US5623939A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for analyzing uterine electrical activity from surface measurements for obstetrical diagnosis
Assignee: The University of Texas System
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Filing: 1995-06-07
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Granted: 1997-04-29
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Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus is presented for recording uterine electrical activity from the surface of the abdomen or vagina for the purpose of diagnosing contractile patterns of the uterus in pregnant and nonpregnant patients. The present invention provides data analysis techniques for analyzing electromyographic data measured from the surface of a patient to characterize uterine activity. The method and apparatus described include algorithms for the systematic analysis of electrical signals recorded from the abdominal surface. Such processing comprises integration of signals, frequency spectral analysis, 3-dimensional power density mesh plots, vector analysis, fast wavelet transform, and joint time-frequency characteristics. These techniques and apparatus are appropriate for use in a clinic or through communication lines for use as a remote or home uterine monitoring system. As such, uterine electrical activity may be measured at a remote location and processed at a central facility through on-line communications channels, such as a telephone line. The techniques and apparatus disclosed are also useful in predicting successful treatment for cases where either the uterus fails to develop forceful contractions at term or begins to contract pre-term.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E. Garfield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/24; A61B5/316; A61B5/389; A61B5/391; A61B5/43; A61B5/4306; A61B5/4343; A61B5/4356; A61B5/03; A61B5/033; A61B5/035; A61B5/25; A61B5/279; A61B5/28; A61B5/282; A61B5/42; A61B5/72; A61B5/7203; A61B5/7235; A61B5/7242; A61B5/7253; A61B5/726
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of analyzing surface electromyographic data to characterize uterine activity, comprising: applying action potential measuring electrodes to a surface of a patient; measuring electromyographic signals produced by said electrodes; analyzing frequency components of said electromyographic signals; and characterizing uterine activity of said patient based on said analysis of frequency components.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of analyzing surface electromyographic data to characterize uterine activity, comprising: applying action potential measuring electrodes to a surface of a patient; measuring electromyographic signals produced by said electrodes; analyzing frequency components of said electromyographic signals; and characterizing uterine activity of said patient based on said analysis of frequency components.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: stimulating a vagina of said patient while said electromyographic signals are being measured; and diagnosing labor as a function of said signal analysis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: predicting treatment for said patient based on said characterization of uterine activity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said predicting step comprises pharmacologically inducing or inhibiting labor in said patient.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing step further comprises isolating high frequency components (F2) within said electromyographic signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said high frequency components (F2) are in the approximate range from 0.005 to 3.0 Hertz.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said analyzing step further comprises: isolating a fast wave component (FW) within said high frequency components (F2); and determining a low-frequency (FW L ) domain, including low-frequency components within said fast wave component (FW), and a high-frequency (FW H ) domain, including high-frequency components within said fast wave component (FW).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said low-frequency (FW L ) domain includes frequencies in the approximate range from 0.01 to 0.06 Hertz, and said high-frequency (FW H ) domain includes frequencies in the approximate range from 0.06 to 3.0 Hertz.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said analyzing step further comprises determining a relationship between said low-frequency (FW L ) domain and said high-frequency (FW H ) domain indicative of an obstetrical diagnosis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said relationship is indicative of pre-term or term uterine activity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said analyzing step further comprises determining power density spectral characteristics of said frequency components of said electromyographic signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 11, said analyzing step further comprises generating a 3-dimensional mesh plot of said power density spectral characteristics, said mesh plot displaying energy levels versus frequency versus time of pregnancy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said analyzing step further comprises: creating a power density spectrum curve; integrating said power density spectrum curved to determine an approximate total low energy for said low-frequency (FW L ) domain and an approximate total high energy for said high-frequency (FW H ) domain; and determining a relationship between said approximate total low-energy and said approximate total high-energy indicative of an obstetrical diagnosis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said relationship is a ratio.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said relationship is indicative of pre-term or term uterine activity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing step further comprises determining fast wavelet transform characteristics of said frequency components of bursts of action potentials within said electromyographic signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing step further comprises determining joint time-frequency characteristics of said frequency components of bursts of action potentials within said electromyographic signals.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of analyzing surface electromyographic data to characterize uterine activity, comprising: applying a plurality of action potential measuring electrodes to a surface of a patient; measuring electromyographic signals produced by said electrodes; analyzing said electromyographic signals determining potential vector characteristics of said electromyographic signals to identify a direction of propagation of uterine electrical activity; and characterizing uterine activity of said patient based on said potential vector characteristics.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of analyzing surface electromyographic data to characterize uterine activity, comprising: applying a plurality of action potential measuring electrodes to a surface of a patient; measuring electromyographic signals produced by said electrodes; analyzing said electromyographic signals determining potential vector characteristics of said electromyographic signals to identify a direction of propagation of uterine electrical activity; and characterizing uterine activity of said patient based on said potential vector characteristics.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said analyzing step further comprises determining a uterine potential vector indicative of a obstetrical diagnosis.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said diagnosis is of pre-term or term uterine activity.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of analyzing surface electromyographic data to characterize uterine activity, comprising: applying action potential measuring electrodes to a surface of a patient; measuring electromyographic signals produced by said electrodes; analyzing said electromyographic signals; integrating energy corresponding to bursts of action potentials within said electromyographic signals to determine an approximate total energy of said bursts of action potentials, and characterizing uterine activity of said patient based on said approximate total energy.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of analyzing surface electromyographic data to characterize uterine activity, comprising: applying action potential measuring electrodes to a surface of a patient; measuring electromyographic signals produced by said electrodes; analyzing said electromyographic signals; integrating energy corresponding to bursts of action potentials within said electromyographic signals to determine an approximate total energy of said bursts of action potentials, and characterizing uterine activity of said patient based on said approximate total energy.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said analyzing step further comprises utilizing said approximate total energy and an approximate time for said bursts of action potentials to determine an approximate energy per unit of time, and wherein said characterizing step further comprises characterizing uterine activity of said patient based on said approximate energy per unit of time.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
