Patent ID: 7758522

Claim:
A fetal heart rate and uterine activity monitor the monitor comprising: a plurality of electrodes disposed to be attached to the abdomen of the patient; a plurality of ultrasound crystals disposed to be held in communication with the abdomen of the patient; an energy source operable to generate an excitation signal, the energy source being connected to both the plurality of electrodes and the plurality of ultrasound crystals to provide the excitation signal to the electrodes and the ultrasound crystals; an impedance monitor including a first amplifier connected to the plurality of electrodes, the first amplifier producing a signal representative of the impedance of the abdomen of the patient and a first demodulator connected to the first amplifier, the first demodulator calculating the change in amplitude of the signal from the first amplifier; a fetal heart rate monitor including a second amplifier connected to the plurality of ultrasound crystals, the second amplifier producing a signal representative of the difference between the excitation signal applied to the plurality of ultrasound crystals and the acoustical return received by the ultrasound crystals and a second demodulator connected to the second amplifier, the second demodulator calculating the change in amplitude of the signal from the second amplifier; and a processor that receives a signal from the first demodulator indicative of the impedance of the abdomen of the patient and calculates the uterine activity of the patient and receives a signal from the second demodulator and calculates the fetal heart rate.