Fetal Monitoring Hub

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017367643-A1
Application number	US-201615193466-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 27, 2016
Priority date	Jun 27, 2016
Publication date	Dec 28, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

In the present invention, a system and associated method is provided for monitoring fetal vital parameters. The system includes a base unit, a monitoring hub including a digital signal processor/controller and operably connected to the base unit by a single channel digital signal protocol cable, e.g., a USB cable, and a number of fetal monitoring sensors operably connected to the monitoring hub. The controller processes the signals from the sensors into a single USB protocol which can be sent along a single cable to the base unit. The USB cable allows power to be supplied to the hub in order to charge a battery used to operate the hub and the sensors connected to the hub when disconnected from the base unit to allow the patient using the hub to move freely about the base unit, with all sensor signals from the hub being wirelessly transmitted to the base unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A fetal monitoring system comprising:
a base unit; a monitoring hub including a digital signal processor/controller, a wireless transceiver module capable of receiving and transmitting single channel wireless signals to and from the base unit and a single cable input/output port adapted to receive a single channel digital signal protocol cable therein; and at least one monitoring sensor operably connected to the monitoring hub.

2 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a single channel digital signal protocol cable inserted within the single input/output port.

3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the single channel digital signal protocol cable is a USB cable.

4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is operably connected to the monitoring hub via a lead.

5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the monitoring hub includes a power source.

6 . The system of claim 5 wherein the power source is rechargeable.

7 . The system of claim 6 wherein the power source is rechargeable via the cable.

8 . The system of claim 5 wherein the power source supplies power to the at least one sensor.

9 . The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of one or more non-invasive fetal monitoring sensors, one or more invasive fetal monitoring sensors, one or more maternal monitoring sensors, or combination thereof.

10 . A monitoring hub for a fetal monitoring system, the hub comprising:
a digital signal processor/controller adapted to receive signals from a number of fetal monitoring sensors and the transmit signals in a single digital protocol to a monitor; a wireless transceiver module operably connected to the digital signal processor/controller and the power source; a single cable input/output port adapted to receive a single channel digital signal protocol cable therein; and a power source operably connected to the digital signal processor/controller.

11 . The hub of claim 10 further comprising a number of sensor input ports.

12 . The hub of claim 10 wherein the power source is adapted to be connected to the number of fetal monitoring sensors.

13 . The hub of claim 10 wherein the single digital protocol is a USB protocol.

14 . A method of monitoring the fetal vital parameters of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a fetal monitoring system including a base unit, a monitoring hub including a digital signal processor/controller, a wireless transceiver module capable of receiving and transmitting single channel wireless signals to and from the base unit and a single cable input/output port adapted to receive a single channel signal protocol cable therein, and at least one fetal monitoring sensor operably connected to the monitoring hub; placing the at least one sensor on a patient to sense a fetal parameter and generate signal in response thereto; transmitting the signal to the monitoring hub; configuring the signal in the monitoring hub from the at least one sensor into a single channel digital protocol; and transmitting the single channel digital protocol signal from the monitoring hub to the base unit.

15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the step of configuring the signal comprises configuring the signal into a USB protocol.

16 . The method of claim 15 wherein the step of transmitting the single channel signal comprises the steps of:
connecting the monitoring hub to the base unit by inserting a USB cable into the single input/output port; and
sending the signal along the USB cable.

17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of supplying power to the monitoring unit along the USB cable simultaneously with sending the signal along the USB cable.

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the step of supplying power to the monitoring unit comprises charging a rechargeable battery within the monitoring hub.

19 . The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of supplying power to the at least one sensor through the monitoring hub simultaneously with supplying power to the monitoring hub.

20 . The method of claim 15 wherein the step of transmitting the signal to the base unit comprises wirelessly transmitting the signal.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Falk Steven Mitchell
• Kabakov Serguei
• Medeiros Daniel Williams
• Klussendorf Aimee

Classifications

• A61B2560/0443

  Modular apparatus · CPC title

• A61B2560/0214

  of power generation or supply · CPC title

• A61B5/4362 Primary

  Assessing foetal parameters · CPC title

• A61B8/488

  involving Doppler signals · CPC title

• A61B5/6823

  Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip · CPC title