| 摘要 |
Method and apparatus for external measurement of uterine contractions, in particular for the indication of a risk of premature delivery. In the method, the number and intensity of the uterine contractions are advantageously sampled periodically. The sampled analog signals are, if appropriate after amplification, converted into digital signals, after which the digital signals are stored and processed, and finally displayed and/or conveyed onwards to a microprocessor. During the duration of the measurement, values corresponding to the size and duration of the sampled uterine contractions are compared with a previously determined threshold value and with values characterising a predetermined time interval, and the measured values lying above the threshold value and at the same time falling within the interval are stored with the associated times, after which the measurement is repeated and the number of measured values stored during a predetermined time span is calculated and, if the number of the stored measured values exceeds a previously set value, an alarm signal is triggered. The apparatus comprises a central unit (1), a working memory (3) connected to the central unit via an inner system bus (23), a data memory (2), one or more adapter units and an analog measurement unit (24). The analog measurement unit (24) contains a measurement transducer (10), an amplifier (8) connected to the output of the measurement transducer via a low-pass filter (9), and if appropriate a comparator (6) connected to its output. The output of the amplifier (8) is connected via an A/D converter (5) to the inner system bus (25). In addition, at least one two-way coupling unit (4) is provided as adapter unit, this being connected to a display (22) via an audio-frequency circuit (13). <IMAGE> |
