Patent Description:
The health of the mother and fetus are typically monitored during birthing processes, e.g., fetal heartrate, maternal heartrate, and/or uterine activity may be monitored. Electronic monitoring devices typically used to monitor the mother's and/or fetus's vitals are designed to be attached directly to the mother, and to communicate with external equipment. This is well-suited for traditional birthing, because the mother is typically in a bed for at least part of the process, permitting the monitoring devices to communicate with the external equipment wirelessly, through the air, or via cables extending from the monitoring devices coupled to the mother while she is in the bed.

However, in a water birth, the monitoring devices secured directly to the mother are frequently underwater. As such, wireless communication between the monitoring devices and the external equipment is unreliable and/or unavailable. Accordingly, in water births, the monitoring devices attached to the mother communicate with external monitoring devices via cables. However, these devices, secured to the mother and tethered by wires to outside devices, tend to constrain the mother's movements. This can reduce the comfort and mitigate the stress-reduction benefits for the mother during the labor and delivery process.

<CIT> describes a system for measuring the movement of a birthing mother in a birthing pool. The system comprises a birthing pool. The pool comprises at least one motion sensor configured to detect the movement of the birthing mother in the pool. The pool comprises a processing means operatively connected to the at least one motion sensor. The system is configured to monitor motion of the mother whilst located within the birthing pool.

Aspects of the disclosure include a system for monitoring health during a water birth. The system includes a first health sensor including one or more transducers configured to emit, receive, or both emit and receive monitoring signals through water in a tank. When received, at least some of the monitoring signals represent a health of a mother, a fetus, or both at least partially in the water. The system also includes a health monitoring device in communication with the first health sensor, wherein the health monitoring device is configured to receive communication signals from the first health sensor, the communication signals including data representing at least some of the monitoring signals.

In an example, the monitoring signals include ultrasonic Doppler signals, and wherein the one or more transducers are configured to emit and receive the ultrasonic Doppler signals directly in the water.

In an example, the first health sensor is not connected to the mother, and the first health sensor and the health monitoring device are in wireless communication with one another.

In an example, the one or more transducers include a steerable array of piezoelectric crystals configured to emit the monitoring signals and to change a trajectory of the at least some of the monitoring signals based at least in part on whether the first health sensor is receiving echoes generated in response to the monitoring signals.

The system also includes a beacon connected to the mother and configured to emit a beacon signal, wherein the one or more transducers of the first health sensor are configured to emit the monitoring signals and to direct the monitoring signals emitted therefrom based at least in part on a location of the beacon signal.

In an example, the system also includes a second health sensor comprising one or more transducers configured to emit and receive the monitoring signals through the water in the tank. The system is configured to determine a location of the mother in the tank based at least in part on orientations of the first and second health sensors when the first and second health sensors receive the beacon signal.

In an example, the first health sensor is configured to determine a position of a fetus relative to a reference location of the mother based on a comparison of the beacon signal and at least some of the monitoring signals.

In an example, at least some of the monitoring signals represent fetal heartrate, maternal heartrate, uterine activity, fetal movement, or a combination thereof.

Aspects of the disclosure may also include a method for monitoring health. The method includes transmitting a monitoring signal through water using one or more transducers of one or more health sensors located at least partially in the water, and receiving an echo using the one or more transducers. The echo is generated in response to the monitoring signal, and wherein the echo represents a health measurement of a mother, a fetus, or both located at least partially in the water. The method also includes transmitting data representing the health of the mother, the fetus, or both to a monitoring device located outside of the water.

In an example, the method also includes scanning a plurality of directions for the monitoring signal by steering the one or more transducers, and selecting one or more orientations for the one or more transducers in response to receiving the echo with the one or more transducers oriented at one or more of the plurality of directions.

In an example, the one or more transducers include a steerable array of piezoelectric crystals that are configured to emit and receive ultrasonic Doppler signals directly in the water.

The method also includes receiving a beacon signal from a beacon coupled to the mother, determining a position of the mother relative to the one or more health sensors at least partially based on the beacon signal received from the beacon, and adjusting a trajectory of the one or more transducers least partially based on the position of the mother.

In an example, the method also includes attaching a beacon to the mother at a reference location of the mother, receiving a signal from the beacon, and determining a location of the fetus relative to the mother by comparing a location of the echo representing the fetus to the reference location.

In an example, the echo includes one or more signals representing a maternal heartrate and one or more signals representing a fetal heartrate, and wherein determining the location of the fetus relative to the mother comprises distinguishing the one or more signals representing the fetal heartrate from the one or more signals representing the maternal heartrate.

In an example, the method also includes detecting that the mother has left the water, and discontinuing transmitting in response to detecting that the mother has left the water.

A health sensor apparatus is also described. The health sensor apparatus includes a housing configured to be at least partially submerged in water without permitting water to reach within the housing, a communication module at least partially within the housing and configured to communicate with a health monitor, a steerable array of piezoelectric crystals configured to emit and receive ultrasonic signals in the water, and a steering control module configured to steer the steerable array of piezoelectric crystals based at least in part on whether the array of piezoelectric crystals receive an echo signal representing a fetal heartrate, a maternal heartrate, uterine activity, fetal movement, or a combination thereof.

In an example, the communication module includes an antenna configured to transmit wireless signals to the health monitor.

In an example, the apparatus also includes a clip configured to connect the housing to a tank in which the water is contained.

