Beat-to-beat detection of fetal heart rate: Doppler ultrasound cardiotocography compared to direct ECG cardiotocography in time and frequency domain

Abstract

In order to obtain power spectral information on the fetal heart rate in stages of pregnancy earlier than labor an algorithm has been developed to calculate the fetal heart rate on a beat-to-beat basis from Doppler ultrasound cardiotocographic signals. The algorithm was evaluated by comparing the calculated fetal heart rate with the heart rate determined from direct ECG signals measured with a scalp electrode. Heart rates were compared both in time and frequency domain. In the time domain the results achieved by both methods correlate well (correlation coefficient = 0.977 (p < 0.001)), in the frequency domain the results correlate even better (correlation coefficient = 0.991 (p < 0.001)). Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the developed algorithm provides a valuable tool for obtaining power spectral information on the fetal heart rate in stages of pregnancy earlier than labor.

An mHealth approach to remote fetal monitoring

“…E.g., the cloud allocated FHR tracing service runs many monitoring tasks in parallel. The tasks effectively share the resource-consuming short-term Fourier transform that has the advantage of being five times faster than an ordinary autocorrelation procedure [6].…”

Evidence for Cardiovascular Autonomic Dysfunction in Neonates With Coarctation of the Aorta

“…Further studies are required to determine whether BRS abnormalities persist in those CoA patients who go on to develop hypertension and whether such abnormalities have a causative role in the etiology of hypertension in this patient group. If such a case can be proven, new techniques of fetal detection of CoA 41 and assessment of fetal HRV 42 open up the possibilities of detecting and even treating those patients most at risk of developing late-onset hypertension after CoA repair.…”

Regional and International Prenatal Telemedicine Network for Computerized Antepartum Cardiotocography

“…The 2CTG2 system also performs a spectral analysis of the traces, as further indicator of fetal autonomic nervous system activity. [17][18][19][20] …”