Patent ID: 6432051
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method for non-invasively monitoring a physiological condition of a child during parturition, said method comprising the steps of:introducing an elongated, flat, pliant chamber member between the child (C) and the birth canal (30) of the parturient (D) with a first face wall of the chamber member facing the child and a second face wall of the chamber member facing the birth canal, said first face wall having an area (A1) formed of a first pliant material (11) permeable to a selected gas but effectively impermeable to at least liquids and solids, said second face wall having an area (A2) formed of a second pliant material (12) that is substantially impermeable both to the selected gas and to at least liquids and solids, the chamber member having a chamber containing a measuring medium; retaining the chamber member in the birth canal by the action of the mutual compressive force (Q) between the birth canal (30) and the child (C); allowing the selected gas to transfer from the child into the measuring medium in the chamber member across the area (A1) of the first pliant material while transfer of the selected gas over the area (A2) of the second pliant material is prevented to eliminate effects of the parturient (D) and external factors on the composition of the measuring medium; and analyzing the measuring medium contained in the chamber member to obtain the concentration of the selected gas to determine a physical condition of the child.