CA1201348A - Removal device for fetal electrode - Google Patents
Removal device for fetal electrodeInfo
- Publication number
- CA1201348A CA1201348A CA000437515A CA437515A CA1201348A CA 1201348 A CA1201348 A CA 1201348A CA 000437515 A CA000437515 A CA 000437515A CA 437515 A CA437515 A CA 437515A CA 1201348 A CA1201348 A CA 1201348A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- electrode
- holder member
- tube
- fetal
- cervix
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B5/43—Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the reproductive systems
- A61B5/4306—Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the reproductive systems for evaluating the female reproductive systems, e.g. gynaecological evaluations
- A61B5/4343—Pregnancy and labour monitoring, e.g. for labour onset detection
- A61B5/4362—Assessing foetal parameters
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B5/24—Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
- A61B5/25—Bioelectric electrodes therefor
- A61B5/279—Bioelectric electrodes therefor specially adapted for particular uses
- A61B5/28—Bioelectric electrodes therefor specially adapted for particular uses for electrocardiography [ECG]
- A61B5/283—Invasive
- A61B5/288—Invasive for foetal cardiography, e.g. scalp electrodes
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Medical Informatics (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Pediatric Medicine (AREA)
- Biophysics (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Cardiology (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Surgery (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Pregnancy & Childbirth (AREA)
- Gynecology & Obstetrics (AREA)
- Reproductive Health (AREA)
- Measurement And Recording Of Electrical Phenomena And Electrical Characteristics Of The Living Body (AREA)
Abstract
. A B S T R A C T
A removal device is disclosed for removing an electrode from a fetus. Fetal heartbeat is measured prior to birth, and whereas devices are provided to install an electrode through the vagina and cervix of a woman in labour, these electrodes are often difficult to remove and sometimes tear the fetal epidermis.
The present device comprises a tube to fit over electrode wires from a holder member having a spiral coil first electrode with a pointed tip located at a front end, the tube has sufficient length to pass through a vagina and cervix of a woman in labour, an engagement slot is provided on at least one end of the tube to engage the holder member and allow the electrode to be unscrewed and removed.
A removal device is disclosed for removing an electrode from a fetus. Fetal heartbeat is measured prior to birth, and whereas devices are provided to install an electrode through the vagina and cervix of a woman in labour, these electrodes are often difficult to remove and sometimes tear the fetal epidermis.
The present device comprises a tube to fit over electrode wires from a holder member having a spiral coil first electrode with a pointed tip located at a front end, the tube has sufficient length to pass through a vagina and cervix of a woman in labour, an engagement slot is provided on at least one end of the tube to engage the holder member and allow the electrode to be unscrewed and removed.
Description
~Z~3~
REMO~AL D~ICE FOR FETAL ~LECTRODE
The present invention relates to an electrode for monitoring fetal heartbeat, and more specifically to a device for removal of an electrode structure from the fetal epidermis through the vagina and cervix of a woman in labour.
The monitoring of fetal heartbeat is an important procedure auring childbirth to advise a doctor o~ the condition of the fetus prior to birth. One of the pre-ferred devices used for monitoring fetal heartbeat is one which contacts the scalp of the fetus through a woman's vagina and cervix. Such a device is disclosed in U.S.
patent RE 28,990, reissued October 5th, 1976 to Hon et al.
The fetal electrode disclosed in this patent has a holder member with a retaining spiral coil electrode at the front end, the coil having a pointed tip permitting the holder member to be screwed into the fetal epidermis. The patent discloses a guide tube in which the holder member resides during insertion through the vagina and cervix and a flex-ible driving tube within the guide tube to push the holder member out of the guide tube and rotate it so that the coil attaches to the fetal epidermis. Both the flexible driving tube and the guide tube are then removed leaving electrode wires, which are then attached -to a suitable apparatus for monitoring fetal heartbeat.