99 words
An apparatus for recording and analyzing uterine electrical activity from the abdominal surface, comprising: at least one action potential measuring electrode applicable to a surface of a patient under analysis; an analog-to-digital converter, connected to said at least one electrode, for converting electromyographic signals produced by said electrode into digitized data indicative of said electromyographic signals; a memory for storing said digitized signals; and a programmed computer for analyzing frequency components of said stored digitized electromyographic signals, and for providing an indication of uterine electrical activity of said patient under analysis as a function of said stored digitized signals.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
99 words
An apparatus for recording and analyzing uterine electrical activity from the abdominal surface, comprising: at least one action potential measuring electrode applicable to a surface of a patient under analysis; an analog-to-digital converter, connected to said at least one electrode, for converting electromyographic signals produced by said electrode into digitized data indicative of said electromyographic signals; a memory for storing said digitized signals; and a programmed computer for analyzing frequency components of said stored digitized electromyographic signals, and for providing an indication of uterine electrical activity of said patient under analysis as a function of said stored digitized signals.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said programmed computer is further for isolating a fast wave component (FW) within said stored digitized electromyographic signals, for determining a low-frequency (FW L ) domain, including low-frequency components within said fast wave component (FW), and for determining a high-frequency (FW H ) domain, including high-frequency components within said fast wave component (FW).
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said programmed computer is further for determining a relationship between said low-frequency (FW L ) domain and said high-frequency (FW H ) domain indicative of an obstetrical diagnosis.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said programmed computer is further for determining power density spectral characteristics of said frequency components of said electromyographic signals.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said programmed computer is further for creating a power density spectrum curve, for integrating said power density spectrum curved to determine an approximate total low energy for said low-frequency (FW L ) domain and an approximate total high energy for said high-frequency (FW H ) domain, and for determining a relationship between said approximate total low-energy and said approximate total high-energy indicative of an obstetrical diagnosis.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for recording and analyzing uterine electrical activity from the abdominal surface, comprising: a plurality of action potential measuring electrodes applicable to a surface of a patient under analysis; an analog-to-digital converter, connected to said plurality of electrodes, for converting electromyographic signals produced by said electrodes into digitized data indicative of said electromyographic signals; a memory for storing said digitized signals; and a programmed computer for analyzing said stored digitized electromyographic signals, for determining potential vector characteristics of said electromyographic signals to identify a direction of propagation of uterine electrical activity, and for providing an indication of uterine electrical activity of said patient under analysis as a function of said potential vector characteristics.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for recording and analyzing uterine electrical activity from the abdominal surface, comprising: a plurality of action potential measuring electrodes applicable to a surface of a patient under analysis; an analog-to-digital converter, connected to said plurality of electrodes, for converting electromyographic signals produced by said electrodes into digitized data indicative of said electromyographic signals; a memory for storing said digitized signals; and a programmed computer for analyzing said stored digitized electromyographic signals, for determining potential vector characteristics of said electromyographic signals to identify a direction of propagation of uterine electrical activity, and for providing an indication of uterine electrical activity of said patient under analysis as a function of said potential vector characteristics.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
105 words
A remote uterine monitoring system for analyzing surface electromyographic data to characterize uterine activity, comprising: a remote uterine monitor including: at least one action potential measuring electrode applicable to a surface of a patient under analysis; and a remote analog-to-digital converter, connected to said at least one electrode, for converting electromyographic signals produced by said electrode into digitized data indicative of said electromyographic signals; and a central programmed computer in communication with said remote uterine monitor for analyzing said stored digitized electromyographic signals, and for providing an indication of uterine electrical activity of said patient under analysis as a function of said stored digitized signals.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
105 words
A remote uterine monitoring system for analyzing surface electromyographic data to characterize uterine activity, comprising: a remote uterine monitor including: at least one action potential measuring electrode applicable to a surface of a patient under analysis; and a remote analog-to-digital converter, connected to said at least one electrode, for converting electromyographic signals produced by said electrode into digitized data indicative of said electromyographic signals; and a central programmed computer in communication with said remote uterine monitor for analyzing said stored digitized electromyographic signals, and for providing an indication of uterine electrical activity of said patient under analysis as a function of said stored digitized signals.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The remote uterine monitoring system of claim 29, wherein said remote uterine monitor and said central programmed computer communicate on-line through a telephone line.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
39 words
The remote uterine monitoring system of claim 29, further comprising a remote storage device for recording said digitized electromyographic signal data, and wherein said central programmed computer communicates with said remote uterine monitor off-line utilizing said remote storage device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-04-28 | 2000-10-28 | 2001-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-04-28 | 2004-10-28 | 2005-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-04-28 | 2008-10-28 | 2009-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |