Self-Inserted Cervical Device for At-Home Labor Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing labor detection methods require clinical evaluation, which is inaccessible to many women, especially in remote areas, and suffer from subjective assessments and lack of real-time monitoring, making it difficult to detect preterm labor accurately and timely.
Innovation Solution
A disposable cervical device with a miniature camera, ultrasound patch, and sensor for Fetal Fibronectin detection, integrated with a smartphone app, allows self-assessment of cervical dilation, fetal heart rate, and Fetal Fibronectin presence, providing real-time labor onset indication and risk assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If clinical evaluation methods are used for labor detection, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring healthcare facility visits and professional assessment
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables pregnant women to perform self-assessment of cervical dilation and Fetal Fibronectin detection at home using a disposable cervical device, eliminating the need for healthcare facility visits while maintaining diagnostic accuracy through automated measurements and smartphone app analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces manual clinical examination with automated sensing technologies including a miniature camera for visual assessment, ultrasound patch for fetal heart rate monitoring, and chemical sensors for Fetal Fibronectin detection, transitioning from mechanical/professional assessment to automated electronic measurement
2Reliability
If traditional clinical methods are used, then reliability of labor assessment is improved, but loss of time increases due to lack of real-time monitoring capability
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous real-time monitoring of labor progression through repeated home assessments using the disposable cervical device and smartphone app, allowing pregnant women to track cervical dilation and Fetal Fibronectin levels over time without interruption or delay
Solution Approach 2:
The smartphone app provides immediate feedback by analyzing data from the cervical device and notifying users of labor onset or preterm labor risk in real-time, enabling rapid response and timely medical intervention without waiting for scheduled clinical visits
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive diagnostic tools are deployed, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases requiring multiple clinical instruments
Solution Approach 1:
The invention integrates multiple diagnostic functions including cervical dilation measurement, Fetal Fibronectin detection, and fetal heart rate monitoring into a single disposable cervical device that can be self-inserted and read via smartphone app, simplifying the system while maintaining comprehensive assessment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable cervical device serves multiple diagnostic purposes simultaneously - visualizing cervical dilation, detecting Fetal Fibronectin presence, and monitoring fetal heart rate - making it a universal tool for comprehensive labor assessment that replaces multiple specialized clinical instruments
4Measurement precision
If invasive clinical examinations are performed, then measurement precision is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to patient discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a disposable cervical device that is self-inserted and discarded after single use, eliminating the discomfort and infection risk associated with repeated invasive examinations while maintaining measurement accuracy through automated sensing and imaging technologies
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
Enables early and reliable detection of labor onset, reducing unnecessary hospital visits, improving prenatal care by empowering expectant mothers with tools for monitoring labor progression at home, thus enhancing maternal and fetal safety.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasound patch to measure the cervical length and detect the Fetal Heart rate
Implementation Method 2
a sensor to detect the presence of Fetal Fibronectin (fFN) in cervical secretions
Data Source
AI summary
A system for detecting the onset of labor in a pregnant woman. The system includes a disposable cervical device configured to be self-inserted by the pregnant woman, the cervical device measures attributes of a cervix of the pregnant woman, and a smartphone application configured to receive data from the cervical device and to provide an indication of immediate onset of labor or risk of onset of labor within a predetermined time frame.