Canadian patent 1,121,464, also to Hon et al, provides a spiral groove in the guide tube and spiral ribs on the holder member, so that when the holder member is pushed out of the guide tube by the flexible driving tube or rod, it is given a rotation to engage the spiral coil in the ~etal epidermis. Other types of fetal electrodes are disclosed in U.S. patent 3,750,650 and 4,080,961.
~Ihereas all the known fetal electrodes are pro-,~
vided with a means of inserting the electrode through the vagina and cervix of a woman in labour, none Gf these devices provide for any means of removing the electrode without damaging the epidermis of the fetus. During a normal birth it is common to leave the electrode attached to the fetus and then remove it after birth, however, if any complications occur during birth then the electrode may get in the way, so it is preferred medical procedures to remove the electrode before birth. One wa~ of removing the electrode is to wait until the cervix opens far enough for the doctor to remove the electrode by hand. Another method of removing the electrode is to twist the electrode wires in an anti-clockwise direction so that the spiral coil unscrews from the fetal epidermis. This is sometimes lS difficult to do because the fluids from the embryonic-sac may make these wires slippery. Another method of removing the electrode is to pull the twisted wires apart; the pulling action causes the holder member to rotate anti-clockwise and thus unscrew the spiral coil from the fetal epidermis. However, this method is also not completely satisfactory and sometimes results in the spiral coil being pulled from the epidermis before it is quite clear, resulting in a tear.
The present invention provides simple device for the removal of a fetal electrode with a retaining spiral coil electrode screwed into a fetal epidermis prior to birth, so that the electrode does not interfere with birth, should it be a difficult birth or one with other compli-cations.
The present invention provides in an apparatus for use in monitoring fetal heartbeat and the like com-prising, a holder member adapted for insertion through a woman's vagina and cervix, retaining spiral coil first electrode with a pointed tip located at a front end of the holder member adapted to be screwed into a fetal epidermis, a second electrode located at a rear end of the holder member, and elec-trode wires extending from the rear end of the holder member, the improvement of a removal device to remove the holder member from the fetal epidermis before birth, comprising tube to fit over the electrode wires extending from the rear end of the holder member, the tube having sufficient length to pass through a vagina and cervix of a woman in labour, and having engagement means on at least one end of the tube to engage with the holder member and allow rotation of the holder member.
In a preferred embodiment the tube of the removal device has engagement means to engage with the holder member and allow rotation of the holder member at both ends of the tube, and the engagement means comprises a slot in the end of the tube to engage with the second electrode at the rear end of the holder member.
Referring now to the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the insertion of a fetal electrode as known in the prior art.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a known type of fetal electrode.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a fetal electrode and a removal tube of the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a detailed side elevation of the locking arrangement between a fetal electrode and a removal tube.
Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views showing the insertion of a removal tube over electrode wires to engage a fetal electrode for removal.
In Figs. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a typical electrode assembly of the present invention, together with a manner of attaching the electrode to the fetal epidermis.
A t~pical electrode as shown in Fig. 2 has a cylindrical holder member 10 made of a plastic material having at its front end a first electrode in the form of a retaining ~lZ(~ 8 ~ 4 --spiral coil 11 with a pointed tip 12 for insertion into the epidermis. The coil 11 is a right hand spiral so that it has to be rotated clockwise to engage the epidermis.
A second electrode 13 which is shown in Fig. 2 as a wire formed in a rectangular shape, is molded into the rear end of the holder member 10. Two electrode wires 14 extend from the rear end of the holder member 10 and are twisted together to form a flex.
As shown in Fig. 1 the electrode assembly fits into a curved guide tube 20 and is located just inside one end of the tube 20 b~v means of a flexible driving tube or rod 21. The doctor inserts the forward end of the curved guide tube 20 through the mother's vagina and cervix 23 until the forward end of the guide tube 20 makes contact with the fetal epidermis 24. The doctor holds the guide tube 20 steady and pushes the flexible driving rod 21 until the spiral c~il 11 makes contact with the fetal epidermis 24. The doctor then rotates the driving rod 21 which engages with the holder member 10 to permit the spiral coil 11 to screw into the fetal epidermis 24. The driving rod 21 is pulled out of the guide tube 20, and the guide tube 20 is then removed over the electrode wires 14. The ends of the electrode wires 14 are then connected to a fetal heartbeat monitor.