In an example, the steerable array of piezoelectric crystals is configured to receive a beacon signal from a beacon connected to a mother located at least partially in the water. Further, the steering control module is configured to steer the steerable array of piezoelectric crystals in response to whether the steerable array of piezoelectric crystals receives the beacon signal.

In an example, the beacon is connected to the mother at a reference location, and wherein the steering control module is configured to steer the steerable array of piezoelectric crystals so as to direct the ultrasonic signals toward the reference location.

The present disclosure may best be understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings that are used to illustrate examples of the invention. In the drawings:.

The following disclosure describes several examples for implementing different features, structures, or functions of the invention. Examples of components, arrangements, and configurations are described below to simplify the present disclosure; however, these examples are provided merely as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, the present disclosure may repeat reference characters (e.g., numerals) and/or letters in the various examples and across the Figures provided herein. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various examples and/or configurations discussed in the Figures. Moreover, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include examples in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include examples in which additional features may be formed interposing the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. Finally, the examples presented below may be combined in any combination of ways, e.g., any element from one exemplary example may be used in any other exemplary example, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

Additionally, certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, various entities may refer to the same component by different names, and as such, the naming convention for the elements described herein is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, unless otherwise specifically defined herein. Further, the naming convention used herein is not intended to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. Additionally, in the following discussion and in the claims, the terms "including" and "comprising" are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean "including, but not limited to. " All numerical values in this disclosure may be exact or approximate values unless otherwise specifically stated. Accordingly, various examples of the disclosure may deviate from the numbers, values, and ranges disclosed herein without departing from the intended scope. In addition, unless otherwise provided herein, "or" statements are intended to be non-exclusive; for example, the statement "A or B" should be considered to mean "A, B, or both A and B.

Examples of the present invention may provide one or more of a variety of different technical advantages. For example, the invention may permit monitoring of a mother and/or fetus during water birthing without tethering the mother to communication cables. The invention may also permit free movement of the mother in the birthing tank by steering signals withing the water over a range of directions. The invention may be configured to preserve and extend battery life in the devices employed by dynamically controlling signal types and/or strength of the various monitoring and communication devices. Further, the invention may provide low-loss signals in the context of communication of signals through different media (e.g., water and air).

<FIG> illustrates a side, schematic view of a health monitoring system <NUM>, according to an example. The health monitoring system <NUM> may include or be employed in conjunction with a birthing tank or tub <NUM>. The tank <NUM> may be a general-purpose bathing tub, or may be constructed specifically for water births. The tank <NUM> may be an open-air tank, permitting a user (e.g., a mother) <NUM> to enter and exit the tank <NUM> by stepping over the side. A pool of water <NUM> may be held in the tank <NUM>.

The system <NUM> may also include one or more health sensors (two are shown: <NUM>, <NUM>). It will be appreciated that any number of health sensors may be employed, with the depiction of two in the illustration being merely an example. The system <NUM> may further include a monitoring device <NUM>, which may be configured for communication with at least one of the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM>. The monitoring device <NUM> may be configured to interpret the signal received from the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> and, e.g., determine health measurements such as heartrate.

In at least some examples, at least one of the health sensors <NUM> may communicate with the monitoring device <NUM> via the other health sensor <NUM>, while still being considered to be "in communication with" the monitoring device <NUM>. For example, the sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may be connected together by a cable or in wireless communication with one another. In other examples, the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may not communicate directly with one another, but may individually communicate directly with the monitoring device <NUM>.

The health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may each include one or more transducers, which may be configured to convert electrical power to ultrasonic Doppler signals, or any other suitable signal type. The transducers may also be configured to convert received ultrasonic Doppler signals to electrical signals. For example, as will be described in greater detail below, the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may each include one or more piezoelectric crystals, e.g., a steerable array of piezoelectric crystals, which may be steerable to control a trajectory of the signals, such that echoes therefrom represent one or more health measurements of the mother <NUM> and/or the fetus, e.g., maternal heartrate, fetal heartrate, uterine activity, and fetal movement. In some examples, each of the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may be capable of transmitting and receiving such ultrasonic Doppler signals. In other examples, one or more of the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may be configured to transmit and not to receive, while another may be configured to receive and not transmit. Various combinations of health sensors may be employed.

The health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may be configured to be at least partially submerged in the water, e.g., the internal components are protected from immersion in water. In one specific example, the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may be IP68 rated. Further, the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may be battery operated. Accordingly, the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may transmit and/or receive the Doppler signals directly in the water, e.g., such that the signals do not propagate through any other media (e.g., air, the side of the tank <NUM>, etc.). Without limitation, ultrasound Doppler signals may travel in water with a velocity of from about <NUM>/s to about <NUM>/s, e.g., about <NUM>/s, and thus transmitting and receiving such signals directly in the water using the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may avoid at least some attenuation of the signals.

Further, despite being at least partially submerged, at least one of the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may extend at least partially out of the water <NUM>, such that the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> are able to communicate wirelessly with the monitoring device <NUM>. For example, the health sensor <NUM> may be positioned with an antenna or another transmission device extending upward, beyond the top of the water <NUM>. The health sensor <NUM> and the monitoring device <NUM> may be configured to communicate over any type of wireless signal or protocol, such as WIFI®, BLUETOOTH®, medical body area network (MBAN), cellular, etc. In other examples, one or both of the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may be completely submerged and in communication with the monitoring device <NUM> via one or more cables. In such wired communication examples, the signals that communicate with the mother <NUM> may be wireless, such that no wires are attached to the mother <NUM>.

