Abstract
Here we present the evaluation results of our novel noninvasive phonocardiographic-based fiber-optic sensor for fetal Heart Rate (fHR) detection using adaptive filtering and the NLMS Algorithm. The sensor uses two interferometric probes encapsulated inside a PolyDiMethylSiloxane (PDMS) polymer. Based on real data acquired from pregnant women in a suitable research laboratory environment, once they had given their written informed consents, we created a simplified dynamic signal model of the distribution of maternal and fetal heart sounds inside the maternal body. Building upon this signal model, we verified the functionality of our novel fiber-optic sensor and its associated adaptive filtering system using the NLMS Algorithm. The main reason why we chose this technology to develop our system was that it allows monitoring the fHR without exposing the fetus to any external energies or radiation (in contrast to the ultrasound-based Cardiotocography Method). We used objective criteria such as: Signal to Noise Ratios: SNR_in, SNR_out and Percentage Root-mean-square Difference (PRD) for our evaluations.
Highlights
We report on the evaluation of a noninvasive method for fetal Heart Rate detection and monitoring during gestation, labor, and delivery based on fetal PhonoCardioGraphy
We showed that as the spectral contents of the fetal PhonoCardioGraphy (fPCG) and maternal PhonoCardioGraphy (mPCG) signals overlap in the frequency domain, common filtering methods such as signal subtraction, linear filtering, and others are ineffective in extracting reliable fetal Heart Rate (fHR) information and cannot be used
We developed our novel sensor that uses two non-invasive interferometric probes encapsulated in a PolyDiMethylSiloxane (PDMS) polymer with the designation Sylgard 184
Summary
We report on the evaluation of a noninvasive method for fetal Heart Rate (fHR) detection and monitoring during gestation, labor, and delivery based on fetal PhonoCardioGraphy (fPCG). Clinicians use either ultrasound-based methods such as CardioTocoGraphy (CTG), which measures the fetal heart rate along with maternal uterine contractions, or fetal Echocardiography (fECHO) to diagnose fetal congenital heart defects from the 20th to the 23rd week of pregnancy [17] and [18] These sophisticated technologies are integral parts of routine modern obstetrics. In spite of this considerable impact, it is generally recognized that this technology has some disadvantages such as high sensitivity to noise caused by maternal movements and the need to frequently reposition the ultrasound transducers This method is not suitable for long-term continuous fetal heart rate monitoring due to the potentially harmful influence of ultrasonic radiation on the fetus. The other specific advantage of our technology is that it can be used in water deliveries
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
