[0031] Figure 1 is a drawing of a wearable ultrasound system for monitoring labor progress according to an embodiment.

[0032] Figures 2 and 3 are drawings for explaining an example of attachment of an ultrasonic transducer.

[0033] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing a delivery progress monitoring device according to an embodiment.

[0034] Figure 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a command set stored in memory according to an embodiment.

[0035] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the process of judging the progress of labor by a wearable ultrasound system for monitoring the progress of labor according to an embodiment.

[0036] Figure 7 is a drawing showing a delivery progress monitoring system including a maternal terminal according to an embodiment.

[0037] Hereinafter, the embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Regardless of the drawing numbers, identical or similar components will be given the same reference numbers, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. The suffixes "module" and "part" used for components in the following description are assigned or used interchangeably only for the convenience of writing the specification, and do not in themselves have distinct meanings or roles. In addition, when describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a specific description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the attached drawings are only intended to facilitate easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical ideas disclosed in this specification are not limited by the attached drawings, and should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

[0038] Terms that include ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another.

[0039] When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, but that there may be other components intervening. Conversely, when a component is referred to as being "directly connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components intervening.

[0040] In this application, terms such as “include” or “have” are intended to specify the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part or combination thereof described in the specification, but should be understood not to exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

[0041] In this specification, the term "unit" includes a unit realized by hardware, a unit realized by software, and a unit realized using both. Furthermore, a single unit may be realized using two or more pieces of hardware, and two or more units may be realized by a single piece of hardware.

[0042] Some of the operations or functions described herein as being performed by a terminal, apparatus, or device may instead be performed by a server connected to the terminal, apparatus, or device. Similarly, some of the operations or functions described herein as being performed by a server may also be performed by a terminal, apparatus, or device connected to the server.

[0043] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0044] Figure 1 is a diagram of a wearable ultrasound system for monitoring the progress of labor according to an embodiment.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 1, a wearable ultrasound system (1000) for monitoring labor progress according to an embodiment may be configured to include an ultrasound transducer (200) and a labor progress monitoring device (100).

[0046] An ultrasound transducer (200) is attached to the abdomen and perineum of the mother to sense the heart signal and skull information of the fetus. The ultrasound transducer (200) is one of the components of ultrasound imaging equipment. The ultrasound transducer (200) can generate and transmit ultrasound waves, and then generate an image based on the received data. In an embodiment, the ultrasound transducer (200) is attached to the abdomen and perineum of the mother and emits ultrasound from the corresponding areas to collect heart signal and skull information. In addition, the ultrasound transducer (200) visualizes the position of the fetus during labor through the collected information. In an embodiment, the ultrasound transducer (200) obtains the reflected signal when the ultrasound signal is reflected from a specific structure inside the body and returns to the ultrasound transducer (200). In an embodiment, the ultrasound transducer (200) can be attached to a band or clothing, or provided in a wearable form. Additionally, in the embodiment, the ultrasound transducer (200) may be directly attached to the mother's abdomen, and an adhesive hydrogel that can simultaneously perform skin contact and the role of a coupling material may be utilized.

[0047] The labor progress monitoring device (100) analyzes the fetal heart signal and skull information collected from the ultrasound transducer (200) to determine the progress of labor. In addition, the labor progress monitoring device (100) collects the reflected signal from the ultrasound transducer (200) and processes it to generate a real-time image of the progress of labor. In addition, the labor progress monitoring device (100) determines the vital signs of the fetus based on at least one of the absolute value and fluctuation trend of the fetal heart rate.

[0048] In addition, in the embodiment, three or more ultrasound transducers (200) are attached to a maternity dress to obtain fetal heart signals, and one ultrasound transducer (200) is attached to measure the distance between the fetal anterior end and the perineum. The ultrasound transducer (200) may be manufactured as a single element to obtain an RF signal. In the embodiment, the ultrasound transducer (200) may have four or more single element ultrasound probes attached, and may be attached as an array ultrasound probe to obtain an overall image of the fetus by generating a cross-sectional image of the pregnant woman's abdomen. In the embodiment, signals are first collected from the side and lower part of the mother's abdomen to measure the heart sound of the fetus, and the ultrasound signal reflected from the fetal heart is distinguished from the signal, and then the heartbeat of the fetus is confirmed through ultrasound Doppler signal or M-mode analysis according to the intensity of the signal.