In at least some examples, the monitoring device <NUM> may be configured to coordinate steering of the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, e.g., using triangulation for the position of the mother <NUM> and/or the fetus based on the orientation of the transducers of the respective health sensors <NUM>, <NUM>. That is, the position and orientation of the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may be known at the time an echo signal generated at the mother <NUM> is received, and thus the position of the mother <NUM> relative to the sensors <NUM>, <NUM> in the tank <NUM> may be calculated.

The system <NUM> includes a beacon <NUM>, secured to the mother <NUM>. The beacon <NUM> may be battery-powered, so as to avoid connecting wires to the mother <NUM>. The beacon <NUM> may be configured to be secured at a reference location on the mother <NUM>. For example, the reference location may be a specific spot on the torso of the mother <NUM>, e.g., marking a point where the fetal heartbeat is initially located. The reference location may thus be used to locate the fetus relative to the mother, so as to monitor the progression of the fetus during birth. Thus, the reference location, in this regard, is not determined relative to the mother's position in the tank <NUM>, but rather provides a basis from which to determine a location of the fetus with respect to the mother's anatomy, during birth.

The beacon <NUM> may permit inferring a location of the mother <NUM> in the tank <NUM> relative to the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM>. The beacon <NUM> emits a signal that is received by the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> when the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> have a receiver directed thereto, and not otherwise. Thus, the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> "scan" across a range of orientations to acquire the signal from the beacon <NUM>, and then send/receive the Doppler signals toward the beacon <NUM>, as the beacon <NUM> represents the location of the mother <NUM>. In other examples, the beacon <NUM> may communicate with other types of sensors, which can relay data sufficient to infer the position of the mother <NUM> to the monitoring device <NUM>.

Accordingly, the beacon <NUM> may serve two location functions. First, the beacon <NUM> may provide a reference point for establishing movement of the fetus relative to the mother <NUM>, as the birthing process progresses. Second, the beacon <NUM> may permit locating the mother <NUM> in the tank <NUM>, permitting the signals to be directed or "steered" toward the mother <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a top, schematic view of the system <NUM> and the tank <NUM>, according to an example. It is again noted that the system <NUM> may include the tank <NUM>, or may be separate therefrom and configured for use therewith. As shown, the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may be connected to the side of the tank <NUM>, e.g., clipped to the rim of the tank <NUM>. In other examples, the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may be secured to the tank <NUM> in any convenient manner, whether releasable or permanently affixed thereto. For example, the tank <NUM> may be fabricated with the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> embedded therein.

In this example, the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> include Doppler transducers 200A, 200B, respectively, and wireless transceivers 202A, 202B, respectively. The wireless transceivers 202A, 202B may be configured for wireless communication (e.g., through the air) with the monitoring device <NUM>. Thus, at least a portion of the wireless transceivers 202A, 202B may be positioned out of the water <NUM>, e.g., held above the water <NUM> or otherwise outside of the tank <NUM>. As such, any suitable wireless transmission hardware and/or software may be employed for this communication. In other examples, the wireless transceivers 202A, 202B may be replaced with or used in addition to wired communication devices, which may communicate with the monitoring device <NUM> via one or more cables that are outside of the tank <NUM>.

The Doppler transducers 200A, 200B may be configured to emit and/or receive ultrasonic Doppler signals in the water <NUM>. For example, the Doppler transducers 200A, 200B may each be configured to convert between electrical power signal and Doppler signal in the water <NUM>. The Doppler transducers 200A, 200B may be independently steered, as mentioned above and described in greater detail below, such that the Doppler transducers 200A, 200B emit Doppler ultrasonic signals that echo from the mother <NUM> and are received by the transducers 200A, 200B, permitting acquisition of health data from the mother <NUM>, fetus, or both.

<FIG> illustrates a schematic view of a health sensor <NUM>, according to an example. The health sensor <NUM> may be implemented by one or both of the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> discussed above. The health sensor <NUM> may include a housing <NUM>, which may be configured to protect components therein from immersion in water. Within the housing <NUM>, there may be a radio transmitter <NUM>, which may be configured to communicate wirelessly with a computing device (e.g., the monitoring device <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG>) via an antenna <NUM>. In this example, the antenna <NUM> is an external antenna, extending at least partially upwards from the housing <NUM>. In other examples, the antenna <NUM> may be internal to the housing <NUM>. A clip <NUM> may be secured to the housing <NUM> and may be configured to connect the housing <NUM>, and thus the health sensor <NUM>, to a rim of a tank (e.g., the tank <NUM>). In other examples, other types of mounting devices may be employed.

The health sensor <NUM> may also include a fetal heartrate (FHR) algorithm module <NUM>, which may be positioned within the housing <NUM>. The FHR algorithm module <NUM> may be configured to infer a fetal heartrate from Doppler signals and, e.g., to separate the fetal heartrate signals from maternal heartrate signals. For example, the fetal heartrate may be at a different frequency than the maternal heartrate, and thus may be distinguished based on this or any other signal characteristic.

