RU2071272C1 - Device for examining mucus in cervical canal - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medical engineering, gynecology. SUBSTANCE: device comprises two cylindrical, coaxially arranged electrodes insulated from each other and connected to instruments for electrical measurements, and to a reduced pressure source. One of electrodes is rigidly fixed inside capillary canal of transparent graduated tube serving as casing, while other electrode is rigidly fixed inside extension piece having limiter and secured to casing by means of two screws. Lateral surface of extension piece is provided both outside and inside with plurality of openings of different configurations intended for drainage and for receiving one or several sensors responsive to temperature, surface tension, etc. Provision is also made for light emitter and light detector placed in opposition to each other in openings formed to receive them at end of lateral surface of said extension piece. This structural arrangement offers number of advantage, namely: photosensitive elements are placed in immediate contact with mucus, their surfaces are not soiled, light coming from light emitter is neither scattered nor absorbed, whereby photometric parameters of mucus can be measured more accurately. Limiter is provided with randomly shaped openings which make it possible to insert device into cervical canal more accurately and quickly. Slidably movable wiring contact is provided inside transparent graduated tube. Axial movement of this contact makes it possible to measure time it takes to fill capillary with mucus during mucus viscosity measurements. Beginning and end of measurements can be registered by electronic chronometer. Casing is enveloped by vacuum tube which is connected, in series, to electric valve, to receiver provided with digital depression sensor, to gate valve and to vacuum pump. EFFECT: more accurate and rapid measurement of mucus parameters in cervical canal. 3 cl, 2 dwg

Description

 The invention relates to devices for medical equipment and can be used in gynecology to diagnose the condition of the female body in norm or pathology according to the physiological state of cervical mucus.

 The closest in technical essence is a device for studying the physiological state of mucus in the cervical canal / SU, Auth. testimonial. N 1475592, cl. A 61 B 5/05, 1989 /, containing two coaxially spaced electrodes, a holder, a housing with a longitudinal displacement drive, a sleeve of non-conductive transparent material, in which a light emitter and light receiver, a restrictive washer and a low pressure source are placed. The device provides measurements of electrical conductivity, constant and variable resistance, viscosity, surface tension, concentration of protein components in the mucus.

The disadvantages of the known device include:
the complexity of the design, the presence of a special holder and mechanical units for moving the electrodes that are inserted into the cervical canal, causing discomfort and complicate the procedure, thereby increasing the duration of the measurement.

 unsatisfactory measurement accuracy of photometric parameters due to the fact that the mucus is pumped into a transparent sleeve in which a light emitter and a light detector are installed. The material of the sleeve due to the scattering and absorption of part of the light flux distorts the true values of the sensor readings. In addition, a significant amount of mucus is required for analysis, since before entering the sleeve, the mucus must fill the entire space of the first and second electrodes. It should also be noted that an accurate assessment of all parameters of cervical mucus requires continuous determination of temperature at the point where the measurement is made. Also, in known constructions, measurement of pressure fluctuations of the walls of the cervix is not provided, which is insufficient for the diagnosis of a physiological state in the norm and deviations from it in pathology.

 The problem to be solved is increasing the accuracy of measurements and expanding functionality due to complex continuous measurement of thermophysical parameters in the cervical canal of the cervix with direct contact of mucus and body tissues with the surface of the sensors.

 In FIG. 1 shows a structural embodiment of a device for the study of mucus in the cervical canal. In FIG. 2 is given a left view.

 The device comprises a housing 1, in the form of a transparent tube graduated on the outside, inside which there is a capillary through hole. Outside, a transparent, flexible protective tube 2 is freely mounted on the housing. A hollow cylindrical electrode 3 is rigidly mounted on the inside of the capillary at one end of the housing, and a removable nozzle with a stop 4 is mounted on the outside, which is mounted on the housing with two screws 5 and inside of which the other hollow is rigidly inserted a cylindrical electrode 6 located coaxially with the first and isolated from it. In the limiter, holes 7 of arbitrary shape are made to improve visibility when the device is inserted into the cervical canal, and drainage holes 8 and holes for installing various sensors are made on the lateral surface of the nozzle and electrode 6. Drainage holes serve to more completely fill the interelectrode space. The openings for the sensors can be of any shape depending on the purpose and shape of the sensors themselves. Sensors can be installed either by embedding in pre-prepared holes, or by pouring, together with conductors, into the material of the nozzle.