[0049] Afterwards, by using the intensity change of the fetal heart signal distinguished from three or more ultrasound transducers (200) in the abdomen, the change in the position of the heart is identified and whether the fetus has moved into the pelvis is identified.

[0050] In the embodiment, the ultrasound signal reflected from the skull of the fetus is distinguished from the signal collected by the transducer (200) located in the perineum, and the distance to the skull, which is the advanced part of the fetus, is calculated to confirm the progress of labor.

[0051] A wearable ultrasound system (1000) for monitoring labor progress according to an embodiment monitors the progress of labor in real time on behalf of medical staff through a wearable transducer (200) or a transducer (200) attached to the abdomen and perineum of the mother. In addition, the embodiment allows for simultaneous confirmation of the degree of fetal descent, fetal heart rate, and degree of uterine contraction.

[0052] In the embodiment, the fetal heart signal and skull signal are acquired through a transducer (200) attached to the abdomen and perineum of the mother, and the weight of the collected information is set differently according to the labor progress information so that the labor progress can be identified. In addition, the wearable ultrasound system for labor progress monitoring according to the embodiment and the control method thereof measure not only the fetal heart sound but also the degree of uterine contraction and the degree of movement of the fetus within the pelvis, so that the degree of labor progress can be objectively confirmed.

[0053] Fig. 2 is a drawing for explaining an example of attachment of an ultrasonic transducer, and Fig. 3 is a drawing showing an example of multiple transducers attached to a maternity garment.

[0054] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in the embodiment, the ultrasonic transducers (10, 20, 30, 40) are attached to at least four points. In the embodiment, the ultrasonic transducers (10, 20, 30, 40) may be attached to a maternity garment including underwear, as shown in FIG. 3, so that when the mother wears the maternity garment, the ultrasonic transducers (10, 20, 30, 40) are in close contact with the mother's skin. In addition, in the embodiment, the ultrasonic transducers (10, 20, 30, 40) may be directly attached to the mother's skin.

[0055] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the embodiment, the four points may include three points on the mother's abdomen and one point on the perineum. As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the embodiment, three transducers (10, 20, 30) may be placed at three points on the mother's abdomen (A) at a predetermined distance from each other, and an ultrasound transducer (40) may be placed at one point on the perineum. The distance between the transducers may be maintained at a specific distance or more so as to minimize noise between each signal, and the distance may be inversely proportional to the center frequency. In addition, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in the embodiment, a uterine contraction meter (50) may be attached to the mother's abdomen. In the embodiment, three or more ultrasound transducers (10, 20, 30) mounted on the mother's abdomen sense a heart signal of the fetus, and one ultrasound transducer (40) mounted on the perineum senses skull information. In an embodiment, three or more ultrasound transducers (10, 20, 30) attached to the abdomen may be positioned on the side and lower part of the abdomen, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In an embodiment, the fetal heart signals may include heart sounds, heartbeats per minute, etc., and the skull information may include the distance from the perineum to the fetal skull, etc.

[0056] In the embodiment, the mounting location of the ultrasonic transducer is determined according to the specifications of the ultrasonic transducer. For example, the specifications of the ultrasonic transducer may include frequency, number of sensors, diameter, array size, ultrasonic waveform, ultrasonic wavelength, etc.

[0057] Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a delivery progress monitoring device according to an embodiment.

[0058] In the embodiment, the labor progress monitoring device (100) is a computing system that provides services to other computers or devices in a computer network or stores and manages data. The configuration of the labor progress monitoring device (100) illustrated in FIG. 4 is merely a simplified example.

[0059] The communication unit (110) may be configured regardless of the communication mode, such as wired or wireless, and may be configured with various communication networks, such as a personal area network (PAN) and a wide area network (WAN). In addition, the communication unit (110) may operate based on the well-known World Wide Web (WWW), and may also utilize a wireless transmission technology used for short-distance communication, such as infrared (IrDA: Infrared Data Association) or Bluetooth. For example, the communication unit (110) may be responsible for transmitting and receiving data required to perform a technique according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0060] The memory (120) may refer to any type of storage medium. For example, the memory (120) may include at least one type of storage medium among a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (e.g., SD or XD memory, etc.), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read-Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk. Such a memory (120) may also constitute a database as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0061] The memory (120) can store at least one instruction that can be executed by the processor (130). In addition, the memory (120) can store any type of information generated or determined by the processor (130) and any type of information received by the server (200). In addition, the memory (120) stores various types of modules, instruction sets, or models.