A Doppler receiver module <NUM> and a Doppler transmitter section and steering control module <NUM> may also be included within the housing <NUM>. Further, an array (e.g., one dimensional, two dimensional, radial, etc.) of piezoelectric crystals <NUM> may also be included within the housing <NUM>, which may serve as the transducers for the sensor <NUM>. For example, the piezoelectric crystals of the array <NUM> may receive electrical signals from the Doppler transmitter and steering control module <NUM> and convert these signals to Doppler signals that propagate through the water. The crystals of the array <NUM> may also receive Doppler signals (echoes) from the water and convert them to electric signals. The array <NUM> may be positioned within the housing <NUM> so as to be at least partially below the surface of the water, thereby permitting the array <NUM> to transmit Doppler signals and receive echoes directly in the water.

Further, the array <NUM> may be steerable, e.g., by changing the orientation of one or more crystals of the array <NUM>, so as to direct the Doppler signals to and receive signals from a desired location. In at least some examples, the Doppler transmitter section and steering control module <NUM> may control the directionality of the Doppler signals by adjusting the orientation of the crystals of the array <NUM>, or signaling the array <NUM> to adjust, e.g., using another actuator. The Doppler transmitter section and steering control module <NUM> may include software configured to control a scan of different orientations for the array <NUM>, so as to direct the Doppler signals.

<FIG> illustrates a flowchart of a method <NUM> for monitoring a health measurement of a mother, a fetus, or both in a water birth, according to an example. The method <NUM> may employ one or more examples of the system <NUM> discussed above with reference to <FIG>, and is thus described herein with reference thereto. In other examples, however, the method <NUM> may implement any other heath monitoring system. Further, the steps of the method <NUM> may be executed in the order presented herein, or in any other order, whether in parallel or in sequence. Additionally, one or more of the steps may be partitioned into two or more steps, and/or any two or more of the steps may be combined into a single step.

The method <NUM> may include determining a trajectory for a signal emission from the health sensor(s) <NUM>, <NUM>, which may be submerged in water, as at <NUM>. In one example, the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may perform a raster scan. In such a raster scan process, the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> may transmit in a plurality of different directions, in sequence, and determine which of the directions results in an echo being received. As noted above, this may be controlled by the Doppler transmitter and steering control module <NUM> of the individual health sensors <NUM>, <NUM>.

The scanning procedure may stop when an echo is received, or may continue through a predetermined range, and then return to a trajectory that generated useable (e.g., the strongest) echoes representing the desired health measurements. The health sensor <NUM> orients its transducer(s) in a plurality of different directions until receiving the beacon signal. emitted by the beacon. The health sensor <NUM> thus determines the direction for the transducers thereof based at least in part on whether a beacon signal is acquired at any scanned direction. In this latter example, the health sensor <NUM> may not transmit Doppler signals during the scan, but may rather "listen" for signals from the beacon <NUM>. In other examples, the health sensor <NUM> may transmit Doppler signals while scanning for beacon <NUM> signals. Further, in still other examples, the direction for the signals to be emitted may be determined based on other sensors receiving signals from the beacon <NUM>.

In at least some examples, the mother <NUM> exiting the tank <NUM> may cause the system <NUM> to be unable to acquire an echo signal that includes health monitoring information. The system <NUM> may thus be configured such that the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM> stop looking for an echo after passing through a range of orientations, or may continue to scan until an interrupt is received (e.g., a button pressed, e.g., on the monitor <NUM>, in response to the mother <NUM> exiting the tank <NUM>). In at least some examples, the failure to acquire an echo signal may trigger an alarm.

The method <NUM> may also include adjusting an orientation of the transducers of the health sensor, as at <NUM>. This adjustment may be based at least in part on the determination made at <NUM> and may be implemented internal to the individual health sensors <NUM>, <NUM>. In some examples, the determining at <NUM> and the adjusting at <NUM> may occur simultaneously, e.g., as part of the same process of orienting the transducers in an appropriate direction. In other examples, for example, the orientation may be determined in <NUM> and then refined based on a strength of the echoes by further adjusting at <NUM>. In some examples, the steps <NUM> and <NUM> may be repeated continuously, at relatively short intervals, or at any time an echo representing a health measurement is not received.

The method <NUM> may further include emitting an ultrasonic Doppler signal directly into the water <NUM> in the trajectory determined at <NUM>, as at <NUM>. As noted above, the health sensor(s) <NUM>, <NUM> may be at least partially submerged in the water <NUM>, and thus the transducers (e.g., arrays of piezoelectric crystals) may be permitted to communicate directly with the water <NUM>. However, the health sensor(s) <NUM>, <NUM> may be separated from the mother <NUM>, and may not be connected to the mother <NUM>. As such, the mother <NUM> may not be tethered to the health sensor(s) <NUM>, <NUM> via cables.

The method <NUM> may also include receiving an echo signal generated in response to the emitted signal, using the health sensor(s) <NUM> and/or <NUM>, as at <NUM>. The echo signal may be received directly from the water <NUM> by the health sensor(s) <NUM>, <NUM>, which may maintain low attenuation in the echo signal. Further, artifacts (noise) in the signal generated by waves or other water movement, echoes from the signal reflecting off the tank <NUM>, etc., may be muted during processing, e.g., based on models of expected data signals (e.g., known characteristics of maternal heartrate, fetal heartrate, and/or uterine activity signals).

