Fetal data processing system and method employing a time-frequency representation of fetal heart rate

摘要

PCT No. PCT/US95/12014 Sec. 371 Date May 29, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date May 29, 1997 PCT Filed Sep. 21, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO96/08996 PCT Pub. Date Mar. 28, 1996A fetal data processing system and method, and a fetal monitor and method for monitoring the condition of a fetus are disclosed. A fetal heart rate time series is received and sampled. A non-linear time-frequency transformation is performed to generate a time-frequency representation of the fetal heart rate time series for heart rate time series data spanning a time period which is preferably less than ten seconds. Analysis of fetal heart rate and fetal heart rate variability and other available data is performed to evaluate fetal well-being. Because of the high time resolution of the transformation, short-term transient variations in the heart rate and heart rate variability are considered in the analysis.