Other

John F Hofmeister

Donald G Ellis

This invention relates to a method for measuring uterine artery blood flow characterized by non-invasively positioning a transducer crystal capable of generating an ultrasonic signal within the vagina of a human female at the lateral aspect of the cervix underneath and in close proximity to the uterine artery, measuring the internal diameter of the artery by sweeping the transducer thereacross through an arc lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the flow of blood therethrough for the purpose of determining its cross section, redirecting the transducer along the artery at an acute angle opposing the direction of blood flow therethrough while impinging upon the latter a pulsed series of ultrasonic signals of known frequency, detecting the reflections of the pulsed signals and measuring the shift in the frequency of the reflections for the purpose of determining a mean velocity of the blood flowing through the artery by applying the Doppler Effect principle, and determining the blood flow volume based upon the aforesaid velocity and cross-sectional area measurements. The invention also encompasses the novel apparatus for measuring the internal diameter of the uterine artery and the velocity of the blood flowing therethrough which includes a cervical cup sized to fit the subject's cervix and define a stable platform for supporting the transducer in substantially fixed position underneath the artery, a transducer carrier mounted outside of the cup for movement relative thereto about at least one axis of rotational movement, and a remote actuator subassembly for shifting the position of the transducer located externally of the subject's body and operatively connected to the carrier through the vagina.

Method and apparatus for measuring uterine blood flow

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for directly detecting and monitoring uterine bio-electrical activity 'in vivo' characterized by an electrode carrier in the form of a cup shaped to conform to the patient's cervix and hold the electrodes contained therein in such intimate contact with the cervical tissue that an impedance match therebetween is established and maintained at a level of less than 10,000 ohms without the aid of suction. The invention is also characterized by non-invasive, broad-headed, low profile solderless electrodes. The invention is further characterized by the use of a multiple-electrode pattern containing at least three electrodes arranged such that separate and distinct current paths exist between each electrode and the others whereby discrete signals can be detected, monitored and charged. Additionally, the invention encompasses the novel method of measuring uterine electrical activity which comprises monitoring and recording the electrical potential along at least two discrete current paths simultaneously with reference to a common time base.

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Littleton, CO, United States of America

John F Hofmeister