One or more communication signals may then be transmitted (e.g., wirelessly) from the health sensor(s) <NUM>, <NUM> to the monitoring device <NUM>, as at <NUM>. The one or more communication signals may carry data representing the echo signals. The health sensor(s) <NUM>, <NUM> may include an external antenna that may extend out of the water to permit communication of the signals wirelessly to the monitoring device <NUM>.

The echo signal received by the health sensor(s) <NUM>, <NUM> may provide data representing one or more health-related properties of the mother and/or fetus. This data may be transmitted (e.g., wirelessly) to the monitoring device <NUM> for interpretation. That is, the monitoring device <NUM> may determine one or more health measurements based on the communication signal, which is generated based on the echo signals, as at <NUM>. For example, the echo signal may represent a maternal heartrate and/or a fetal heartrate. The maternal heartrate and the fetal heartrate may be distinguished, e.g., using the monitoring device <NUM>, based on different characteristics of a maternal heartrate and a fetal heartrate, based on the differences therebetween in frequency, signal strength, or any other signal parameter. In addition, based on location of the source, heartrates for twins, triplets, etc., may be distinguished and, e.g., separately monitored. In at least some examples, the health sensor(s) <NUM>, <NUM> and/or the monitoring device <NUM> may filter and/or process the physiological parameter (e.g., health data) represented by the echo signals, permitting or actively inferring fetal heart rate for transmission via the communication signals.

As noted above, the system <NUM> includes a beacon <NUM> for locating the mother <NUM> in the tank <NUM> and steers the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, as noted above in steps <NUM> and <NUM>. Additionally, the beacon <NUM> may be coupled to the mother <NUM> at a reference location. The reference location may be selected to coincide with a location of a signal of the fetal heartbeat, and the reference location may remain stationary on the mother <NUM>, while the fetus moves with respect thereto. Such changes in position of the fetus relative to the reference location of the mother <NUM> may thus provide insight into the progression of the birthing process.

In such examples, the method <NUM> may include receiving the beacon signal from the beacon <NUM> coupled to the mother <NUM> at the reference location, as at <NUM>. The beacon signals may be ultrasonic, and thus may be acquired by the health sensor(s) <NUM>, <NUM>. Although ultrasonic, the beacon signals may be of a different frequency than (or otherwise distinguishable from) the Doppler signals and/or echoes therefrom.

Further, based on the orientation of the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, the reference location of the beacon <NUM> may be determined, e.g., using the monitoring device <NUM> or by communication/coordination between the health sensors <NUM>, <NUM>. Similarly, the location of the fetal heartbeat may also be determined from the echo signals. As at <NUM>, the two locations inferred based on the beacon and echo signals may then be compared so as to determine a location (and/or movement) of the fetus during the birthing process. Similarly, the mother's heartrate signal originates from a fixed location relative to the reference location of the beacon <NUM>. Accordingly, the mother's heartrate may be distinguished based on its location relative to the beacon <NUM>, which may be different from the fetal heartrate source. Thus, the stationary position of the mother's heart relative to the beacon <NUM> and the different locations of the mother's heart and the fetal heart(s) may be employed to distinguish between the two signals.

<FIG> illustrates a side, schematic view of another health monitoring system <NUM>, according to an example. Like the health monitoring system <NUM>, the health monitoring system <NUM> may be configured to monitor a health of a mother, fetus within the mother, or both during a water birth. The system <NUM> may generally include a health sensor <NUM>, a converter <NUM>, and a health monitoring device <NUM>. Further, the system <NUM> may include or be configured for use with a tank <NUM> that holds water <NUM>.

The health sensor <NUM> may be connected directly to the mother via straps, bands, etc., and may be configured to detect maternal heartrate, fetal heartrate, uterine activity, and/or other metrics related to the health of the mother, fetus, or both. For example, the health sensor <NUM> may include one or more ultrasonic transducers configured to send and receive, e.g., Doppler, signals and, in some examples, to process the monitoring signals into communication signals which may be relayed to the converter <NUM>.

The health sensor <NUM> may be configured to transmit at least two different "types" of communication signals for reception by the converter <NUM>. The different "types" of sensors discussed herein may be radiofrequency or other electromagnetic signals, but with different characteristics, such as frequency band, power, etc. The different signal types may be generated by different antenna or by a single antenna, as discussed herein. For example, the first signal type may be a BLUETOOTH, WIFI, or MBAN signal, which may be provided for transmission through air to the converter <NUM>. In some examples, the frequency of the first signal type may be <NUM>, <NUM>, or a combination thereof. Other frequency spectra may also be employed for such wireless signal transmission through the air. Thus, the first signal type may be transmitted when the health sensor <NUM> is above the surface of the water <NUM>.

The second type of signal may be a relatively low frequency (as compared to the first signal type) signal, suitable for transmission through the water <NUM>. For example, the frequency of the second signal may be less than about <NUM>, less than about <NUM>, or less than about <NUM>. In some examples, WMTS or ISM band frequencies may also or instead be used.

The health sensor <NUM> may be configured to automatically determine which signal type to use and, in response, activate circuitry configured to transmit data using the selected signal type. For example, the health sensor <NUM> may include a water sensor that detects whether the health sensor <NUM> is submerged in the water <NUM>, and may generate a submerged signal indicative of whether the health sensor <NUM> is at least partially submerged. A variety of such sensors are known and may be employed. In at least some examples, changes in impedance in the antenna of the health sensor <NUM> or other current leakage techniques may be employed to detect when the health sensor <NUM> is submerged.

