CN1080836A - Electronic ovulation monitor - Google Patents

Abstract

A kind of electronic ovulation monitor has an overcoat, wherein is equipped with: information processor; Sensing device is in order to detection information and send it to the device of handling this information; Indicating device has the life ovum to exist in order to indication.Handled information comprises and uterus mucus density, basal body temperature, the pH numerical value relevant with the LH level.Information compares with the relevant data that have the life ovum to exist after treatment, if show have the life ovum to exist, optical display and audio element just send signal, and expression has the life ovum to exist.

Description

Electronic ovulation monitor

The present invention generally speaking relates to a kind of survey meter, specifically, relates to a kind of method with electronics and detects the instrument of whether ovulating.

Infertility and family planning have no something in common outwardly.There are the Mr. and Mrs of infertility problem need improve the probability of dynamic ovum fertilization to greatest extent.On the other hand, some Mr. and Mrs then wishes sexual intercourse and does not become pregnant.

Concerning the Mr. and Mrs that infertility is arranged, more extremely important is the time of determining that ovulation takes place, so that improve the probability of becoming pregnant to greatest extent.During ovulation, ovary discharges an ovum.This ovum had potentia concipiendi in about 12 to 24 hours.The process of becoming pregnant is that sperm takes place when making ovum fertilization in the fallopian tube.Yet the life span of ovum in fallopian tube generally has only several hrs, promptly 3 to 10 hours, and the time that sperm is survived in women's body can reach 48 hours.Therefore, a women thinks that conceived words just need make the inner phase effects in 12 to 24 hours after ovulation of sperm and ovum.

On the other hand, those are want to realize the family planning fertility or reduce to greatest extent the Mr. and Mrs of the probability of becoming pregnant by monitoring women ovulatory cycle, can not conceptive those days among then can measuring one month.Therefore, ovulatory cycle both can influence sterile situation, did not also influence family planning.

Can carry out all tests to ovulation period.For example, a kind of test is that the saliva of comparison women in a period of time and the pH value (pH value) of its vagina come the predicting ovulation time.Level by body of women pH value relatively, can scientifically predict when ovulate.This test is adopted with at present known number and is decided the instrument that pH meter similarly can accurately be measured the solution pH value.Similarly, the test that has is a level of measuring lutein (luteinizing hormone).These tests can comprise urine test or blood count.Lutein is formed a kind of hormone by glycoprotein, available from anterior pituitary, in the generation of women's body moderate stimulation corpus luteum, and stimulates the secretion of progesterone with the hormone of the short maturation of ovum.Luteinic level is being about to increase decline after ovulation before the ovulation suddenly.

Prediction when ovulate can also according to basal body temperature rise reach 1 °F this etc. reality carry out.Also have the 4th kind of method of testing to relate to " filicoid crystallization (ferning) " of cervical mucus.The best time of becoming pregnant is when cervical mucus density is maximum.At present, the medical worker can be attached to mucus on the slide glass with microscopic examination in conjunction with PE.The normal amount of " filicoid crystallization " is in the scope of 1-3, when the value relevant with " filicoid crystallization " is the best condition of becoming pregnant during for 4+.

It is not only time-consuming but also not cheap to carry out all above-mentioned tests, and need the medical worker assist.Yet, confirm that optimum condition exists really, must carry out all above-mentioned tests, and test result must be male.

Therefore obviously need a kind of can simply and quickly determine whether to ovulate through improved ovulation monitor.

The invention solves some problems relevant with test with existing ovulation detection tool set, a kind of like this electronic ovulation monitor promptly is provided, this survey meter has an overcoat, power supply, audio element, light emitting diode and microprocessor are housed in the overcoat, and microprocessor is connected with pick off outside being positioned at described overcoat.Microprocessor is measured basal body temperature, mucus density, pH level and LH(lutein) level.The survey meter overcoat roughly is clavate, has first end and second end.The overcoat base is positioned at first end, and pick off is positioned at second end.

A kind of like this ovulation monitor is also disclosed here, this survey meter has an overcoat, information processor is housed in the overcoat, information is sent to the sensing device of information processor and has the monitor that indication has the indicating device of life ovum existence as pick off.Described information comprises basal body temperature, mucus density, pH level and LH level.There is the life ovum to exist indicating device that an audio element and an optical element are arranged.Information processor has a microchip at least.Information is after treatment again with there being the relevant data of existence of life ovum to compare, thereby, when showing, experiment have the life ovum to exist indicating device will indicate this existence when having the life ovum.

