Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring fetal positions and fetal movements is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of sensors, a signal pre-processor, a signal post-processor, and a fetal position judging processor. The sensors are attached on the abdomen of a maternal body to provide at least three measuring leads. The signal pre-processor receives a plurality of sensing signals from the sensors, and the signal pre-processor reduces noises in the sensing signals and amplifies the sensing signals to output a plurality of characteristic sensing signals. The signal post-processor receives the characteristic sensing signals from the signal pre-processor and separates out a plurality of fetal electrocardiograms (FECGs) corresponding to the leads. The fetal position judging processor analyzes the FECGs to obtain a characteristic waveform for each of the FECGs or directly calculates a fetal heart axis vector with respect to a front-side coordinate of the maternal body according to the FECGs.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a simple, passive splinting system for sternotomy patients designed to provide a continuous yet readily adjustable, compressive tangential stabilizing force to the ribcage so as to promote healing of a median sternotomy incision while minimizing patient pain.

Abstract: The present invention facilitates the detection of an occurrence of a physiological action imparting a displacement to a body part at a natural frequency signature by virtue of a bio-filter pad including a viscoelastic interior for intimate juxtapositioning against the body part, and having a mechanical resonance frequency midway in the range of the frequency signature associated with the physiological action.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a brain wave response of a fetus in utero, comprises removably connecting an auditory transducer, including at least one biosensor electrode, producing pulsed auditory sounds to a mother's abdomen to detect brain wave activity in a fetus. The transducer is pulsed with one of rectangular waves and tone pips of a selected frequency to emit pulsed audible sounds at predetermined times. The at least one biosensor electrode, including connected amplifier, detects brain stem auditory responses (BAER) of the fetus. For each pulsed audible sound a series of voltage oscillations corresponding to BAER of the fetus are time-locked to the corresponding audible sound. BAER analog output is converted to BAER digital data. A computer-based QEEG (Quantitative EEG) system improves a signal to noise ratio of the BAER digital data using an adaptive optimum filtering algorithm and analyzes the BAER digital data relative to a reference database.

Abstract: A telemetric system for fetal health, which receives data of a pregnant woman or a fetus of the pregnant woman, analyzes the received data and reporting a diagnosis result in order to make a diagnosis of fetal health without the pregnant woman calling on a hospital. The telemetric system for fetal care including a telemetric server for providing first analysis data by analyzing data a data offering client terminal having a data input unit on a communications network, a data diagnosis client receiving the source data from the telemetric server and generating a second analysis data or a final diagnosis result, the telemetric server receiving the second analysis data or the final diagnosis result form the data diagnosis client and transmitting the second analysis data or the final diagnosis result to a result report unit and a Web server managing unit for informing and displaying the second analysis data or the final diagnosis result.

Abstract: A method for the diagnosis of preterm labor, and in particular for distinguishing between false labor and true labor, which includes both prelabor and active labor, is disclosed. The onset of a contraction is determined and the change in value of the rapid ejection time (RET) is determined from the onset of the contraction to a point of time just below the peak intensity of the contraction. A level value of the RET as the contraction proceeds is indicative of false preterm labor. An increasing value of the RET is indicative of prelabor. A decreasing value of the RET is indicative of active labor. The cutaneous blood pressure pattern (cPP) of the patient, which should be concordant with the slope of the RET, can be used as a check on the reliability of the apparatus.

Abstract: A fetal monitor is provided for gathering characteristic data such as fetal electrocardiogram, temperature and intra-uterine pressure so that fetal health may be determined during intra-operative and postoperative periods. The fetal monitor comprises a remote sensing unit, the remote sensing unit containing sensors which continually sample fetal temperature and electrocardiogram. A transceiver is housed in the remote sensing unit and outputs the sampled fetal temperature and electrocardiogram signals to an external antenna. A monitoring station is provided for monitoring the fetal temperature and electrocardiogram signals from the antenna. Additionally, a pressure transducer may be housed in the remote sensing unit for continually sampling intra-uterine pressure. This intra-uterine pressure signal in combination with the above signals are utilized to determine fetal health or the onset and progress of parturition.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for noninvasively sensing parameters associated with the health of a fetus, the health of the placenta and the mother. The device includes a probe for inserting the sensor within the uterus of the mother, and the probe includes a flexible distal end portion having an independent inclination to assume an outward spiral curvature relative to the fetus. The probe has a transversely concave shaped channel to receive sensor cabling and control wires. The sensors can measure heart rate, oxygen saturation, temperature, chemical parameters, electroencephalogram activity and other useful parameters. The probe may also be used to infuse or remove fluid in the uterus.