| abstract |
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for the electromyographic detection of electrical fields inherent in muscular activity, for the diagnosis of labor in a pregnant mammal. The apparatus includes a system (10) for determining a periodicity, and for measuring a magnitude and a direction of movement, of the electrical signal in an abdominal region, and for processing the signal to indicate normal and abnormal labor conditions, the onset of true labor, and the extent of cervical dilation. A Labor Onset processor (16e) determines the onset of true labor. A Vector Determination processor (16b) determines a uterine contraction vector having a propagation rate component and a direction component, relative to a plurality of measurement electrodes. The positions of the measurement electrodes are referenced to a coordinate system and are specified to the system through a data entry device (20). A display (18a, 18b) provides a visual or audible indication of labor diagnostic information, the diagnostic information being expressed in a number of formats. The invention also provides for remotely monitoring a pregnant mammal through the use of a communications link (32). |