It is preferred to remove the electrode from the fetal epidermis 24 prior to birth to avoid the electrode from being torn from-the epidermis. Furthermore, it is essential to remove the electrode from the fetus in dif-ficult births, such as caesarean births.
To remove the electrode, a removal device which comprises a plastic tube 30 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 slips over the electrode wires 14 and has a slot 31 at each end hich exactly mates with the second electrode 13 of the holder member.
The length of the removal tube 30 is shorter than the guide tube 20 or driving rod 21 used for insertion of the electrode, thus the wires 14 may be disconnected from the monitor, and the removal tube 30 easily slipped over the ends of the wires 14 as shown in Fig. 5. The tube 30 is of sufficient length to pass through the vagina and cervix of a woman in labour and be held by a doctor.
As shown in Fig. 6, the tube 30 is rotated slowly counter-clockwise whilst applying a gentle pressure towards the electrode, until the slot 31 engages with the second electrode 13 of the holding member 10. The doctor then continues to rotate the removal tube 30 in a counter-clockwise direction so that the spiral coil 11 unscrews from the fetal epidermis, and by holding the tube 30 and the wires 14 so that the tube 30 remains engaged to the electrode, the complete unit is removed for disposal.
The removal tube 30 is kept in a separate sterile pacXage, generally contained within the package for the fetal monitoring device. By keeping the removal tube 30 in a separate package it can be kept to one side and re-moved from its sterile package immediately prior to use.It will be appreciated that the initial guide tube 20 and driving rod 21 must both be discarded immediately after use because they are no longer sterile. Neither of these items can be reused as they are generally sterilized by gamma radiation and should not be resterilized.
Slots 31 are provided in both ends of the removal tube 30 so that the tube may be threaded over the electrode wires 14 from either end without having to bother about looking for a particular slotted end. Either end will then engage with the electrode for removal. The diameter of the removal tube 30 is slightly larger than the diameter o~ the t~70 ~lires 14 so they easily slip into the tube 30. The end of the tubes 30 with the enyaging slots 31 are large enough to easily engage the second electrode 13. If a second electrode 13 is not utilized then any other simple ~z~
engaging mechanism may be incorporated so that the removal tube 30 when it is rotated anti-clockwise and pushed in towards the electrode 10 engages with it for ease of removal.
Various changes may be made to the arrangement of tube and engaging mechanism without departing from the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the following claims.
REMO~AL D~ICE FOR FETAL ~LECTRODE
The present invention relates to an electrode for monitoring fetal heartbeat, and more specifically to a device for removal of an electrode structure from the fetal epidermis through the vagina and cervix of a woman in labour.
The monitoring of fetal heartbeat is an important procedure auring childbirth to advise a doctor o~ the condition of the fetus prior to birth. One of the pre-ferred devices used for monitoring fetal heartbeat is one which contacts the scalp of the fetus through a woman's vagina and cervix. Such a device is disclosed in U.S.
patent RE 28,990, reissued October 5th, 1976 to Hon et al.
The fetal electrode disclosed in this patent has a holder member with a retaining spiral coil electrode at the front end, the coil having a pointed tip permitting the holder member to be screwed into the fetal epidermis. The patent discloses a guide tube in which the holder member resides during insertion through the vagina and cervix and a flex-ible driving tube within the guide tube to push the holder member out of the guide tube and rotate it so that the coil attaches to the fetal epidermis. Both the flexible driving tube and the guide tube are then removed leaving electrode wires, which are then attached -to a suitable apparatus for monitoring fetal heartbeat.
Canadian patent 1,121,464, also to Hon et al, provides a spiral groove in the guide tube and spiral ribs on the holder member, so that when the holder member is pushed out of the guide tube by the flexible driving tube or rod, it is given a rotation to engage the spiral coil in the ~etal epidermis. Other types of fetal electrodes are disclosed in U.S. patent 3,750,650 and 4,080,961.