Main purpose of the present invention provides a kind of simple in structure, easy to use thereby can fast and effeciently measure the electronic ovulation monitor that whether has the life ovum to exist.

Can also know understanding other purpose of the present invention and advantage from following explanation and accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is the perspective view of electronic ovulation monitor of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is the lateral plane figure of the survey meter shown in Fig. 1.

The sketch map of Fig. 3 has illustrated each main element of Fig. 1 survey meter.

Fig. 4 is lutein principle of sensors figure.

Fig. 5 shows that data are how with the flow chart of microprocessor collection, multiplication, digitized and interface.

Fig. 6 is the flow chart of microprocessor software.

Fig. 1 is the perspective view by the electronic ovulation monitor 10 of the present invention's manufacturing.Can see that it is round that this ovulation monitor has first end of a cylindrical tube 12, pipe 12 that individual base 14, second end 15 are arranged.The outer part of pipe 12 has sensing device 16.Shown sensing device 16 is a plurality of pick offs, but also can settle the single sensing mechanism with a plurality of pick offs in this position.Pipe 12 overcoat is preferably made by about 1 inch of diameter, the rustless steel that is about 6 inches.

Can see that from Fig. 1 and 2 the outer of clavate that be basically that base 14 preferably is screwed survey meter puts, and is fixed with optical display 20 and audio element 22 on the base 14.Optical display 20 is preferably the form of light emitting diode, and that in the then preferably similar digital watch alarm of audio element is a kind of.Put outward and preferably bore seven small through hole, some pick offs of mucus density in these place, hole fixed test basal body temperatures, pH level, LH level and vaginal canal and orifice of uterus.Mucus pick off 22 preferably is placed in the overcoat top, and overcoat is once inserting vagina, and this pick off just can detect the mucus at orifice of uterus place.Overcoat all around preferably distributes other pick off is set, and makes these pick offs can suitably touch vagina flesh.

Can see the most clearly from Fig. 3, optical display 20 and audio element 22 are housed in the overcoat, also have blood processor 28 and power supply 36.Circuit 25 connects each element by the known mode of electronics prior art.Blood processor 28 preferably adopts at least one microchip, but also can adopt a plurality of chips, and each chip is for the single-sensor special use.Microprocessor is measured basal body temperature, mucus density, pH level and LH level with measuring device 30-33 respectively.Microprocessor is as available from the information processing device of measuring device, then is sent to information processor available from the information of sensing device.

Blood processor 28 stores and mucous viscosity or denseness, basal body temperature, the pH level data relevant with the LH level, because these numerical value are all relevant with ovulation.Sensing device makes available from the information of this sensing device and can compare with above-mentioned each data, can correspondence show have the life ovum whether to exist so can see the mucus retrogradation of sening as an envoy to, at least 0.5 to 1 of basal body temperature rising, the variation of LH level raising and the variation of pH level.If each all demonstrates the variation of expection these four numerical value, then experiment shows has the life ovum to exist.

When blood processor determined four factors of the expression ovulation that occurs recently, optical display 20 and audio element 22 just worked.Preferably make the flash of light of little red light, and be accompanied by a string " too " sound.This signal indicating married woman can become pregnant.

The various pick offs relevant with sensing device 16 comprise can be according to the sensing mechanism of measuring luteinic level, pH level, basal body temperature and mucous relative density or viscosity that sends of the sound wave of similar sonar.This class pick off is discussed below.

Two pick offs are preferably arranged in the overcoat, when probe is in inserting vagina, be used to detect the transient temperature of vagina flesh.It is that whether test body temperature rises during the women 's fertility cycle that prior art defines a kind of method that ovulation does not take place.Branch during the progesterone infra half period oozes and makes about 0.5 of body temperature rise, and this temperature rise takes place suddenly when ovulation.The first half of a month during the cycle, body temperature fluctuates between 97.6 to 98.0 °F, then a couple of days body temperature rise about 0.9 °F quickly, reach about 98.6 to 99.0 °F.This higher temperature is maintained to next time till the menstrual bleeding.The important point is that on average, ovulation takes place a couple of days before body temperature sharply rises.

Consider this temperature rise, temperature sensor is selected to such an extent that make it can accurately measure this small variations in temperature.In two holes around the probe, selected two metal- oxide critesistor 30a and 30b for use, it has been adjusted to measures small variations in temperature during the menstrual cycle.The metal-oxide critesistor is by the metal-oxide powder is mixed, be molded into desired shape then, formation resistance is made with the material of the fast-changing similar ceramic semiconductors of temperature, and its response speed depends on employed oxide compound and manufacturing process to a great extent.The critesistor that thermometric is used, its temperature coefficient is normally minus.This quasi-resistance is non-linear, and its working range is narrow, and is highly sensitive, and resistance value descends with the rising of temperature.