 For continuous temperature measurement, it is proposed to install two thermocouple sensors 9. One for mucus is located on the inner lateral surface of the nozzle, and the other for measuring the temperature of the walls of the cervix - on the outer side surface of the nozzle.

 To continuously measure the pressure parameters of the walls of the cervix, it is proposed to install two surface pressure sensors 10, which allow determining the mechanism of muscle tissue contraction, which is extremely important for the diagnosis of the physiological state in the norm and deviation from it in pathology.

 For continuous measurement of the optical properties and concentration of protein components in direct contact with mucus at the end of the nozzle 4 in the holes 11 are installed towards each other emitter and light receiver.

 On the other side of the housing 1, a wire contact 12 is inserted inside the capillary, which serves to indicate the time of filling the channel with mucus, and a vacuum tube 13 is connected outside, connected to the solenoid valve 14, which is then connected in series with the receiver 15, equipped with a digital discharge sensor 16 and a valve 17 connected with a vacuum pump 18. Conductors from sensors installed in the nozzle are passed between the housing 1 by a protective tube 2 and connected to the block of electrical equipment 19.

 The electrodes 3, 6 and terminal 12 are made of a corrosion-resistant, biologically inert conductive material. For example, stainless steel. The nozzle with limiter 4 is made of biologically inert, stable and; in sterilizing solutions of the material, for example, fluoroplastic or polytetrafluoroethylene.

 The procedure for measuring the parameters of mucus using the proposed device is as follows.

 The examinee is placed in a gynecological chair, insert vaginal plate mirrors and expose the cervix. Carefully inject the nozzle into the cervical canal to the stop. Connect the electrodes and conductors of the sensors to the block of electrical equipment and take measurements.

 When connecting 3.6 electrodes with an ohmmeter, the electrical conductivity and the electrical resistance of the mucus are measured at direct and alternating current.

 To continuously determine the surface temperature of the cervical walls, photometric characteristics (concentration of protein components, transparency) include surface pressure sensors, an emitter and a light detector, the readings of which can be displayed on a computer monitor.

 To determine the viscous properties of mucus, the casing of the device is connected by a vacuum tube to a vacuum source system. Next, close the solenoid valve, open the valve, turn on the vacuum pump and pump out the air to a certain pressure value, after which, close the valve. Next, open the electrovalve and fix the time during which the capillary channel is filled with mucus before the contact is activated. Another way is to use a solenoid valve to give a short switch on and look at the scale on the tube body how far the mucus column has risen. The numerical values of the filling time and the column reflect the viscous properties of the mucus.

 Thus, when using the proposed device, a significant increase in the accuracy of measurements and the expansion of functionality due to the continuous measurement of a number of informative indicators of the physiological state of mucus directly in the body with a single introduction of the sensor into the cervical canal: electrical conductivity, constant and variable resistance, viscosity, transparency, concentration and state of protein components, temperature of mucus and walls, surface pressure.

 When using the proposed device, measurements are carried out without violating the initial structure of the mucus at the true temperature in the cervical canal, which is essential for a reliable assessment of the physiological state. A single introduction of the device allows complex measurements to be carried out in a short time without injuring body tissues.

Claims (4)

 1. A device for the study of mucus in the cervical canal, containing two cylindrical coaxially isolated from each other electrodes connected to electrical equipment and a source of reduced pressure, characterized in that it contains a housing in the form of a transparent capillary tube with divisions on the side surface protected from the outside a flexible, transparent tube, inside of which a hollow cylindrical electrode is inserted on one side and a nozzle with a stopper and a built-in the second electrode, and in the limiter, holes for viewing are made, and in the nozzle and electrode there are drainage holes for installing various sensors, on the other hand a wire contact is inserted inside and a vacuum tube is put on the outside, connected in series with an electrovalve, a receiver with a digital pressure gauge, a valve and vacuum pump.  2. The device according to p. 1, characterized in that in the dielectric layer of the side surface of the nozzle holes are made in which one or more temperature sensors are installed.  3. The device according to paragraphs. 1 and 2, characterized in that in the dielectric layer of the side surface of the nozzle holes are made in which one or more surface pressure sensors are installed.  4. The device according to paragraphs. 1 to 3, characterized in that through holes are made at the end of the side surface of the nozzle and the external electrode, into which light emitter and light receiver are installed on opposite sides towards each other.

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