User-interface for displaying fetal condition information during labor and apparatus implementing same

1 ) A computer readable storage medium holding a program element for execution by a computer to implement a user interface conveying fetal condition information to a user, the user interface comprising a first section showing one or more vital signs of a fetus, said section including:

a) at least one tracing associated with a vital sign;

b) a marker to visually highlight an area of the tracing corresponding to an event of interest;

c) a control component that can be activated by the user to deliver additional information about the event of interest.

2 ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1 , wherein the vital sign is the FHR.

3 ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 2 , wherein the marker has a dimension corresponding to a duration of the event of interest.

4 ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 3 , wherein the event of interest is an FHR deceleration.

5 ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 3 , wherein the event of interest is an FHR acceleration.

6 ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1 , wherein the additional information is delivered via a text box appearing on the display.

7 ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 6 , wherein the text box displays the duration of the event of interest.

8 ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 6 , wherein the text box displays an average FHR variation over the duration of the event of interest.

9 ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 6 , wherein the text box displays a confidence factor.

10 ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1 , wherein the control component is a first control component, the user interface further including a second control component which can be activated to allow a user to edit the marker.

11 ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 10 , wherein the second control component allows the user to erase the marker.

12 ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1 , wherein said section is a first section, said user interface further including a second section showing a contraction information.

13 ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 12 , wherein the first section and the second sections are time synchronized.

14 ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 1 , wherein the user interface is rendered on a display of a mobile computing device.

15 ) A computer readable storage medium as defined in claim 14 , wherein the mobile computing device includes a PDA.

16 ) An apparatus for conveying fetal condition information during labour, said apparatus comprising:

a) an first input for receiving a contraction signal;

b) a second input for receiving a fetal heart rate signal;

c) a processing unit in communication with said first and second inputs, said processing unit implementing a user interface conveying fetal condition information to a user, the user interface comprising a section showing one or more vital signs of a fetus, said section including:

i) at least one tracing associated with the fetal heart rate signal;

ii) a marker to visually highlight an area of the tracing corresponding to an event of interest;

iii) a control component that can be activated by the user to deliver additional information about the event of interest;

d) an output for releasing control information for causing the user interface to be displayed on a display unit.

17 ) An apparatus as defined in claim 16 , said apparatus further comprising a third input for receiving data from the user for activating the control component on the user interface.