Intrauterine Probe for Non-Pregnant Uterus Electrical Activity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

There is a lack of effective techniques for monitoring and characterizing uterine peristaltic activity in a non-pregnant uterus, which is essential for understanding menstrual cycle dynamics and potentially identifying optimal embryo implantation windows.

Innovation Solution

A probe system comprising an elongate member with a reference electrode, uterine internal orifice sensing electrode, and uterine cavity wall sensing electrodes is used to measure electrical activity inside the uterus, generating analog and digital data to analyze muscle contraction patterns and determine favorable implantation times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If surface electrodes are used for non-invasive monitoring, then patient comfort and safety are improved, but measurement precision and reliability of uterine activity data deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient safety and comfortVSAvoiduterine activity measurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intrauterine catheter as an intermediary device that can be inserted into the uterus to directly measure uterine activity. This mediator allows for precise measurement of uterine contractions and electrical activity without requiring direct attachment to the uterus, thus maintaining patient safety while significantly improving measurement precision compared to surface electrodes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical surface electrode system with an electrical sensing system embedded in an intrauterine catheter. This substitution enables direct electrical measurement of uterine activity through the catheter's sensors, providing superior measurement precision while maintaining non-invasive characteristics through proper catheter design and material selection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If no monitoring technique is used for non-pregnant uterus, then patient comfort is maintained, but loss of information regarding uterine peristaltic activity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient comfortVSAvoiduterine peristaltic activity information

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The intrauterine catheter serves as a mediator that enables information acquisition about uterine peristalsis without direct uterine instrumentation. The catheter's sensors detect electrical activity and mechanical contractions, transmitting this information externally while minimizing patient discomfort through proper design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the absence of monitoring with an electrical sensing system that can detect uterine peristaltic activity through the catheter. This substitution enables comprehensive information acquisition about uterine function while maintaining patient comfort through non-invasive catheter insertion and comfortable positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If multiple electrodes are positioned at specific locations, then measurement precision and characterization capability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical activity measurement precisionVSAvoidprobe structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple sensing functions into a single intrauterine catheter device. The catheter integrates reference electrodes, sensing electrodes, and positioning features into one unified structure, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the overall system while maintaining the ability to perform precise multi-point measurements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The intrauterine catheter is designed as a multi-functional device that can perform multiple measurement tasks simultaneously. It includes reference electrodes for electrical activity measurement, sensing electrodes for detecting uterine contractions, and structural features for proper positioning, all within a single device that simplifies operation and reduces complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system provides detailed insights into uterine muscle activity, enabling the identification of time windows with higher probabilities for embryo implantation, thereby improving assisted reproductive technologies.

Implementation Method 1

The reference (or tip) electrode, uterine wall cavity electrodes, and uterine internal orifice electrode are configured to sense electrical activity inside the uterine cavity area

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP4051114B1Probes and systems for measuring and/or characterizing uterine activity in a non-pregnant uterus

Publication Date: 2023.06.07 FUNDACION PARA LA INVESTIGACION HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO Y POLITECNICO LA FE DE LA COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA

Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3C
Figure 4

AI summary

Probes, methods and systems are provided for sensing electrical activity of a non-pregnant uterine muscle. Also, methods are provided for acquiring information of uterine activity in a non-pregnant uterus.