The health sensor <NUM> may be battery-operated, so as to avoid attaching wires or cords to the mother during the water birth. In at least some examples, one or more techniques may be employed to conserve the battery of the health sensor <NUM>. For example, the health sensor <NUM> may be configured to transmit a lower power when submerged and using the second signal type, as the distance over which the signal transmits may be expected to be relatively short, e.g., constrained by the dimensions of the tank <NUM>. Further, the monitoring signals sent from the health sensor <NUM> into the mother may be adjusted to prolong battery life. For example, the duration of the signal transfer pulses may be dynamically adjusted based on closed-loop monitoring of the signal strength and fetal heartrate. This may account for different depths of the fetal heart, as a function of distance from the health sensor <NUM> located on the exterior of the mother. For example, a <NUM> signal can be reduced based on a consistent heartbeat detection.

As noted above, the system <NUM> also includes the converter <NUM>. The converter <NUM> serves to receive both of the first and second types of signals from the health sensor <NUM>. For example, the converter <NUM> may be positioned at the surface of the water <NUM>, and may include a first antenna <NUM> that is configured to receive the first signal type and a second antenna <NUM> that is configured to receive the second signal type. The first antenna <NUM> may extend upward, above the water <NUM>, and the second antenna <NUM> may extend downward into the water <NUM>. In some examples, the converter <NUM> may be buoyant, with the lower end thereof weighted, so as to maintain the second antenna <NUM> below the surface of the water <NUM> and the first antenna <NUM> above the surface. In other examples, the converter <NUM> may be coupled to the wall of the tank <NUM>. In such examples, the water level may be controlled with respect to the position of the converter <NUM>, or, alternatively, the first antenna <NUM> may extend to a position above the tank <NUM> while the second antenna <NUM> extends to a position proximal to the bottom of the tank <NUM>, e.g., to ensure that the first antenna <NUM> is not entirely submerged, while the second antenna <NUM> is at least partially submerged, without regard to the specific water level.

The converter <NUM> may be configured to communicate with the health monitoring device <NUM>. As shown, the converter <NUM> may be configured to communicate with the health monitoring device <NUM> wirelessly, e.g., through the air via another antenna or via the first antenna <NUM>. In some examples, the converter <NUM> may also or instead be configured to communicate with the monitor <NUM> via one or more cables.

The monitor <NUM> may be configured to receive data from the converter <NUM>. Further, the health monitoring device <NUM> may include one or more processors configured to process raw sensor data from the converter <NUM> into health metrics providing useful information about fetal heartrate, maternal heartrate, uterine activity, and/or other metrics. For example, the health monitoring device <NUM> may provide a user interface, display, input devices, etc. The health monitoring device <NUM> may also be configured to make determinations about the health of the mother, fetus, or both, and provide outputs, initiate alarms, etc., based thereon.

<FIG> illustrates a side, schematic view of another example of the system <NUM>. In this example, the converter <NUM> and the monitor <NUM> are integrated into a hub <NUM>. The hub <NUM> may be configured to receive both the first and second signal types and may include the first and second antennae <NUM>, <NUM>. Further, the hub <NUM> may be configured to convert the data transmitted via the communication signals from the health sensor <NUM> into health data.

<FIG> illustrates a schematic view of the health sensor <NUM>, according to an example. As shown, the health sensor <NUM> may include a water sensor <NUM>, a power manager <NUM>, a radio and switch module <NUM>, a first antenna <NUM>, and a second antenna <NUM>. These components may be packaged in a housing <NUM>, which may be configured to survive and protect the components while the housing <NUM> is submerged in the water <NUM> (e.g., <FIG>).

The water sensor <NUM> may be any suitable type of water sensor. Various humidity sensors, water-level sensors, resistivity sensors, impedance sensors, current leakage sensors, etc. are known and may be employed to provide input to the health sensor <NUM> that permits the health sensor <NUM> to determine whether it is submerged.

The power manager <NUM> may, as noted above, include a battery and may be configured to provide power management functionality to preserve battery life. Accordingly, the power manager <NUM> may make determinations as to signal transmission strength, e.g., for the communication signals and/or the health monitoring signals that are directed into the mother to detect health metrics. For example, the power manager <NUM> may dynamically and successively lower signal communication strength in response to the converter <NUM> (e.g., <FIG>) receiving signals. That is, the power manager <NUM> may reduce signal strength until the converter <NUM> fails to reliably receive the communication signals. This may apply for the first signal type, the second signal type, or both. Additionally, the power manager <NUM> may reduce the frequency at which the health monitoring signals are pulsed, the duration of the pulses, or both, e.g., based on the depth of the fetal heartrate, consistency of the measurements, and/or other factors.

The first antenna <NUM> may be configured to transmit the first signal type, and the second antenna <NUM> may be configured to transmit the second signal type. Accordingly, the radio and switch <NUM> may select which antenna to activate, based on whether the first signal type or the second signal type is to be transmitted. The first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM> may be configured to send different signal frequencies, at different power levels, or both. Further, the first antenna <NUM> may be oriented in a generally upward direction and the second antenna <NUM> oriented in a generally downward direction, such that partial submersion of the health sensor <NUM> may result in the first antenna <NUM> extending out of the water, the second antenna <NUM> extending in the water, or both. In at least some examples, the first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM> may be representative of a single, adjustable antenna that may be dynamically configured to transmit in either the frequency of the first signal type or the frequency of the second signal type.

