Intrauterine pressure catheter interface cable system

Abstract

An interface cable system for providing electrical interconnection between an intrauterine pressure catheter system and a monitoring system is provided. The interface cable system includes a first connector configured to provide electrical interconnection between the interface cable system and the intrauterine pressure catheter system and a second connector configured to provide electrical interconnection between the interface cable system and the monitoring system. The interface cable system also includes a plurality of conductors extending between said first connector and said second connector, a test plug configured to be coupled to the first connector when the first connector is not coupled to the intrauterine pressure catheter system, and an indicator for providing an indication that the interface cable system is functioning properly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . An interface cable system for providing electrical interconnection between an intrauterine pressure catheter system and a monitoring system, the monitoring system receiving a pressure measurement from the intrauterine pressure catheter system via the interface cable system, said interface cable system comprising:
 a first connector configured to provide electrical interconnection between said interface cable system and the intrauterine pressure catheter system;   a second connector configured to provide electrical interconnection between said interface cable system and the monitoring system;   a plurality of conductors extending between said first connector and said second connector;   a test plug configured to be coupled to said first connector when said first connector is not coupled to the intrauterine pressure catheter system, said test plug being used to determine if said interface cable system is functioning properly; and   an indicator for providing an indication if it is determined that said interface cable system is functioning properly.   
     
     
         13 . The interface cable system of  claim 12  wherein said indicator includes a light source, said light source being illuminated if it is determined that said interface cable system is functioning properly. 
     
     
         14 . The interface cable system of  claim 12  wherein said second connector includes circuitry for determining if said interface cable system is functioning properly. 
     
     
         15 . The interface cable system of  claim 14  wherein the monitoring system provides power to operate the circuitry. 
     
     
         16 . The interface cable system of  claim 14  wherein a battery included in the second connector provides power to operate the circuitry. 
     
     
         17 . The interface cable system of  claim 12  additionally comprising a switching element for configuring said interface cable system to provide, upon operation of said switching element, a time period during which a zeroing operation of the intrauterine pressure catheter system may be performed. 
     
     
         18 . The interface cable system of  claim 17  wherein said indicator is configured to indicate that the switching element has been operated, thereby indicating that the zeroing operation may be performed during the time period. 
     
     
         19 . The interface cable system of  claim 17  wherein said switching element short-circuits at least two of said conductors through the operation of said switching element, said at least two conductors being signal carrying conductors for carrying a signal related to an intrauterine pressure measured by the intrauterine pressure catheter system. 
     
     
         20 . The interface cable system of  claim 17  wherein said switching element is integrated with said second connector. 
     
     
         21 . The interface cable system of  claim 12  wherein said indicator is integrated with said second connector. 
     
     
         22 . The interface cable system of  claim 17  wherein said indicator includes a light source. 
     
     
         23 . The interface cable system of  claim 22  wherein said light source is configured flash at a predetermined frequency and for a predetermined period through the momentary activation of said switching element. 
     
     
         24 . The interface cable system of  claim 17  wherein said switching element is a momentary switch. 
     
     
         25 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method of verifying the functionality of an interface cable system, the interface cable system providing electrical interconnection between an intrauterine pressure catheter system and a monitoring system, said method comprising the steps of:
 coupling a test plug included as a component of the interface cable system to a connector of the interface cable system, the connector being configured to be coupled to the intrauterine pressure catheter system when, the interface cable system is used to transmit a pressure signal from the intrauterine pressure catheter system to the monitoring system;   determining if the interface cable system is functioning properly; and   providing, if it is determined that the interface cable system is functioning properly, an indication thereof.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said determining step includes determining if the interface cable system is functioning properly using circuitry included in the interface cable system. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising the step of:
 powering the circuitry through a power source of the monitoring system. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising the step of:
 powering the circuitry through a battery included in the interface cable system. 
 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29  wherein said providing step includes illuminating a light source included as part of the interface cable system if it is determined that the interface cable system is functioning properly. 
     
     
         34 . An interface cable system for providing electrical interconnection between an intrauterine pressure catheter system and monitoring system, the interface cable system comprising:
 a first connector configured to provide electrical interconnection with the intrauterine pressure catheter system; and   a second connector configured to provide electrical interconnection with the monitoring system, the second connector housing power supply distribution circuitry and signal processing circuitry, the power supply distribution circuitry configured to receive an excitation voltage from the monitoring system when the second connection is coupled to the monitoring system to provide power to the power supply distribution circuitry and the signal processing circuitry, the power supply distribution circuitry being configured to generate at least one desired voltage from the excitation voltage to power the signal processing circuitry.   
     
     
         35 . The interface cable system of  claim 34 , including a switching element configured to activate a zeroing operation of the intrauterine pressure catheter system for a period of time, wherein the signal processing circuitry prevents the zeroing operation from being performed if an input voltage from the monitoring system exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage. 
     
     
         36 . The interface cable system of  claim 35 , including a test plug configured to determine if the interface cable system is functioning properly, wherein the switching element is temporarily inoperable and the indicator is configured to indicate whether the interface cable system is functioning properly when the test plug is coupled to the first connector. 
     
     
         37 . The interface cable system of  claim 35 , wherein the switching element is integrated with the second connector. 
     
     
         38 . The interface cable system of  claim 35 , wherein the switching element is a momentary switch. 
     
     
         39 . The interface of  claim 34 , including an indicator disposed on the second connector and coupled to the power supply distribution circuitry and the signal processing circuitry such that the indicator indicates that the zeroing operation can be performed when the switching element is activated. 
     
     
         40 . The interface cable system of  claim 39 , wherein the indicator includes a light source, the light source being configured to flash at a predetermined frequency during the period of time when the switching element is activated. 
     
     
         41 . The interface cable system of  claim 34 , including at least one filter capacitor configured to filter out an alternating current component of the excitation voltage to generate a direct current signal. 
     
     
         42 . The interface cable system of  claim 34 , including at least one switched capacitor configured to double the direct current signal prior to the direct current signal being provided to an analog switch and a linear voltage regulator of the signal processing circuitry, wherein the signal processing circuitry shorts at least two pins on the analog switch if the input voltage from the monitoring system exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage. 
     
     
         43 . The interface cable system of  claim 34 , wherein the signal processing circuitry includes a microcontroller configured to receive power from the linear voltage regulator. 
     
     
         44 . The interface cable system of  claim 34 , wherein a plurality of signal carrying conductors extend between the first connector and the second connector, at least two signal carrying conductors are coupled to the at least two pins on the analog switch, wherein the analog switch is configured to short-circuit the at least two signal carrying conductors to perform the zeroing operation of the intrauterine pressure catheter system. 
     
     
         45 . The interface cable system of  claim 34 , wherein the signal processing circuitry includes at least one summing amplifier coupled to the at least two single carrying conductors, the at least one summing amplifier being configured to apply a negative voltage gain to signals provided by the at least two signal carrying conductors to generate an output signal that is in an acceptable range for the microcontroller. 
     
     
         46 . The interface cable system of  claim 45 , wherein the signal processing circuitry includes a voltage divider network configured to receive the output signal from the at least one summing amplifier to ensure that the output signal does not exceed a predetermined voltage. 
     
     
         47 . The interface cable system of  claim 34 , including a battery configured to provide power to the power distribution circuitry and the signal processing circuitry.