[0062] The processor (130) may perform technical features according to embodiments of the present disclosure, which will be described later, by executing at least one instruction stored in the memory (120). In one embodiment, the processor (130) may be configured with at least one core and may include a processor for data analysis and / or processing, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a general purpose graphics processing unit (GPGPU), or a tensor processing unit (TPU) of a computer device.

[0063] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a command set stored in memory according to an embodiment.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 5, the instruction set according to the embodiment may be configured to include a collection unit (121), a calculation unit (122), a judgment unit (123), and an output unit (124). In addition, the processor (130) may perform the operations of the collection unit (121), the calculation unit (122), the judgment unit (123), and the output unit (124) described below, or control the operations of the collection unit (121), the calculation unit (122), the judgment unit (123), and the output unit (124).

[0065] The term "part" as used herein should be interpreted to include software, hardware, or a combination thereof, depending on the context in which the term is used. For example, software may be machine language, firmware, embedded code, and application software. As another example, hardware may be a circuit, a processor, a computer, an integrated circuit, an integrated circuit core, a sensor, a MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System), a passive device, or a combination thereof. Additionally, in embodiments, the instruction set may be provided to another computing device as Software as a Service (SaaS).

[0066] The collection unit (121) collects data sensed by transducers attached to the mother's abdomen and perineum. For example, the collection unit (121) can collect fetal heart signals and skull information. Heart signals, including fetal heart sounds, are collected from the transducer attached to the abdomen, and skull information is collected from the transducer attached to the perineum.

[0067] The output unit (122) receives the sensing data collected from the collection unit (121), extracts the center frequency and bandwidth based on the fetal heart signal, and filters out noise to recognize the fetal heart sound. The output unit (122) distinguishes the ultrasound signal reflected from the fetal heart from the collected signal, and then confirms the fetal heartbeat by analyzing the ultrasound Doppler signal or M-mode signal according to the signal intensity.

[0068] To this end, the output unit (122) extracts a center frequency. Since the fetal heart sound is generated at a constant frequency, the output unit (122) extracts a preset center frequency. Thereafter, the output unit (122) extracts a bandwidth. In an embodiment, the bandwidth is a frequency range in which the fetal heart sound signal is spread. In an embodiment, the output unit (122) may extract a preset bandwidth according to a heart sound database. In an embodiment, the output unit (122) determines the frequency range of the fetal heart sound signal through the center frequency and bandwidth extraction. Thereafter, the output unit (122) filters out noise to remove noise and isolate an accurate fetal heart sound, since the collected data may include ambient noise. In an embodiment, the output unit (122) more accurately recognizes the fetal heart sound and identifies the fetal heart rate and heart sound characteristics through bandwidth extraction and noise filtering.

[0069] Additionally, the output unit (122) measures the position of the fetal heart based on the position of the transducer attached to the mother's abdomen using fetal heart sounds and ultrasound signals.

[0070] To this end, the output unit (122) first sets the position of the ultrasound transducer as the reference position. Thereafter, the output unit (122) determines the heart position based on the fetal heart scanning results obtained from the transducer. Thereafter, the output unit (122) measures the distance change between the heart position and the transducer, which is the reference position, and calculates the calculated distance change as the rate of change in the fetal heart position.

[0071] The judgment unit (123) receives the rate of change in the position of the fetal heart from the output unit (122) and determines the state of labor based on the rate of change in the position of the fetal heart.

[0072] In an embodiment, the judgment unit (123) may determine the state of labor as rapid labor if the rate of change in the position of the fetal heart is greater than a predetermined rate, and may determine it as dystocia if the rate of change in the position of the fetal heart is less than a predetermined rate.