Critesistor has various structures.Version comprises that very little pearl body, diameter are less than 0.1 inch to 1 inch the disk and the ring and the bar of various sizes.Can be coated with epoxy resin the state that is inserted in the glass or adds cover layer or keep originally not encapsulating on the critesistor.Want carefully to control and measure earlier the dynamic electric resistor (slope) and the stability of each oxide compound when making accurate critesistor.After repressed sintering of critesistor and the metallization, under the situation that temperature is strictly controlled, grind, make it reach accurate resistance.Correct control manufacture process, can make precision reach ± 0.05 to ± 0.2 ℃.When detecting basal body temperature, critesistor 30a and 30b can be demarcated effectively, corresponding resistance depreciation in the time of determining ovulation.As for the thermometric circuit, preferably include by a critesistor and three basic resistance bridges that fixed resister is formed.The output voltage of electric bridge increases with temperature, and promptly the resistance of temperature-sensitive resistance descends with the rising of temperature.The output voltage of electric bridge converts numerical data to through adjusting, so as with little place under the device interface.To the knowledge of relevant interface and software development aspect be described after a while below.

The hypothesis mechanism of ovulation is cause with antepituitary branch a large amount of lutein LH that ooze.Lutein impels the quick branch of the follicle steroid that contains a small amount of progesterone to ooze again.Necessary two processes of ovulation took place in several hours: 1) theca folliculi begins to form the proteolytic enzyme that impels ovarian follicle wall weakening, the expansion of whole follicle and follicular stigmata to go bad; 2) proteolytic enzyme also impels neovascularity to grow in the ooecium wall, and partial hormone secretion goes in the follicle tissue to cause vasodilation simultaneously.These two effects impel follicle to expand, and cause follicular rupture, and ovum turns up simultaneously.

Approximately ovulation a few days ago, the speed of antepituitary secretion LH significantly increases, and has accelerated 6 to 10 times, reaches summit before ovulation in about 18 hours.Say that with regard to chemical constituent prehypophyseal hormone is a protein, lutein then belongs to proteinic category.In the process that detects ovulation, very crucial to the mensuration of this hormone.In view of protein is that absorption is hyperacoustic, thereby in the process of measuring this hormone, used the ultrasonic transmission/reception technology at the overcoat place.

High-frequency ultrasonic is by the hole emission at probe upper sensor 28a and 28b place.During emission, ultrasound wave passes the LH protein layer, interacts with the soft tissue of vagina, reflects from soft tissue surfaces, passes the LH protein layer in its backhaul once more, is collected by the ultrasonic receiver at external trepanning place.Emitter and receptor adopt the small-sized piezoelectric crystal.Determined whether LH protein from the reception amplitude of ultrasonic reflection signal.If a little less than the signal that reflects, this shows that ultrasound wave had been the LH protein adsorption already in passing the transmitting-receiving stroke of LH protein layer for its twice.

For having determined whether the LH hormone, set the threshold value of ultrasonic reflection signal.If reflected signal is less than this threshold value, showing has the LH hormone.Two excess sound pressure electric crystals are fixed at pick off 28a and 28b place.Must be noted that ultrasound wave still can all return from air interface reflections before the no show LH layer, thereby must guarantee that air is unlikely and be clipped between probe and the vagina soft tissue.The ultrasound data processing procedure of (being called the LH data) is discussed in microprocessor portion below.

Women's sexual cycle is normal 28 days women, and normally ovulate in 14 days after beginning is in the period.Soon, the outstanding outer wall of follicle expands rapidly before the ovulation, and at this moment a little position (being called follicular stigmata) at theca folliculi center resembles as the nipple and give prominence to.After about half an hour, follicle begins to secrete liquid by follicular stigmata.After about two minutes, when follicle diminished because of losing liquid, the follicular stigmata amplitude was split, and flowed in the abdomen so there is the mucus that more is in the follicle core outwards to rout up.All around the ovum that is surrounded by the thousands of granule confluent monolayer cells that are called corona radiation promptly is entrained in this mucus.

Follicle is once breaking, and follicle mucus and cervical mucus just accumulate in orifice of uterus.Except (it is needed that follicle develops into the ovulation rank) LH secretion, the density of mucous basicity of follicle and cervical mucus also is the determining cause element really of ovulating.The cervical mucus major part is gathered in orifice of uterus, and LH then is excretory around vaginal canal.The mucous basicity of follicle is measured by pH electrode, and the density of cervical mucus is then by measuring towards the pressure transducer 32 of orifice of uterus.