~Ihereas all the known fetal electrodes are pro-,~
vided with a means of inserting the electrode through the vagina and cervix of a woman in labour, none Gf these devices provide for any means of removing the electrode without damaging the epidermis of the fetus. During a normal birth it is common to leave the electrode attached to the fetus and then remove it after birth, however, if any complications occur during birth then the electrode may get in the way, so it is preferred medical procedures to remove the electrode before birth. One wa~ of removing the electrode is to wait until the cervix opens far enough for the doctor to remove the electrode by hand. Another method of removing the electrode is to twist the electrode wires in an anti-clockwise direction so that the spiral coil unscrews from the fetal epidermis. This is sometimes lS difficult to do because the fluids from the embryonic-sac may make these wires slippery. Another method of removing the electrode is to pull the twisted wires apart; the pulling action causes the holder member to rotate anti-clockwise and thus unscrew the spiral coil from the fetal epidermis. However, this method is also not completely satisfactory and sometimes results in the spiral coil being pulled from the epidermis before it is quite clear, resulting in a tear.
The present invention provides simple device for the removal of a fetal electrode with a retaining spiral coil electrode screwed into a fetal epidermis prior to birth, so that the electrode does not interfere with birth, should it be a difficult birth or one with other compli-cations.
The present invention provides in an apparatus for use in monitoring fetal heartbeat and the like com-prising, a holder member adapted for insertion through a woman's vagina and cervix, retaining spiral coil first electrode with a pointed tip located at a front end of the holder member adapted to be screwed into a fetal epidermis, a second electrode located at a rear end of the holder member, and elec-trode wires extending from the rear end of the holder member, the improvement of a removal device to remove the holder member from the fetal epidermis before birth, comprising tube to fit over the electrode wires extending from the rear end of the holder member, the tube having sufficient length to pass through a vagina and cervix of a woman in labour, and having engagement means on at least one end of the tube to engage with the holder member and allow rotation of the holder member.
In a preferred embodiment the tube of the removal device has engagement means to engage with the holder member and allow rotation of the holder member at both ends of the tube, and the engagement means comprises a slot in the end of the tube to engage with the second electrode at the rear end of the holder member.
Referring now to the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the insertion of a fetal electrode as known in the prior art.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a known type of fetal electrode.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a fetal electrode and a removal tube of the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a detailed side elevation of the locking arrangement between a fetal electrode and a removal tube.
Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views showing the insertion of a removal tube over electrode wires to engage a fetal electrode for removal.
In Figs. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a typical electrode assembly of the present invention, together with a manner of attaching the electrode to the fetal epidermis.
A t~pical electrode as shown in Fig. 2 has a cylindrical holder member 10 made of a plastic material having at its front end a first electrode in the form of a retaining ~lZ(~ 8 ~ 4 --spiral coil 11 with a pointed tip 12 for insertion into the epidermis. The coil 11 is a right hand spiral so that it has to be rotated clockwise to engage the epidermis.
A second electrode 13 which is shown in Fig. 2 as a wire formed in a rectangular shape, is molded into the rear end of the holder member 10. Two electrode wires 14 extend from the rear end of the holder member 10 and are twisted together to form a flex.
As shown in Fig. 1 the electrode assembly fits into a curved guide tube 20 and is located just inside one end of the tube 20 b~v means of a flexible driving tube or rod 21. The doctor inserts the forward end of the curved guide tube 20 through the mother's vagina and cervix 23 until the forward end of the guide tube 20 makes contact with the fetal epidermis 24. The doctor holds the guide tube 20 steady and pushes the flexible driving rod 21 until the spiral c~il 11 makes contact with the fetal epidermis 24. The doctor then rotates the driving rod 21 which engages with the holder member 10 to permit the spiral coil 11 to screw into the fetal epidermis 24. The driving rod 21 is pulled out of the guide tube 20, and the guide tube 20 is then removed over the electrode wires 14. The ends of the electrode wires 14 are then connected to a fetal heartbeat monitor.