[0073] In addition, the output unit (122) measures the positional relationship between the fetal skull and the mother's perineum based on the skull information obtained from the ultrasound transducer mounted on the mother's perineum. For example, the output unit (122) calculates the skull descent of the fetus using the positional relationship between the fetal skull and the mother's perineum. In an embodiment, the skull descent can be calculated as the position from the mother's perineum to the advanced part of the skull, etc. Thereafter, in the embodiment, the determination unit (123) determines the state of labor based on the measured positional relationship and the skull. For example, the determination unit (123) can determine the state of labor as rapid labor when the change speed of the positional relationship between the fetal skull and the mother's perineum is higher than a predetermined speed, and can determine it as dystocia when the change speed of the positional relationship is lower than a predetermined speed.

[0074] In addition, the judgment unit (123) calculates weights for each of the fetal heart information and skull information according to the position of the fetus and the elapsed time of delivery. Thereafter, the judgment unit (123) applies the calculated weights to each piece of information and determines the state of delivery based on the fetal heart information and skull information to which the weights have been applied. In an embodiment, the judgment unit (123) can divide the state of delivery into the first half, middle half, and second half using the fetal heart position and skull information, and can determine the state of delivery by reflecting the weights matched in advance to the divided stages. In the first half, the weight set for the fetal heart information is greater than the weight set for the skull information, and in the second half, the weight set for the fetal skull information is greater than the weight set for the fetal heart information.

[0075] In addition, the judgment unit (123) can apply a certain level of weight to the fetal heart information in the early stage of labor, and increase the weight of the skull information as the expected time of delivery approaches. To this end, the judgment unit (123) can periodically calculate the expected time of delivery when the baby is delivered based on the start time of the first labor, the heart information, and the skull information, and can adjust the weight of the skull information based on the difference between the calculated expected time of delivery and the current time. In an embodiment, when the difference between the current time and the expected time of delivery is less than a certain level, the weight of the skull information can be adjusted to half or more. In addition, in an embodiment, the weight of the skull information can be adjusted with a preset weight within the range of the difference between the current time and the expected time of delivery.

[0076] Additionally, in the embodiment, the judgment unit (123) determines an emergency situation based on information obtained from the transducer. For example, if the fetal heartbeat is tachycardic or slowed, it is determined to be an emergency situation. Furthermore, if a fetal part is not properly positioned or tied within the chest or pelvis, it is determined to be an emergency situation. If bleeding is detected during labor, it can be determined to be an emergency situation.

[0077] The output unit (124) outputs the fetal image generated by the transducer and the labor progress status. In an embodiment, the labor progress status may include the size of the fetus, the position of the fetal heart, the contour of the fetus, whether or not there is a difficult labor, the stage of labor progress, etc. The output unit (124) may output the fetal image generated by the ultrasound transducer and the labor progress status together. That is, the present disclosure can identify the position information of the fetus using a single-element ultrasound transducer and then display it through a fetal rendering image.

[0078] Below, the methods are described in order. Since the operation (function) of the method according to the embodiment is essentially the same as the function of the system, any description overlapping with that in FIGS. 1 to 5 will be omitted.

[0079] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the process of determining the progress of labor of a wearable ultrasound system for monitoring the progress of labor according to an embodiment.

[0080] Referring to FIG. 6, the processor (130) collects the heart signal and skull information of the fetus from the ultrasound transducer in the labor progress monitoring device at step S100, and analyzes the heart signal and skull information of the fetus collected from the ultrasound transducer at step S200 to determine the labor progress status. The processor (130) outputs the labor progress status from the labor progress monitoring device at step S300. In an embodiment, the labor progress status may include the size of the fetus, the position of the fetus' heart, the contour of the fetus, whether or not difficult labor has occurred, and the labor progress stage.

[0081] In an embodiment, ultrasound transducers are attached to at least four points, the four points including three points on the mother's abdomen and one point on the perineum, and at least three ultrasound transducers mounted on the mother's abdomen sense heart signals of the fetus, and one ultrasound transducer mounted on the perineum senses skull information. In an embodiment, the heart signals of the fetus may include heart sounds and heartbeats per minute, and the skull information may include the distance from the perineum to the skull.

[0082] The processor (130) can extract the center frequency and bandwidth based on the fetal heart signal acquired in step S200 and filter out noise to recognize the fetal heart sound. Thereafter, the processor (130) measures the position of the fetal heart based on the position of the transducer mounted on the mother's abdomen using the fetal heart sound and ultrasound signal.