<FIG> illustrates a schematic view of the converter <NUM>, according to an example. The converter <NUM> may be configured to receive at least two different types of signals, aggregate the data received in both signal types, and send such aggregated data to the health monitoring device <NUM>, as noted above. Thus, the converter <NUM> may include the first antenna <NUM> and the second antenna <NUM>, as noted above. Further, the converter <NUM> may include a first radio <NUM> and a second radio <NUM>. The first radio <NUM> may be configured to receive and/or send signals via the first antenna <NUM>, and the second radio <NUM> may be configured to receive and/or send signals via the second antenna <NUM>. Further, the converter <NUM> may include a housing <NUM>, which may be at least partially water-resistant, such that at least the second antenna <NUM> may extend below the surface of the water. In at least some examples, the first antenna <NUM>, the second antenna <NUM>, or both may be external to the housing <NUM>. In at least some examples, the housing <NUM> may include one or more structures or devices configured to permit the housing <NUM> to be attached to the wall of the tank <NUM> (e.g., <FIG>).

<FIG> illustrates a schematic view of another health monitoring system <NUM>, according to an example. The health monitoring system <NUM> may include a tank <NUM> at least partially filled with water <NUM> for a water birth. The health monitoring system <NUM> may include a health sensor <NUM>, which may be connected to the mother, and may be cordless, so as to permit the mother to move freely into/out of and within the tank <NUM>.

Additionally, the device <NUM> may be configured to transmit signals, and more particularly, may be configured to modulate the signal properties depending on whether the device <NUM> is submerged in the water <NUM> or above/out of the water <NUM>, as shown. For example, the device <NUM> may be configured to determine when it is submerged, e.g., using an impedance sensor, as discussed above. In response to determining that the device <NUM> is not submerged, the device <NUM> may transmit a signal having a high frequency and power, tailored for air-only transmission and reception at a monitor <NUM>. In response to determining that the device <NUM> is at least partially submerged below the surface of the water <NUM>, the device <NUM> may be configured to adaptively modulate the signal and/or frequency so as to ensure an Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) link budget is maintained. Thus, two different types of signals may be transmitted, either from a single antenna or from two or more antennae.

<FIG> illustrates a flowchart of a method <NUM> for monitoring a health of a mother, a fetus, or both during a water birth, according to an example. The method <NUM> may be executed using one or more of the health monitoring systems discussed herein, or others. Accordingly, the method <NUM> should not be considered limited to any particular structure, unless otherwise indicated herein.

In an example, the method <NUM> includes connecting a health sensor <NUM> to a mother, as at <NUM>. The mother is at least partially submerged in a tank <NUM> of water <NUM> while the health sensor <NUM> is connected to her, e.g., after connecting the sensor <NUM> to the mother, the mother may enter and at least partially submerge in the water <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> may be secured in any suitable manner, e.g., using straps, bands, etc..

The method <NUM> may also include measuring one or more health metrics of the mother, a fetus within the mother, or both while the mother is at least partially submerged, using the health sensor <NUM>, as at <NUM>. Such monitoring may be accomplished using any type of monitoring device, e.g., ultrasonic transducers such as piezoelectric arrays, as discussed above.

The method <NUM> may further include determining whether the sensor <NUM> connected to the mother is at least partially submerged, as at <NUM>. Based on this determination, the method <NUM> may select whether to transmit a first signal or a second signal, as at <NUM>.

When the sensor <NUM> is not submerged, and in response to such determination at <NUM>, the method <NUM> may proceed to transmitting a first signal from health sensor <NUM> to a converter (e.g., a standalone converter <NUM> or an integrated hub <NUM>), as at <NUM>. For example, the sensor <NUM> may activate (power, switch to) circuitry configured to transmit the first signal. This first signal may not travel through water without significant attenuation, but may be configured to travel through air. As such, the first signal may have a relatively high signal frequency (e.g., <NUM> or <NUM>). It will be appreciated that the first and second signals may be emitted from the same transmitter, but with one or more parameters altered, e.g., frequency, power, etc..

When the sensor <NUM> is at least partially submerged, and in response to such determination at <NUM>, the method <NUM> may proceed to transmitting a second signal from the health sensor <NUM> to the converter <NUM>, as at <NUM>. For example, the sensor <NUM> may activate circuitry configured to transmit the second signal and de-activate (or otherwise not activate) circuitry configured to transmit the first signal. The second signal thus travels at least partially through the water to the monitor. In some examples, the second signal may be configured to travel through only water, and thus may be configured to have a relatively low frequency, e.g., <NUM>, but may employ a relatively low power, as the signal transmission distance may be constrained by the size of the tank <NUM>. In other examples, the second signal may be configured to travel through both water and air, as discussed above, using a specific MBAN signal. In examples in which the signal travels through both air and water, the device (e.g., the device <NUM>) may be configured to adapt the signal to maintain an EIRP link budget.

The method <NUM> may also include receiving the first signals using a first antenna <NUM> of the monitor <NUM>, as at <NUM> and receiving second signals using a second antenna <NUM> of the monitor <NUM>, as at <NUM>. Two antennae may be used so as to receive the two signals having the two frequencies, although examples are envisioned using a signal antenna. Moreover, in at least some examples, the first antenna <NUM> extends above a surface of the water <NUM> and a second antenna <NUM> extends below the surface of the water <NUM>.