It is preferred to remove the electrode from the fetal epidermis 24 prior to birth to avoid the electrode from being torn from-the epidermis. Furthermore, it is essential to remove the electrode from the fetus in dif-ficult births, such as caesarean births.
To remove the electrode, a removal device which comprises a plastic tube 30 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 slips over the electrode wires 14 and has a slot 31 at each end hich exactly mates with the second electrode 13 of the holder member.
The length of the removal tube 30 is shorter than the guide tube 20 or driving rod 21 used for insertion of the electrode, thus the wires 14 may be disconnected from the monitor, and the removal tube 30 easily slipped over the ends of the wires 14 as shown in Fig. 5. The tube 30 is of sufficient length to pass through the vagina and cervix of a woman in labour and be held by a doctor.
As shown in Fig. 6, the tube 30 is rotated slowly counter-clockwise whilst applying a gentle pressure towards the electrode, until the slot 31 engages with the second electrode 13 of the holding member 10. The doctor then continues to rotate the removal tube 30 in a counter-clockwise direction so that the spiral coil 11 unscrews from the fetal epidermis, and by holding the tube 30 and the wires 14 so that the tube 30 remains engaged to the electrode, the complete unit is removed for disposal.
The removal tube 30 is kept in a separate sterile pacXage, generally contained within the package for the fetal monitoring device. By keeping the removal tube 30 in a separate package it can be kept to one side and re-moved from its sterile package immediately prior to use.It will be appreciated that the initial guide tube 20 and driving rod 21 must both be discarded immediately after use because they are no longer sterile. Neither of these items can be reused as they are generally sterilized by gamma radiation and should not be resterilized.
Slots 31 are provided in both ends of the removal tube 30 so that the tube may be threaded over the electrode wires 14 from either end without having to bother about looking for a particular slotted end. Either end will then engage with the electrode for removal. The diameter of the removal tube 30 is slightly larger than the diameter o~ the t~70 ~lires 14 so they easily slip into the tube 30. The end of the tubes 30 with the enyaging slots 31 are large enough to easily engage the second electrode 13. If a second electrode 13 is not utilized then any other simple ~z~
engaging mechanism may be incorporated so that the removal tube 30 when it is rotated anti-clockwise and pushed in towards the electrode 10 engages with it for ease of removal.
Various changes may be made to the arrangement of tube and engaging mechanism without departing from the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the following claims.
Claims (3)
1. In an apparatus for use in monitoring fetal heartbeat and the like, comprising, a holder member ad-apted for insertion through a woman's vagina and cervix, retaining spiral coil first electrode with a pointed tip located at a front end of the holder member adapted to be screwed into a fetal epidermis, a second electrode located at a rear end of the holder member, and electrode wires extending from the rear end of the holder member, the improvement of a removal device to remove the holder member from the fetal epidermis before birth, comprising tube to fit over the electrode wires extending from the rear end of the holder member, the tube having sufficient length to pass through a vagina and cervix of a woman in labour, and having engagement means on at least one end of the tube to engage with the holder member and allow rotation of the holder member.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the tube of the removal device has engagement means to en-gage with the holder member and allow rotation of the holder member at both ends of the tube.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the engagement means to engage the holder member comprises a slot in the end of the tube to engage with the second electrode at the rear end of the holder member.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000437515A CA1201348A (en) | 1983-09-26 | 1983-09-26 | Removal device for fetal electrode |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000437515A CA1201348A (en) | 1983-09-26 | 1983-09-26 | Removal device for fetal electrode |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1201348A true CA1201348A (en) | 1986-03-04 |
Family
ID=4126165
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000437515A Expired CA1201348A (en) | 1983-09-26 | 1983-09-26 | Removal device for fetal electrode |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1201348A (en) |
-
1983
- 1983-09-26 CA CA000437515A patent/CA1201348A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |