GB2193015A

GB2193015A - Pregnancy monitoring device

Info

Publication number: GB2193015A
Application number: GB08611371A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Henry Ruston; John Lazar Barbur
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-05-09
Filing date: 1986-05-09
Publication date: 1988-01-27
Also published as: GB8611371D0

Abstract

A pregnancy monitoring device can be worn on the body, eg. as a pendant or bracelet, and includes a microprocessor arranged to input fetal movement in a given time period and to display that information. The apparatus can also show the elapsed time and remaining time of the pregnancy, the date on which delivery is due and the present time. An alarm device is provided to indicate when abnormal timings of foetal movements occur. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pregnancy monitoring device This invention relates to a pregnancy monitoring device.

Research has shown that movement in the womb is a reliable indication of the health of an unborn child, such movement being known as fetal movement.

Such movements are readily detectable and recordable using the facilities available in hospitals, but while pregnant women are not in a hospital it is advantageous for them to count the number of fetal movements experienced over a specified period each day and report the results when they next visit an ante-natal clinic or their doctor.

According to this invention a pregnancy monitoring device adapted to be carried by a pregnant woman, comprises a housing containing a microprocessor and having a display capable of selectively displaying the time, the expected delivery date, the time elapsed since the start of pregnancy, and the time remaining until the expected delivery date, the information to be displayed being derived from the microprocessor after the input of the necessary information.

The device can be in the form of a conventional watch, with the display being a liquid crystal display means.

Also according to this invention there is provided a pregnancy monitoring device adapted to be carried by a pregnant woman, comprising input means operative to indicate a fetal movement; a counter arranged to count the number of operations of the input means; and alarm means operative to give an alarm indication to the user when an abnormal pattern of operation of the input means occurs.

An abnormal pattern of operation of the input means can be when no count is started within a predetermined period from commencement of use of the device; when the number of actuations of the input means in a monitoring period is less than a predetermined number; or when arl analysis of the number of operations of the input means in each of a plurality, for example three, of monitoring periods indicates an abnormal pattern.

This invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawing in which Figure 1 is a block schematic circuit diagram of a device according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic front view of the device of Figure 1.

The device can be in the form of a pendant to hang around the neck or bracelet to be worn around the wrist by a pregnant woman, the device being usable to monitor the pregnancy.

The device comprises a housing 20 containing electronic circuitry and a battery power supply 10 for the circuitry. The circuitry includes a microprocessor 1 responsive to input signals from an input means in the form of a switch 3 actuable by a user of the device, to control a liquid crystal display means 4 and an alarm means 5.

The microprocessor provides a first, real time clock operative to indicate normal time; a second clock indicating elapsed pregnancy time, ie how long the user of the device has been pregnant; a third clock indicating remaining pregnancy time, ie time remaining to expected date of delivery; and a fourth clock associated with the counting of fetal movements and operative to indicate the time taken for ten operations of the input switch 3 indicating fetal movements and also to indicate to the user of the device when each monitoring period should start. Associated with the fourth clock is a counter responsive to the input switch 3 to count the number of operations thereof.

Use of the device is initiated by insertion of the battery 10 whereupon the user sets the clocks in the microprocessor 1, in known manner, such that the first clock can indicate the correct time, the third clock is counting down to the expected date of delivery, and the fourth clock is counting down to the time when the first fetal movement monitoring period is to start. The output of the second clock is calculated in the microprocessor 1 from the readings of the other clocks. The device is then in a wait mode in which the times indicated by the clocks can be displayed on the display means 4 by appropriate operation of a switch 30 on the housing 20.

When the time to start the first fetal movement monitoring period is reached by the fourth clock an audible signal is issued and the display means 4 operated to indicate to the user that a switch 7 should be operated to start a monitoring period. If the switch 7 is not operated the audible signal stops after one minute but is thereafter repeated at three hourly intervals. On the third repetition with no operation of the switch 7 the device reverts to an alarm mode and the alarm means 5 is operated to give an audible alarm signal.

