| 摘要 |
This invention is a device (4), a method for monitoring cervical dilation, and descent of the presenting part, during labor. An extra corporeally located ultrasound transmitter (6) transmits ultrasound signals into the body of the patient. Small ultrasound reflectors (10) located on either side of the cervical os, and on the fetal presenting part, reflect the ultrasound signals back to extra corporeal ultrasound receivers (6). Spectral, and acoustic characteristics of the received ultrasound signals are analysed (2) to identify the relative locations of the reflectors. The trigonometric relationships between the reflectors, the transmitters are used to calculate the degree of cervical dilation, and descent of the fetal presenting part. In an alternative embodiment, passive ultrasound receivers are used instead of ultrasound reflectors. |
