Abstract: A fetal probe has an inflatable sac (24) which wedges between the presenting fetal part and maternal tissue to hold a fetal sensor in position. The fetal probe is short enough (10-20 cm) to enable insertion with the amniotic membrane intact. A passage extends through the probe to facilitate intrauterine pressure measurements or amniotomy.

Abstract: A fetal pulse oximetry sensor device containing a pulse oximetry sensor is disclosed. The device also includes a spiral for fetal attachment. One or both of the light emitting portion and light detecting portion of the pulse oximetry sensor is spring biased to be moveable with respect to the body of the device. Alternatively, the light emitting portion and light detecting portion may be mounted within the housing of the device, with the housing being spring biased towards the fetal skin. In this manner, the pulse oximetry sensor is maintained in intimate contact with the fetal tissue. This provides for accurate oximetry measurements since the errors due to the detection of unattenuated or non-absorbed light passing directly from the light emitter to the light detector, are significantly reduced. The fetal attachment spiral may also include a fetal EKG electrode, in which case the device may be used as both a fetal pulse oximeter and a fetal heart rate monitor.

Abstract: A connector attached to an end of a twisted wire pair, whose other end has fetal and maternal electrodes. A driving tube is removed from the twisted wire pair by pulling a drive handle and driving tube over the connector. The outer diameter of the connector is smaller than the inner diameter of the driving tube. After the connector is free, it is inserted into a housing of a leg plate, which electrically interconnects terminals of the connector and thereby the electrodes with a remote monitoring device. The housing has finger grips to help hold the housing during the insertion of the connector. The leg plate also has a base which is held in position against a mother's leg and has a ground electrode which is also electrically interconnected with the device. The housing is rotatable relative to the base.

Abstract: An alert system continuously monitors the heartbeat rate of a fetus and pressure in the maternal uterus and from this information measures parameters indicative of the condition of the fetus including heart rate, heart rate variability, heart rate deceleration, and uterine pressure, both steady state and peak. The measured parameters are compared with corresponding outer limits of acceptability and when those limits are exceeded the system alerts, sounding an audio alarm and actuating an appropriate indicator lamp which identifies the condition parameter that has transcended its assigned tolerance for more than a permissible time period.

Abstract: An improved electrode system for monitoring fetal heartbeat includes a curved guide tube adapted to be inserted through the vagina and cervix of a woman in labor, a retaining coil mounted on a holder member which is slidably disposed in the guide tube, a flexible driving tube adapted to rotate the holder member to screw the retaining coil into a fetal epidermis and two spaced electrodes which are adapted to be electrically connected to a suitable apparatus for monitoring fetal heartbeat. In the first disclosed embodiment of the invention one of the electrodes is a pointed member mounted in the holder which mounts the retaining coil. The retaining coil, when screwed into the fetal epidermis, maintains the pointed first electrode in piercing engagement with the fetus. In the second disclosed embodiment the retaining coil and the first electrode are one and the same structure, i.e., the first electrode is in the form of a coil which is adapted to screw into the fetal epidermis.