Patent US4967761A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4967761A
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Method of monitoring labor
Assignee: NATHANIELSZ PETER W
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Filing: 1988-07-20
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Granted: 1990-11-06
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Expires: 2008-07-20
Abstract
Abstract A method of characterizing pregnant female myometrial activity to distinguish between myometrial activity predictive of term or preterm labor and of contractures, which method comprises: (a) sensing discrete epochs of myometrial contractility and producing signals representing said discrete epochs; (b) storing said epoch representing signals; (c) determining characteristic repetitive frequencies of said signals and thereby determining whether the myometrial activity being characterized is predictive of term or preterm labor.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter W. Nathanielsz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/24; A61B5/316; A61B5/389; A61B5/391; A61B5/43; A61B5/4306; A61B5/4343; A61B5/4356; A61B5/72; A61B5/7235; A61B5/7253; A61B5/7257
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of characterizing pregnant female myometrial activity to distinguish between myometrial activity predictive of term or preterm labor and of contractures, which method comprises: (a) sensing discrete epochs of myometrial contractility and producing signals representing said discrete epochs; (b) storing said epoch representing signals; (c) determining characteristic repetitive frequencies of said signals and thereby determining whether the myometrial activity being characterized is predictive of term or preterm labor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of characterizing pregnant female myometrial activity to distinguish between myometrial activity predictive of term or preterm labor and of contractures, which method comprises: (a) sensing discrete epochs of myometrial contractility and producing signals representing said discrete epochs; (b) storing said epoch representing signals; (c) determining characteristic repetitive frequencies of said signals and thereby determining whether the myometrial activity being characterized is predictive of term or preterm labor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in claim 1 where the sensing senses at least one of intrauterine pressure or electromyographic activity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as in claim 1 where the characteristic frequencies are determined using Fast Fourier Transform.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as in claim 3 where the characteristic sequences are determined using Power Spectrum Analysis in conjunction with Fast Fourier Transform.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 where the activity predictive of term or preterm labor is demonstrated at between about 0.2 and about 0.8 cycles.min -1 .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-11-05 | 1994-05-07 | 1994-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-11-05 | 1998-05-07 | 1998-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-11-05 | 2002-05-07 | 2002-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |