Child-birth assisting system

Claim 1

An improved girdle for use in a system for assisting in childbirth, the system comprising a girdle having at least one inflatable bladder adapted to be positioned over a patient's abdomen for applying pressure to the abdomen, a contraction monitor for generating an electrical signal indicative of the patient's contractions, an automatic controller means in electrical communication with said contraction monitor for controlling the inflation and deflation of said at least one inflatable bladder in response to said electrical signal wherein the pressure is increased to a target intrauterine pressure at the onset of a contraction and decreased after the contraction is over, said automatic controller means having means for controlling air from an air source for inflating said girdle, and tubing having a first end attached to said girdle and a second end attached to said automatic controller means for conducting air between said girdle and said automatic controller means, the improved girdle comprising: a belt having a first end, a second end, an upper edge, a lower edge, an inner layer and an outer layer, said inner layer having a soft contact surface for placement against the patient's abdomen, said outer layer being a non-expandable material, wherein said inner and outer layers are sealed together at at least said first and second ends and said upper and lower edges; fastening means disposed at each of said first and second ends for releasably fastening said first end to said second end so that said belt fits closely around the patient's abdomen; and an inflatable bladder held by said belt at a position of said belt corresponding to the patient's abdomen so that said inflatable bladder is immovable, said inflatable bladder having an inlet means for connecting to said first end of said tubing for admitting air into said bladder.