Instrumentation for the diagnosis of term and preterm labour

The problems associated with labor during pregnancy are among the most impo rtant health issues facing physicians. Understanding the role of the uterus and cervix in labor and developing methods to control their function is es sential to solving problems relating to labor. At the moment, only crude, i naccurate and subjective methods are used to assess changes in the uterus a nd cervix that occur in preparation for or during labor. In the past severa l years, we have developed noninvasive methods to quantitatively evaluate t he uterus and cervix based respectively on recording of uterine electrical signals from the abdominal surface (uterine EMG) and measurement of light-i nduced cervical collagen fluorescence (LIF) with an optical device (Collasc ope). The methods are rapid and allow assessment of uterine contractility a nd cervical ripening. Studies in rats and humans indicate that uterine and cervical function can be successfully monitored during pregnancy using thes e approaches and that these techniques might be used in a variety of condit ions associated with labor to better define management. The potential benef its of the proposed instrumentation and methods include a reducing the rate of preterm dp livery, improving maternal and perinatal outcome, monitoring treatment, decreasing cesarean section rate and improving research methods to understand uterine and cervical function.