The pressure that diaphragm sensing factor palace mucus collection in the pick off 32 produces at orifice of uterus.This pressure is converted into the signal of telecommunication.The density of cervical mucus is big more, the pressure on the diaphragm just big more (being that the degree that diaphragm stretches increases), thus the resistance of pressure transducer diaphragm go-and-retum is increased.Pick off 32 is fixed on the top of overcoat.When overcoat inserted in the vagina, this sensor cover was to orifice of uterus.When pick off 32 is fixed to such an extent that it is assembled because of ovulation except enough cervical mucuss are arranged all sensing do not go out from vaginal wall and vaginal orifice to affact any pressure on the diaphragm.

Fig. 4 shows the simple pressure pick off of a seal membrane.Along with the increase of pressure on diaphragm 40, resistance increases, and the output voltage at network of electrical bridge two ends also increases.Collect data so that define when ovulation does not take place, determine the threshold value of cervical mucus pressure earlier, then itself and cervical mucus pressure instantaneous value are compared.This pressure transducer also has an adapter 42 and a signal shaper 44.

The pH value of solution is the measured value of its acid-base value.Be appreciated that pH value, must understand at first that mass action law is applied to the situation of water and aqueous solution.PH value represents to be stored in the chemical potential energy in acid or the alkali.The pH value of solution is as potential measurement (promptly use the voltage of particular design electrode, current potential is 7 o'clock to be zero at pH value).This current potential is represented through the H+ of decomposition or the motility or the potentiality of OH-ion work done.During given concentration, this current potential is represented the ionization degree or the degree of dissociation of dissolved acid or base molecule.Acid that the degree of dissociation is high or alkali, its current potential, thereby its pH value departs from 7 far away more compared with only dissociative a little weak acid or alkalescence material.

When measuring the pH value of the secretions that produces because of ovulation in the vagina, two electrode 34a of appropriate location placement and 34b are as pick off around overcoat.This is general glass pH electrode.Electrode tip is a barrier film, promptly uses the part as thin as a wafer of the glass blowing one-tenth of special formulation.An electrode and chloride solution are arranged in the sensor body, and electrode is made by the filamentary silver that scribbles silver chloride usually, and chloride solution passes through chemical buffered usually, makes its pH value reach 7.Similar with each threshold value of basal body temperature, LH and uterus mucus pressure, also determine the threshold value of the pH of ovulation liquid and secretions.The following describes the processing procedure of pH data.

The battery of the preferably a pair of AA level of power supply 36 of detection instrument 10.The usage frequency of this supply unit is lower, and power consumption is insignificant, thereby battery no longer can provide enough electric weight that survey meter work can be prolonged service life before.In view of the service life of detection instrument quite long, thereby in fact can base 14 permanent seals to pipe 12, like this, after the time (2 years), the detection instrument can be died out through a segment length, repurchase one new.That that also can the grip pipe make that battery can renew is a kind of.This detection instrument has been used electronic technology, and is mass production, thereby price is cheap.

As shown in Figure 3, survey meter has an overcoat, has put seven pick offs, electronic circuit, microprocessor, set of cells, sounder and light emitting diodes outward.Each pick off is fixed in the overcoat hole on every side with glue.Fig. 5 show in detail analog data from each pick off be how to collect, multiplexing, digitized and with the output of process, all the sensors and the transducer of MPI all be electric analoging signal.Most of signals are millivolt levels.Except that the LH pick off, each value of temperature, cervical mucus pressure and pH pick off all converts the signal of telecommunication to.Under the situation of LH pick off, each piezoquartz triggers for the hyperacoustic agitator of emission by one.The ultrasound wave that reflects just enters processing procedure once reception, produces specific voltage level thus.

The output of each pick off is amplified and filtering through signal shaping then, addresses by passage 1 to 7 in analog multiplexer or switch.When microprocessor is ready can sample to one of them passage the time, it just gives the indication down of this passage by the address decoder that is connected with analog switch.Channel analog signal converts digital signal in A/D converter after over-sampling, and remain on the constant voltage level.At this moment each sample has been converted in the data reading into the microprocessor of digital signal, handled by the program and the instruction that are stored in the read only memory again.Define when ovulating as a result in case reach, microprocessor just makes speaker and these output devices of light emitting diode work.

During practical application, the women inserts electronic ovulation monitor 10 in the vagina of oneself, so sensing device 16 just sends the information of relevant cervical mucus density, basal body temperature, pH level and LH level to blood processor.Have the life ovum to exist if these values show, optical display and audio element just send signal at once, and the notice user has the life ovum to exist.If there are not these signals to send, user just can be inferred does not have ovum to exist.