After operation of the switch 7 the device enters a count mode in which the display means 4 displays the number of operations of the input switch 3 counted by the counter and the elapsed time since the start of the monitoring period. The monitoring period is ended when the counter reaches a count of ten or the elapsed time reaches twelve hours.

The device then enters a read mode in which the user reads the fetal movement count and elapsed time of the monitoring period just ended and records them on a record sheet. After such reading and recording the user operates a switch 6 to return the device to the wait mode ready for issue of the audible signal when the next monitoring period is to be started as determined by the fourth clock.

If the device determines an abnormal pattern of operation of the input switch 3 then the device enters an alarm mode in which the alarm means 5 is operated to give an audible alarm and an alarm display is given on the display means 4. An abnormal pattern of operation of the input switch 3 can be when there is no operation thereof within a predetermined time from commencement of use of the device; when the number of operations of the input switch 3 in a monitoring period is less than a predetermined number; or when an analysis of the number of operations of the input switch 3 in each of a plurality of consecutive monitoring periods indicates an abnormal pattern, the analysis being carried out by the microprocessor 1.

The alarm mode can be cancelled by operation of the switch 6 to return the device to the wait mode ready for another monitoring period to be initiated.

The housing of the device has an area (not shown) on which details of the user can be entered in legible form to assist in times of any emergency The device described above is intended to be worn by the user throughout pregnancy even though it will not be used to count and monitor fetal movements until say the last twenty weeks of the pregnancy. During the early weeks the device will serve as a time monitor capable of displaying the times indicated by the first, second and third clocks on the display means 4 by appropriate operation of the switch 30, and will also serve simply as a data carrier to assist in case of an emergency. After experiencing the first fetal movement the user triggers the device by operation of a recessed switch 40, this bringing into operation the fetal movement monitoring functions of the device.

As described above a user of the device is required to keep a manual record of relevant information from the device on a record sheet.

However, the microprocessor 1 can be such that it operates to store this information and display it on demand on the display means 4, for a given period of time, for example eight days. The information stored and displayable could be, for example, the number of fetal movements recorded in each monitoring period of say twelve hours, or the times taken to record successive counts of ten fetal movements.

Claims

1. A pregnancy monitoring device comprising a housing containing a microprocessor and having a display capable of selectively display- ing the time, the expected delivery date, the time elapsed since the start of pregnancy, and the time remaining until the expected delivery date, the information to be displayed being derived from the microprocessor after the in put of the necessary information.

2. A device according to Claim 1, in the form of a conventional watch, with the display being a liquid crystal display means.

3. A device according to Claim 1, compris ing input means operative to indicate a fetal movement; a counter arranged to count the number of operations of the input means; and alarm means operative to give an alarm indica tion to the user when an abnormal pattern of operation of the input means occurs.

4. A device according to Claim 3, in which the alarm means is arranged to give an alarm indication when no count is started-within a predetermined period from commencement of use of the device; or when the number of actuations of the input means in a monitoring period is less than a predetermined number; or when an analysis of the number of oper ations of the input means in each of a plurality of monitoring periods indicates an abnormal pattern.

5. A device according to any preceding Claim, in the form of a pendant or bracelet.

6. A device according to any preceding Claim, in which the microprocessor is arranged to provide a first, real time clock operative to indicate normal time; a second clock indicating elapsed pregnancy time; a third clock indicat ing remaining pregnancy time; and a fourth clock to indicate the time taken for a predet ermined number of operations of the switch, each operation corresponding to a fetal move ment, and a counter associated with the fourth clock.

7. A device according to Claim 6, in which an audible or visual signal is made when the time to start the first fetal movement monitor ing period is reached by the fourth clock.

8. A device according to Claim 7, in which an audible alarm signal is made if no input signals are received after three successive fe tal monitoring periods.

9. A device according to any preceding Claim, in which the microprocessor is arranged to store recorded information and display it on demand on the display means.

10. A pregnancy monitoring device, sub stantially as described and with reference to the drawing.