In some examples, the system <NUM> includes both a converter <NUM> and an external health monitoring device <NUM>, which may communicate with one another via a wireless or wired connection. In such examples, the method <NUM> may include transmitting one or more communication signals from the converter <NUM> to the health monitoring device <NUM>, as at <NUM>. The health monitoring device <NUM> may be configured to provide a user interface, signal processor, etc. so as to facilitate monitoring the health of the mother, fetus, or both. In other examples, the health monitoring device <NUM> and the converter <NUM> may be integrated into a hub <NUM>, as discussed above, and thus transmitting to a converter may refer to transmitting to a hub, and vice versa.

Further, in at least some examples, the method <NUM> may also include adjusting one or more monitoring parameters implemented by the health sensor <NUM> (e.g., via an ultrasonic transducer thereof) as it measures data from the mother, fetus, or both, as at <NUM>. For example, as noted above, the consistency or distance/depth of the fetal heartrate may be used as a factor to control pulse duration for the ultrasonic signals. A variety of other measures may be used, additionally or instead of the foregoing, in order to preserve battery life of the health sensor <NUM>.

In one or more examples, the functions described can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. For a software implementation, the techniques described herein can be implemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, subprograms, programs, routines, subroutines, modules, software packages, classes, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. A module can be coupled to another module or a hardware circuit by passing and/or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents. Information, arguments, parameters, data, or the like can be passed, forwarded, or transmitted using any suitable means including memory sharing, message passing, token passing, network transmission, and the like. The software codes can be stored in memory units and executed by processors. The memory unit can be implemented within the processor or external to the processor, in which case it can be communicatively coupled to the processor via various means as is known in the art.

In some examples, any of the methods of the present disclosure may be executed by a computing system. <FIG> illustrates an example of such a computing system <NUM>, in accordance with some examples. The computing system <NUM> may include a computer or computer system 1101A, which may be an individual computer system 1101A or an arrangement of distributed computer systems. The computer system 1101A includes one or more analysis module(s) <NUM> configured to perform various tasks according to some examples, such as one or more methods disclosed herein. To perform these various tasks, the analysis module <NUM> executes independently, or in coordination with, one or more processors <NUM>, which is (or are) connected to one or more storage media <NUM>. The processor(s) <NUM> is (or are) also connected to a network interface <NUM> to allow the computer system 1101A to communicate over a data network <NUM> with one or more additional computer systems and/or computing systems, such as 1101B, 1101C, and/or 1101D (note that computer systems 1101B, 1101C and/or 1101D may or may not share the same architecture as computer system 1101A, and may be located in different physical locations, e.g., computer systems 1101A and 1101B may be located in a processing facility, while in communication with one or more computer systems such as 1101C and/or 1101D that are located in one or more data centers, and/or located in varying countries on different continents).

The storage media <NUM> can be implemented as one or more computer-readable or machine-readable storage media. Note that while in the example of <FIG> storage media <NUM> is depicted as within computer system 1101A, in some examples, storage media <NUM> may be distributed within and/or across multiple internal and/or external enclosures of computing system 1101A and/or additional computing systems. Storage media <NUM> may include one or more different forms of memory including semiconductor memory devices such as dynamic or static random access memories (DRAMs or SRAMs), erasable and programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable and programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs) and flash memories, magnetic disks such as fixed, floppy and removable disks, other magnetic media including tape, optical media such as compact disks (CDs) or digital video disks (DVDs), BLURAY® disks, or other types of optical storage, or other types of storage devices. Note that the instructions discussed above can be provided on one computer-readable or machine-readable storage medium, or alternatively, can be provided on multiple computer-readable or machine-readable storage media distributed in a large system having possibly plural nodes. Such computer-readable or machine-readable storage medium or media is (are) considered to be part of an article (or article of manufacture). The storage medium or media can be located either in the machine running the machine-readable instructions, or located at a remote site from which machine-readable instructions can be downloaded over a network for execution.

In some examples, computing system <NUM> contains one or more health monitoring signal module(s) <NUM>. In the example of computing system <NUM>, computer system 1101A includes the health monitoring signal module <NUM>. In some examples, a single health monitoring signal module may be used to perform some or all aspects of one or more examples of the methods. In alternate examples, a plurality of health monitoring signal modules may be used to perform some or all aspects of methods.

It should be appreciated that computing system <NUM> is only one example of a computing system, and that computing system <NUM> may have more or fewer components than shown, may combine additional components not depicted in the example of <FIG>, and/or computing system <NUM> may have a different configuration or arrangement of the components depicted in <FIG>. The various components shown in <FIG> may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both hardware and software, including one or more signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits.

Claim 1:
A system (<NUM>) for monitoring health during a water birth, the system comprising:
a first health sensor (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising one or more transducers (200A, 200B) configured to both emit and receive monitoring signals through water in a tank, and wherein, when received, at least some of the monitoring signals represent a health of a mother, a fetus, or both at least partially in the water;
a health monitoring device (<NUM>) in communication with the first health sensor, wherein the health monitoring device is configured to receive communication signals from the first health sensor, the communication signals including data representing at least some of the monitoring signals; characterized by
a beacon (<NUM>) connected to the mother and configured to emit a beacon signal, wherein the health sensor has a receiver directed thereto and the health sensor is configured to receive the signal from the beacon and to send/receive the monitoring signals toward the beacon.