UC Irvine

Over 4 million births occur in the United States annually, and nearly all laboring mothers undergo multiple manual exams to assess cervical dilation and effacement as part of labor progression. Assessing cervical dilation is a critical part of labor management. However, manual cervical exam poses a risk of infection that can lead to maternal and fetal complications, and these exams are subjective with variability rates as high as 50%. Our innovation leverages the anatomical proximity of the bladder and uterus to obtain labor metrics. 75% of mothers receive an epidural for pain management and are unable to feel their lower body, resulting in the need for a urinary catheter to drain the bladder. We propose an ultrasound-integrated urinary catheter to provide continuous, objective measurements of both cervical dilation and fetal vitals while seamlessly integrating into the existing standard for labor management. The ultrasound-integrated urinary catheter could transform obstetric care by reducing infections, improving accuracy, and allowing for earlier interventions during high-risk deliveries.