Umbilical probe measurement systems

Abstract

An umbilical probe sensing system is described which includes an automated system for accurately obtaining physiological information from an infant in real time. The system may also automatically guide a healthcare provider with a recommended course of treatment for infant resuscitation based on the detected and monitored physiological data. Moreover, the automated system may also provide a real time record of the infant's physiological parameters and resuscitation treatment performed by a healthcare team.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system of monitoring an oxygen saturation level in an infant, the system comprising:
 an umbilical probe sensing assembly configured to be positioned into contact with an umbilical stump and/or cord of the infant and configured to detect a postductal oxygen saturation level;   a non-umbilical sensor configured to be positioned in contact with a body surface of the infant away from the umbilical stump and/or cord and configured to detect a preductal oxygen saturation level; and   a processor for receiving the preductal and postductal oxygen saturation levels and calculating an oxygen saturation difference in response.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to generate a recommended course of treatment for the infant in response to the calculated oxygen saturation difference. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a display coupled to the processor, wherein the display is configured for displaying to a healthcare provider one or more of the calculated oxygen saturation difference or the recommended course of treatment. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the body surface of the infant comprises an upper body surface of the infant. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the upper body surface is an upper extremity, an ear, a forehead, or a face. 
     
     
         7 . A method for treating a neonatal infant, the method comprising:
 providing a processor having a user interface;   providing an umbilical probe sensing assembly to be removably secured to tissue of an umbilical stump and/or cord such that one or more sensors integrated within the assembly contact the tissue;   detecting a first physiological parameter from the infant via the one or more sensors, wherein the detected first parameter is sent to the processor;   receiving, by the processor, a second physiological parameter of the infant entered from the user interface by a healthcare provider;   generating, by the processor, a recommended course of treatment in response to the detected first physiological parameter and the received second physiological parameter.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising providing the recommended course of treatment to the healthcare provider via the user interface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising changing, via the processor, the course of treatment when the infant is determined to be distressed based upon the detected first parameter and the received second parameter. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising prompting the healthcare provider with the changed course of treatment via an alarm on the user interface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein determining whether the infant is distressed comprises detecting via the one or more sensors whether a heart rate of the infant is below 100 beats per minute. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining whether breathing of the infant is labored via an oxygen saturation level detected by the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the changed course of treatment comprises prompting the user to provide positive pressure ventilation via the interface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising further detecting via the one or more sensors whether the heart rate of the infant is below 60 beats per minute. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the changed course of treatment comprises prompting the user to provide intubation to the infant. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising calculating and displaying a size of an intubation tube for the infant via the processor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the changed course of treatment comprises coordinating chest compressions via the user interface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein prompting comprises providing a metronome. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the course of treatment is changed when the infant is determined to be improving based upon one or more of the first physiological parameter detected by the one or more sensors or the second physiological parameter received by the processor. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising calculating, with the processor, and displaying, with the user interface, a dosage of a drug for administration to the infant based upon a detected weight of the infant. 
     
     
         21 . A system for treating a neonatal infant, the system comprising:
 an umbilical probe sensing assembly configured to be removably secured to tissue of an umbilical stump and/or cord such that one or more sensors integrated within the assembly contact the tissue, wherein the one or more sensors is configured to detect a first physiological parameter from the infant; and   a processor having a user interface configured to allow a healthcare provider to enter a second physiological parameter of the infant, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a recommended course of treatment in response to the detected first physiological parameter and the received second physiological parameter.