Method and Device for Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring with Maternal Contribution Detection

摘要

A method and device for monitoring a fetal heart rate includes a reference fetal heart rate detected across an ultrasound depth zone of sensitivity. The ultrasound depth zone of sensitivity is scanned in overlapping increments of a first depth. An average fetal heart rate detected for each overlapping increment is tested for a coincidence with the reference fetal heart rate. Overlapping increments with the coincidence and a maximized signal quality rate are identified. An ultrasound depth increment of a second depth is selected representing the selected adjacent increments. Fetal heart rate is determined from an ultrasound signal returned from a scan depth of the second depth.

主权项

1. A method of monitoring a fetal heart rate, the method comprising:
detecting average fetal heart rate (FHR) across an ultrasound depth zone of sensitivity as a reference FHR; scanning at least the ultrasound depth zone of sensitivity in overlapping increments of a first depth; calculating a signal quality for each overlapping increment; identifying adjacent overlapping increments with a maximized signal quality; operating an ultrasound probe across an ultrasound depth increment of a second depth representing the adjacent overlapping increments to produce a returned ultrasound signal; determining FHR from the returned ultrasound signal.