Biomaterial Database

The development of an instrument for monitoring dilatation of the cervix during labour. 1976

J A Richardson, and I A Sutherland, and D W Allen, and F Doré

The measurement of cervical dilatation during labour is of fundamental importance to the obstetrician as it indicates the progress of labour. This paper reviews instruments that have been used to measure cervical dilatation in the past and describes the development of an instrument, originally intended to measure both effacement of the cervix and cervical dilatation, but which, because of technical problems, resulted in an instrument measuring cervical dilatation only. The instrument is non-traumatic, accurate, and easy to apply. As well as the clinical application, the instrument has been found useful in studying mechanism of dilatation. Preliminary results have shown that the cervix opens in an oscillatory manner dictated by the strength and period of uterine contractions. It can even close slightly following a series of weak contractions. Further clinical trials are planned.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007743	Labor, Obstetric	The repetitive uterine contraction during childbirth which is associated with the progressive dilation of the uterine cervix (CERVIX UTERI). Successful labor results in the expulsion of the FETUS and PLACENTA. Obstetric labor can be spontaneous or induced (LABOR, INDUCED).	Obstetric Labor
D008991	Monitoring, Physiologic	The continuous measurement of physiological processes, blood pressure, heart rate, renal output, reflexes, respiration, etc., in a patient or experimental animal; includes pharmacologic monitoring, the measurement of administered drugs or their metabolites in the blood, tissues, or urine.	Patient Monitoring,Monitoring, Physiological,Physiologic Monitoring,Monitoring, Patient,Physiological Monitoring
D009774	Obstetrics	A medical-surgical specialty concerned with management and care of women during pregnancy, parturition, and the puerperium.
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D002584	Cervix Uteri	The neck portion of the UTERUS between the lower isthmus and the VAGINA forming the cervical canal.	Cervical Canal of the Uterus,Cervical Canal, Uterine,Ectocervix,Endocervical Canal,Endocervix,External Os Cervix,External Os of the Cervix,Uterine Cervical Canal,Cervix,Cervixes,Uterine Cervix,Canal, Endocervical,Canal, Uterine Cervical,Cervix, External Os,Cervix, Uterine,Endocervical Canals,Uterine Cervical Canals
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014590	Uterine Contraction	Contraction of the UTERINE MUSCLE.	Myometrial Contraction,Contraction, Myometrial,Contraction, Uterine,Contractions, Myometrial,Contractions, Uterine,Myometrial Contractions,Uterine Contractions