Survey meter of the present invention is not only applicable to the mankind, and is applicable to other animal, to detect the appearance of organic ovum.In these cases, temperature, pH, LH and cervical mucus density equivalence will program by the particular type of the animal of being considered.

Judge that it is remarkable that the ovulation of denying is arranged.Use survey meter of the present invention and just can survey data such as basal body temperature, LH level, pH level and uterus mucus density, with each threshold, ovulation takes place through having not with regard to decidable after the finishing in good time.When basal body temperature height, LH level height, pH level height and uterus mucus pressure are big, there is ovulation to take place.As can see from Figure 6, software flow has a Y computer and some N computers.When four parameters were all high, the Y computer carried out the one or many inspection with regard to decision, looked at whether each parameter is still high before speaker and light emitting diode work.Equally, the one or many inspection is carried out in the decision of N computer, looks at whether this parameter still was lower than threshold value and is not enough to ovulation before stopping detection.

Although survey meter form described here has constituted the good embodiment of electricity of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the identical therewith survey meter of form, can make amendment to this embodiment under the prerequisite of the scope described in the appended claims not breaking away from the present invention.For example, though the present invention preferably is used for sending signal list and is shown with the appearance of life ovum, but in view of the life span of sperm outside males can reach 48 to 72 hours, at this moment microprocessor chip also can be adjusted to and makes its indication that preovulatory light million appearance of levying be arranged, introduce the intravital sperm of women like this, later on and just can in 48 hours, run into dynamic ovum.In this case, the correspondence as a result of mensuration indicates the condition that the life ovum occurs that helps.Therefore, sending of signal can or be adopted audio element, perhaps adopts optical element, for example light emitting diode.In addition, blood processor also can comprise the device that each numerical value and the relevant data that helps the condition that the life ovum exists are compared.

Claims (14)

1, a kind of electronic ovulation monitor is characterized in that comprising: a clavate overcoat; Four parameter values, the i.e. sensing and the determinator of basal body temperature, cervical mucus density, pH level and LH level; The blood processor of four parameter values is in order to handle described four parameter values, to determine each value whether point out existing of life ovum by correspondence; And advertiser, be shown with the appearance of life ovum in order to send signal list at once.

2, survey meter as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described advertiser has an optical element.

3, survey meter as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that, described advertiser has an audio element.

4, survey meter as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that, described optical element comprises light emitting diode.

5, survey meter as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described four parameter value blood processor comprise described four parameter values and the device that has the life ovum to have to exist relevant data to compare.

6, a kind of electronic ovulation monitor is characterized in that comprising: parameter value, the i.e. sensing and the determinator of basal body temperature, cervical mucus density, PH level and LH level; The parameter value blood processor is in order to handle described parameter, to determine whether correspondence points out existing of life ovum that this blood processor comprises the device that the data that described parameter value is relevant with the existence that the life ovum is arranged compare to each value; And advertiser, being shown with the appearance of life ovum in order to after described each parameter value is treated, to send signal list at once, this advertiser has an optical element.

7, survey meter as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that, described advertiser has an audio element.

8, survey meter as claimed in claim 7 is characterized in that, described optical element comprises light emitting diode.

9, a kind of electronic ovulation monitor is characterized in that comprising: a clavate overcoat; Four parameter values, the i.e. sensing and the determinator of basal body temperature, cervix uteri sticking density, pH level and LH level; Four parameter value blood processor are in order to handle described four parameter values, to determine whether the corresponding condition that helps the appearance of life ovum that indicates exists each value; And advertiser, be shown with the condition existence that helps the appearance of life ovum in order to send signal list at once.

10, survey meter as claimed in claim 9 is characterized in that, described advertiser has an optical element.

11, survey meter as claimed in claim 10 is characterized in that, described advertiser has an audio element.

12, survey meter as claimed in claim 11 is characterized in that, described optical element comprises light emitting diode.

13, survey meter as claimed in claim 9 is characterized in that, described four parameter processing apparatus comprise the device that the data that described four parameter values are relevant with each condition that helps the appearance of life ovum compare.

14, a kind of electronic ovulation monitor is characterized in that comprising: sensing device, in order at least one parameter value in following each parameter of sensing: basal body temperature, cervical mucus density, pH level and LH level; Whether the parameter value blood processor in order to handle described at least one parameter value, represents that to determine this parameter value existing of life ovum arranged; And advertiser, in order to provide signal according to indication.

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