Maternal and fetal heart rate monitor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021378532-A1
Application number	US-202117343364-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 9, 2021
Priority date	Jun 9, 2020
Publication date	Dec 9, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for non-invasive pregnancy testing. The systems, devices, and methods can be used to provide pregnancy status information of a subject by detecting cardiovascular activity of a fetus in the subject. Subjects can include ruminants, ungulates, and humans.

First claim

1 . A device comprising:
a) a transmitter configured to transmit electromagnetic waves to a heart of a fetus in a subject; and b) a fetal sensor configured to detect signals reflected from the heart in response to the electromagnetic waves transmitted to the heart by the transmitter,
wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the electromagnetic waves by a distance of at least 10 cm to the heart of the fetus.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the electromagnetic waves through at least 10 cm of body tissue, and the fetal sensor is configured to detect signals that have passed through at least 10 cm of the body tissue.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the electromagnetic waves to a surface of the heart of the fetus.

4 - 5 . (canceled)

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fetal sensor is configured to detect signals reflected from the heart of the fetus within 30 days of gestation.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fetal sensor is configured to detect signals reflected from the heart of the fetus within 40 days of gestation.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the signals reflected from the heart of the fetus are indicative of a heartbeat of the fetus.

9 . (canceled)

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fetal sensor is configured to be placed in contact with the subject's skin in proximity to the subject's uterus.

11 . (canceled)

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fetal sensor is configured to be placed in contact with the subject's skin at the subject's right lower back as viewed from the subject's rear.

13 . (canceled)

14 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fetal sensor is embedded in a strap.

15 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the fetal sensor is configured to be inserted into the subject's rectum.

16 . (canceled)

17 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter and the fetal sensor are in a common housing.

18 - 24 . (canceled)

25 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the subject is a livestock.

26 - 30 . (canceled)

31 . A method comprising:
a) transmitting through skin of a subject by a transmitter electromagnetic waves to a heart of a fetus inside the subject; and b) detecting by a fetal sensor a signal reflected from the heart of the fetus in response to the electromagnetic waves transmitted to the heart of the fetus,
wherein the heart of the fetus is disposed at a depth of at least 10 cm beneath the skin of the subject.

32 . The method of claim 31 , further comprising determining a presence of the fetus in the subject based on detecting the signal.

33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the presence of the fetus in the subject is based on a periodicity of the signal reflected from the heart of the fetus in response to the electromagnetic waves transmitted to the heart of the fetus.

34 . The method of claim 31 , further comprising determining a heart rate of the fetus based on the detected signal.

35 . The method of claim 31 , further comprising placing the fetal sensor in contact with the skin of the subject in proximity to the subject's uterus.

36 - 37 . (canceled)

38 . The method of claim 31 , further comprising placing the fetal sensor in contact with the skin of the subject at the subject's right lower back as viewed from the subject's rear.

39 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the electromagnetic waves through at least 10 cm of body tissue, and the fetal sensor is configured to detect signals that have passed through at least 10 cm of the body tissue.

40 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the electromagnetic waves to a surface of the heart of the fetus.

41 - 42 . (canceled)

43 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the fetal sensor is configured to detect signals reflected from the heart of the fetus within 30 days of gestation.

44 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the fetal sensor is configured to detect signals reflected from the heart of the fetus within 40 days of gestation.

45 - 51 . (canceled)

52 . The method of claim 50 , further comprising detecting by a maternal sensor a signal reflected from the heart of the subject in response to the electromagnetic waves transmitted to the heart of the subject.

53 - 58 . (canceled)

59 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the subject is a livestock.

60 - 94 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Cardiac Motion Llc
• Univ California

Inventors

• Matthews Dennis
• Gao Xiaomeng
• Jiang Xiaonan
• Liu Xiaoguang
• Thompson Jeremy
• Dunning Kylie
• Pawlak Kenneth
• Ryman Chris

Classifications

• A61B2503/40

  Animals · CPC title

• A61B5/0507

  using microwaves or terahertz waves · CPC title

• A61B5/02411 Primary

  of foetuses · CPC title

• A61B5/6831

  Straps, bands or harnesses · CPC title

• A01K29/005 Primary

  Monitoring or measuring activity · CPC title