86 results about "Preterm delivery" patented technology

The present invention relates to methods and kits for reducing the occurrence of preterm delivery and other pregnancy-related conditions in pregnant female subjects exhibiting one or more risk factors for preterm delivery and other pregnancy-related conditions. For example, the present invention relates to methods for reducing the occurrence of preterm delivery in a pregnant female subject having no history of preterm delivery and exhibiting one or more risk factors for preterm delivery (e.g., smoking during pregnancy). The methods and kits provide for the administration of a steroid hormone to the pregnant female subject.

The present disclosure relates to biomarkers of preterm birth, biomarkers of term birth, and methods of use thereof. In particular, the present disclosure provides methods of determining whether a pregnant woman is at an increased risk for premature delivery. The present disclosure further provides methods for decreasing a pregnant woman's risk for premature delivery.

The invention relates to screening methods for determination of the risk of preterm delivery and/or pregnancy associated conditions. The methods involve detection of the level of one or more biomarkers in a biological sample from the patient. In particular, in embodiments of the invention there are provided methods for determining the risk of pre-eclampsia and other hypertensive disorders, and intrauterine growth retardation (IGUR).

The present invention relates to structured triglyceride, to parental nutrition emulsions comprising same, and use thereof. In particular, the invention relates to structured triglycerides comprising at least one medium chain C₆-C₁₂ fatty acid and at least one fatty acid selected from the group consisting of long chain C₁₄-C₁₈ or very long chain C₂₀-C₂₂ fatty acids, preferably each fatty acid is present in a predetermined position of the glycerol backbone. The parenteral nutrition emulsions are particularly useful for nourishing preterm-and term-infants, children, critically ill patients, and cancer patients.

Biomarkers have been discovered that are capable of identifying intra-amniotic inflammation. A single biomarker or combination of biomarkers can be used to qualify the risk of preterm delivery in a patient, provided that at least one of the biomarkers is a calgranulin, preferably calgranulin A or C. The result is a rapid and reliable proteotmic approach to identifying intra-amniotic inflammation. In particular, the concentrations of the biomarkers correlate with the magnitude of intra-amniotic inflammation and, hence, of preterm delivery.

The present disclosure relates to biomarkers of preterm birth, biomarkers of term birth, and methods of use thereof. In particular, the present disclosure provides methods of determining whether a pregnant woman is at an increased risk for premature delivery. The present disclosure further provides methods for decreasing a pregnant woman's risk for premature delivery.

An apparatus for assessing the risk of preterm delivery and the success of induction of labor at term uses a steered ultrasound beam to assess microstructure of the cervix revealed by backscatter power attenuation at a range of angles. It is believed that objective and precise description of cervical microstructure will reveal stage of cervical remodeling an as such may reveal risk of preterm delivery and/or success of labor induction. The backscatter power loss can be combined with elasticity measurements to provide a more precise indication of tissue structure.

The present invention relates to methods and kits useful for predicting the time of onset of labour in a pregnant subject. In particular, the invention relates to methods and kits for predicting the time of onset of labour wherein the levels of at least two hormones, selected from estriol, estradiol and progesterone, are determined and a ratio of said levels is calculated, and wherein the time of onset of labour is predicted by comparison of said ratio with a predetermined ratio. The invention further contemplates methods for preventing preterm delivery of an infant/offspring.

The present invention is directed to an all-fiber-optic scanning endomicroscope capable of high-resolution second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging of biological tissues. The endomicroscope has an overall 2.0 mm diameter and consists of a single customized double-clad fiber, a compact rapid two-dimensional beam scanner, and a miniature compound objective lens for excitation beam delivery, scanning, focusing, and efficient SHG signal collection. Endomicroscopic SHG images of murine cervical tissue sections at different stages of normal pregnancy reveal progressive, quantifiable changes in cervical collagen morphology with resolution similar to that of bench-top SHG microscopy. A device according to an embodiment of the present invention can also be used to assess other pathologies, such as cancer. fibrosis, and inflammation. The present invention allows for diagnosis, monitoring of the effect of therapeutics, and surgical or interventional guidance. The present invention enables visualization of histology in-vivo, in the patient, and is label-free.

This invention is about a method for the prenatal diagnosis of preterm delivery, fetal infection, and fetal damage, and diagnostic reagent system and diagnostic kit for the diagnosis. The method, diagnostic reagent system, and kit are based on the finding that the level of MMP-8 in the amniotic fluid is significantly higher when the pregnant woman is at risk for preterm delivery, intrauterine infection, and fetal damage. The diagnostic reagent system and kit can be applied to patients with or without clinical signs of preterm labor or premature rupture of fetal membranes. With its superiority in sensitivity and specificity as well as its less invasiveness compared to the conventional method of measuring fetal blood cytokine levels, this diagnostic reagent system and kit is very useful in the prenatal diagnosis of preterm delivery, fetal infection, and fetal damage.

Methods to compute gestational age and gestational health and applications thereof are described. Generally, systems utilize analyte measurements to determine a gestational age and gestational health, which can be used as a basis to perform interventions and treat individuals.

The invention is directed to methods and compositions of matter for predicting the risk of preterm birth (PTB) in a subject and administering interventions to subjects at elevated risk of PTB. The inventions provide a convenient, non-invasive, and accurate means of assessing PTB risk in a subject, and further provide a means of treating subjects in need of treatment and selecting appropriate interventions to reduce such risk. The diagnostic tools include novel panels of biomarkers and other factors which can be used to accurately predict risk of PTB across a population, wherein elevated risk is due to a variety of underlying physiological pathways and processes. In another aspect, the scope of the invention encompasses assay kits which are useful in the fast, accurate, and inexpensive prediction of PTB risk by multiplexed measurement of PTB risk factors.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, a system and method for controlling uterine contractions is disclosed including receiving data from at least one sensor by a wireless apparatus inserted into the patient's vagina adjacent the cervix. The data includes an indication that a contraction of the uterus is imminent. The method further includes in response to receiving the data, causing a generator circuit of the wireless apparatus to supply electrical energy to an energy applicator of the wireless apparatus that is configured to apply the supplied electrical energy to the uterus of the patient via the cervix of the patient to control contractions of the patient's uterus.

Methods and system are described for multi-modal, multi-parametric, non-invasive, and real-time assessment of cervical tissue through a multi-modal probe device for use within a vaginal canal and an associated imaging system to assess a risk of preterm delivery of an expectant mother. The multi-modal system may include ultrasound (US) imaging, viscoelastic (VE) imaging, and/or photoacoustic (PA) imaging of the cervical issue to determine cervical biomarker information indicative of parameters including, but not limited to, a collagen to water ratio such that a more water dominant ratio is indicative of a risk of preterm delivery.

System and method for assessing preterm delivery risk for pregnant subject is disclosed. Existing preterm delivery risk assessment methods provide results in late second or third trimester of pregnancy, so little time is available for medical advice. Presently disclosed method and system predict preterm delivery risk within 15 weeks of pregnancy. Microbiome characterization data obtained from microbiome sample from pregnant subject. 'Microbial taxonomic abundance profile' generated from microbiome characterization data, contains abundance values of microbes present in the microbiome sample. 'Taxonomic Composition Skew' value, and distribution characteristic value for 'microbial taxonomic abundance profile', quantifying biases in abundance values of microbes from the microbial taxonomic abundance profile, is computed. Risk of preterm delivery is determined based on the distribution characteristic value or 'taxonomic composition skew' value of the set DSR, wherein the set DSR comprises values quantifying biases in the abundance values of microbes from the microbiome sample.