The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 30, 1997
Filed:
Oct. 17, 1995
James Pettit, Landsdowne, CA;
Edward Dowd, Mallorytown, CA;
Richard A Clement, Stratford, NJ (US);
Cleatis A Eichelberger, Delran, NJ (US);
Kenard E Urion, Woodbury, NJ (US);
Graphic Controls Corporation, Buffalo, NY (US);
Abstract
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.