Intravaginal Guide Wire Apparatus for Real-Time Fetal Descent Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Childbirth under regional anesthesia reduces natural maternal expulsive efforts, prolonging labor and increasing morbidity due to the lack of sensory feedback, and frequent vaginal examinations pose health risks and time burdens.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus that monitors fetal descent and velocity within the birth canal, providing real-time feedback to mothers through visual, auditory, or tactile means, allowing them to adjust their pushing efforts effectively without requiring digital vaginal examinations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If regional anesthesia is used during labor, then pain is reduced, but natural maternal expulsive efforts are inhibited and labor is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus provides real-time feedback to the mother about fetal descent and her pushing effectiveness through visual, auditory, or tactile signals. This feedback loop restores the natural sensory feedback that is blocked by regional anesthesia, enabling her to adjust her expulsive efforts appropriately and maintain effective labor progression despite pain medication.
2Loss of information
If frequent vaginal examinations are performed to provide feedback, then maternal expulsive efforts can be coached, but health risks and tissue trauma increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/digital vaginal examination method with an optical or electromagnetic sensing system. The apparatus uses sensors (such as optical sensors or RFID tags) to detect fetal position and descent non-invasively or minimally invasively, eliminating the need for repeated digital examinations while continuing to provide real-time feedback on fetal progress.
3Loss of information
If digital vaginal examinations are used for coaching, then immediate feedback on fetal position is obtained, but time burden on delivery staff increases
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus enables the system to monitor and provide feedback automatically without requiring continuous manual intervention by delivery staff. Once the apparatus is in place, it autonomously tracks fetal descent and provides real-time feedback to the mother, freeing delivery staff from the need to perform frequent manual examinations while maintaining continuous monitoring.
4Measurement precision
If constant monitoring of fetal descent is implemented, then effective pushing feedback is provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the monitoring function from complex continuous manual assessment and isolates it into a dedicated, simple apparatus. The device uses a minimal set of components (such as a single optical sensor or RFID reader) to specifically measure fetal descent, separating this function from other labor monitoring tasks and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Data Source
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AI summary
Aspects of an apparatus and method for detecting movement of an object includes a base and a projection member extending between a first second ends, wherein the first end is attached to the base. Further included is a support member at the second end of the projection member, and a guide wire carried by the support member and having a substantially fixed length, wherein the guide wire is movable between a first position and a second position in conjunction with movement of an object. Also included is a sensor located a substantially fixed distance along a path of the guide wire from the support member, wherein the sensor detects movement of the guide wire between the first second positions. Additionally included is a feedback unit in communication with the sensor, wherein the feedback unit is configured to generate feedback corresponding to the detected movement.