[0083] Additionally, the processor (130) determines the state of labor based on at least one of the fetal heart position and the rate of change in the heart position at step S200. For example, if the rate of change in the fetal heart position is greater than a predetermined rate, the processor (130) may determine the state of labor as rapid labor, and if the rate of change in the fetal heart position is less than the predetermined rate, the processor (130) may determine the state as dystocia.

[0084] In addition, the processor (130) measures the positional relationship between the fetal skull and the mother's perineum based on the skull information obtained from the ultrasound transducer mounted on the mother's perineum in step S200, and determines the state of labor based on the measured positional relationship. For example, the processor (130) may determine the state of labor as rapid labor if the speed of change in the positional relationship between the fetal skull and the mother's perineum is higher than a predetermined speed, and may determine it as dystocia if the speed of change in the positional relationship is lower than the predetermined speed.

[0085] In addition, the processor (130) may apply weights to each of the fetal heart information and skull information according to the position of the fetus and the elapsed time of delivery at step S200, and may determine the state of delivery based on the fetal heart information and skull information to which the weights have been applied. For example, the processor (130) may apply a certain level or more of weight to the fetal heart information in the early stages of delivery, and increase the weight of the skull information as the expected time of delivery approaches.

[0086] Figure 7 is a drawing showing a wearable ultrasound system for monitoring the progress of labor in an embodiment.

[0087] Referring to FIG. 7, a wearable ultrasound system for monitoring labor progress according to an embodiment may be configured to include an ultrasound transducer (200), a labor progress monitoring device (100), and a maternal terminal (300). In an embodiment, the maternal terminal (300) visualizes information acquired through the monitoring device (200) and outputs it based on an application. In an embodiment, the maternal terminal (300) outputs labor progress status and guide information collected from the labor progress monitoring device through an application. In an embodiment, the guide information is information on instructions that the mother must follow, such as pushing and breathing, during the labor progress status. In addition, in an embodiment, the guide information may further include information on the labor progress status. For example, information on the process of early, middle, and late labor, and characteristics of the process, etc. may be provided as guide information. In an embodiment, the maternal terminal (300) extracts guide information matched in advance to the labor progress status and outputs the guide information and the labor progress status. Through this, the process of childbirth, such as pushing according to the instructions of medical staff, is made easy for the mother to access and perform information, allowing the childbirth process to proceed with the mother at the center.

[0088] A wearable ultrasound system for monitoring labor progress and a method for judging labor progress according to an embodiment can monitor the labor situation on behalf of medical personnel, thereby more objectively evaluating the labor process and accurately judging the labor progress.

[0089] Through examples, we provide an innovative medical solution that can ensure the safety of the mother and the health of the fetus by providing real-time information on the progress of labor to the mother and medical staff, enabling them to respond quickly to emergency situations that may arise during labor.

[0090] Additionally, it can monitor all stages of labor to replace the insufficient obstetric staff and notify medical staff at the most necessary moments, allowing for efficient staff allocation and contributing greatly to ensuring the safety of the mother and fetus.

[0091] Additionally, the mother can share the objective progress of labor and become the main agent of the labor process.

[0092] Additionally, by minimizing the number of internal examinations performed by medical staff to determine the progress of labor, both the mother's pain and the risk of postpartum infection can be reduced.

[0093] Meanwhile, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in the form of a recording medium storing computer-executable instructions. The instructions may be stored in the form of program code, and when executed by a processor, may generate program modules to perform the operations of the disclosed embodiments. The recording medium may be implemented as a computer-readable recording medium.

[0094] Computer-readable storage media include all types of storage media that store instructions that can be deciphered by a computer. Examples include read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic tape, magnetic disks, flash memory, and optical data storage devices.

[0095] The disclosed embodiments have been described with reference to the attached drawings as described above. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure can be implemented in forms other than the disclosed embodiments without altering the technical spirit or essential features of the present disclosure. The disclosed embodiments are illustrative and should not be construed as limiting.

