Graphic Controls Corporation

Ludlow Company LP

Tyco Healthcare Group LP

Edward Dowd

Cleatis A Eichelberger

James R Hubbard

David M DiSabito

Joseph O'Neill

James Francis McIntire

Kenard E Urion

Brian Erik Haug

Robert J Graumann

Richard A Clement

Joseph T O'Neill

James Pettit

Joseph O'neill

David M Disabito

A fetal electrode sleeve and wire interconnect system for transmitting signals indicative of fetal heart rate from a fetus inside a mother through a cable to a monitor external to the mother. The system includes a holder having a fetal spiral electrode on one end and a maternal reference electrode on its opposite end. A safety cap has a retention groove, a grip, a tip with a recessed end opposite the grip, and a conductive sleeve. The conductive sleeve has a first end enclosed by the grip, a second end enclosed by the tip, and an intermediate exposed portion enclosed by neither the grip nor the tip. A twisted wire strand including a pair of insulated wires each having a first end and a second end, the first ends of the wires respectively connected to the fetal electrode and the maternal reference electrode, the second end of one wire attached to the first end of the conductive sleeve and the other wire being disposed inside the conductive sleeve, extending beyond the second end of the conductive sleeve, and terminating at its second end as a bare and exposed wire at the recessed end of the tip so that the second end of the wire is protected. A housing receives the safety cap and facilitates electrical connection between the wires and the cable.

Fetal spiral electrode sleeve and wire interconnect system

A fetal electrode product for transmitting signals indicative of fetal heart rate from a fetus to a monitor. The product includes a slotted introducer which can be comfortably inserted through the cervix of the mother. A drive mechanism slides and rotates a holder--to which are attached, at opposite ends, a fetal spiral electrode (FSE) and a reference electrode--within the introducer to secure the FSE to the fetus. The solid drive mechanism has a drive rod, a handle on one end of the drive rod imparting translation and rotation to the drive rod, and a clutch on the opposite end of the drive rod imparting translation and rotation to the holder. The drive rod, handle, and clutch each have a channel transporting a twisted wire strand from the electrodes to a connector. The connector has an outside dimension greater than the inner diameter of the introducer to facilitate manipulation. The introducer cannot be pulled over the connector after the FSE is attached to the fetus; the wire strand exits the drive mechanism via its channel and the introducer through its longitudinal slot. A locking slit in the handle securely wedges the twisted wire strand in a fixed position before application of the FSE. A chamfer located at the intersection of the slot with the rearward end of the introducer also positions and helps wedge the twisted wire strand in a fixed position.

Fetal electrode product with easy-to-handle connector

A fetal electrode product for transmitting signals indicative of fetal heart rate from a fetus to a monitor. A drive mechanism slides and rotates a holder--to which are attached, at opposite ends, a fetal spiral electrode (FSE) and a reference electrode--to secure the FSE to the fetus. The drive mechanism has a solid drive rod, with at least two regions of different diameter defining the torque versus angular deflection characteristics of the drive rods and a clutch connected to the drive rod and imparting translation and rotation to the holder. The clutch is sufficiently pliable to slip over the reference electrode when the holder resists rotation. The drive rod, a handle, and the clutch are integrally molded together to form the drive mechanism and each has a channel transporting a twisted wire strand, which includes an untwisted length to facilitate removal of the FSE from the fetus, from the electrodes to a connector. The connector has an outside dimension greater than the outside diameter of the drive rod to facilitate handling and smaller than the inside diameter of an annular guide tube so that the guide tube can be pulled over the connector after the FSE is attached to the fetus. The connector also has a plug and grip sized to provide a visual indication of full insertion of the plug into the socket opening of a support plate affixed to the mother and electrically connected to the monitor.

Fetal electrode product with channeled drive mechanism and improved

A packaging system for a fetal electrode assembly. The assembly includes an electrode which can be attached to a fetus. The electrode is coupled to an electrode wire. The electrode wire extends through a drive tube and terminates in a connector end. A flexible guide tube receives the drive tube. The packaging system includes a handle and a clip. The handle is attached to the rearward end of the drive tube. The handle has a forward section which detachably mounts inside the rearward end of the guide tube. The handle also has a passage for receiving the connector end and a slot for securing the electrode wire when the electrode is not in use. The electrode projects from the forward end of the guide tube when the forward section of the handle is mounted inside the rearward end of the guide tube. The clip has a head mounted to the handle and a tail which is wedged between the rearward end of the guide tube and the rearward end of the drive tube to secure the handle when the forward section of the handle is not mounted inside the rearward end of the guide tube. The electrode is retracted into and protected by the guide tube when the handle is secured by the clip.

Packaging system for a fetal electrode

Growing community of inventors

Mallorytown, Canada

Edward Dowd