APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR NON-INVASIVE, PASSIVE FETAL HEART MONITORING

摘要

An apparatus, a method for fetal heart, maternal heart, and uterine monitori ng is provided which acquire bio-potential wave forms indicative of the mother' s heart beat from sensors (10) located at or near the mother's chest; wave for ms indicative of the combined maternal, and fetal heartbeats from the abdominal sensors located on the mother's abdomen, lower back, or both. The signals fr om the abdominal sensors are divided into a plurality of channels. An adaptive signal processing filter (ASPF) algorithm or suitable algorithm is then used to cancel the estimated maternal waveform from each channel derived from the abdominal sensors. The system than selects from the resulting wave forms at least one wave form to serve as the reference fetal wave form. The reference wave form is then processed against the other abdominal wave forms preferabl y using the ASPF algorithm again to form an enhance the fetal signal that is a representation of the fetus's bio-potential electrocardiogram (EKG). The EKG can subsequently be used to measure fetal heart rate, and other biophysical profile parameters. Surface electromyogram (EMG) signals allow for concurren t monitoring of uterine contractions, and afford improved cancellation of moti on artifacts.