Claims

1. In a wearable ultrasound system for monitoring labor progress, An ultrasound transducer mounted on the mother's abdomen and perineum to sense the fetus's heart signals and skull information; and A wearable ultrasound system for monitoring the progress of labor, comprising: a memory storing at least one command; and a processor, wherein the at least one command is executed by the processor, thereby analyzing the heart signal and skull information of the fetus collected from the ultrasound transducer to determine the progress of labor.

2. In paragraph 1, The above ultrasonic transducer is attached to at least four points, A wearable ultrasound system for monitoring the progress of labor, characterized in that the at least four points include three points on the mother's abdomen and one point on the perineum.

3. In paragraph 2, Three or more ultrasound transducers mounted on the mother's abdomen sense the heart signals of the fetus, One ultrasound transducer mounted on the perineum senses skull information, The above fetal heart signals include heart sounds, heart rate per minute, A wearable ultrasound system for monitoring labor progress, characterized in that the skull information includes the distance from the perineum to the skull visible from the perineum.

4. In paragraph 2, The mounting position of the above ultrasonic transducer is determined according to the specifications of the above ultrasonic transducer. A wearable ultrasound system for monitoring labor progress, characterized in that the specifications of the above ultrasonic transducer include frequency, number of sensors, diameter, array size, ultrasonic waveform, and ultrasonic wave velocity.

5. In the first paragraph, the delivery progress monitoring device, A wearable ultrasound system for monitoring the progress of labor, characterized in that it extracts a center frequency and bandwidth based on the acquired fetal heart signal and recognizes a fetal heart sound by filtering out noise.

6. In paragraph 5, the delivery progress monitoring device, A wearable ultrasound system for monitoring the progress of labor, characterized in that it measures the heart position of the fetus based on the position of the ultrasound transducer mounted on the abdomen of the mother using the fetal heart sound and ultrasound signals.

7. In paragraph 6, the delivery progress monitoring device, A wearable ultrasound system for monitoring the progress of labor, characterized in that it determines the state of labor based on the position of the fetal heart and the rate of change in the position of the heart.

8. In the 7th paragraph, the delivery progress monitoring device, If the rate of change in the heart position of the fetus is greater than a predetermined rate, the state of labor is judged to be rapid labor. A wearable ultrasound system for monitoring the progress of labor, characterized in that if the change in the position of the fetal heart is less than the predetermined speed, it is determined that dystocia has occurred.

9. In the first paragraph, the delivery progress monitoring device, Based on the skull information obtained from the ultrasound transducer mounted on the perineum of the mother, the positional relationship between the skull of the fetus and the perineum of the mother is measured. A wearable ultrasound system for monitoring labor progress, characterized in that the state of labor is determined based on the measured positional relationship.

10. In the 9th paragraph, the delivery progress monitoring device, If the rate of change in the positional relationship between the skull of the fetus and the perineum of the mother is greater than a predetermined rate, the state of labor is judged to be rapid labor. A wearable ultrasound system for monitoring the progress of labor, characterized in that it determines dystocia when the speed of change in the positional relationship is less than the predetermined speed.

11. In the first paragraph, the delivery progress monitoring device, According to the position of the fetus and the time elapsed after delivery, weights are applied to each of the fetus' heart information and skull information, A wearable ultrasound system for monitoring labor progress, characterized in that the state of labor is determined based on the heart information and skull information of the fetus to which the above weights are applied.

12. In the 11th paragraph, the delivery progress monitoring device, A wearable ultrasound system for monitoring the progress of labor, characterized in that a certain level of weight is applied to the heart information of the fetus in the early stage of labor, and the weight of the skull information is increased as the expected time of labor approaches.

13. In the first paragraph, the delivery progress monitoring device, A wearable ultrasound system for monitoring labor progress, characterized by outputting labor progress status including fetal size, fetal heart position, fetal contour, dystocia, and labor progress stage.

14. A method for judging the progress of labor using a wearable ultrasound system including an ultrasound transducer and a labor progress monitoring device. A step of sensing the heart signal and skull information of the fetus by mounting the ultrasound transducer on the mother's abdomen and perineum; A step for analyzing the fetal heart signal and skull information collected from the ultrasound transducer in the above labor progress monitoring device to determine the labor progress status; and A method for determining the progress of labor, comprising: a step of outputting the progress of labor from the above-mentioned progress monitoring device;

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