The invention relates to a method for controlling an ultrasound system comprising at least two ultrasound sensor units using gestures. The method comprises: detecting a gesture on a first ultrasound sensor unit; matching the detected gesture to one of the plurality of gestures in the gestures database; reading the assigned at least one system function in the gesture database related to the detected gesture; and activating the at least one system function. At least one system function includes switching a sound source from a second ultrasound sensor unit to said first ultrasound sensor unit and wherein the gesture assigned to this system function comprises a double-tap on the surface of the first ultrasound sensor unit. Further, the invention relates to a system for carrying out the method.

A multi-sensor patch for simultaneous abdominal monitoring of maternal and fetal physiological data includes a multi-layer flexible substrate. The multi-layer flexible substrate includes a center region and a plurality of electrode regions. An electrode of the plurality of electrodes is located in each of the electrode regions. At least one auxiliary sensor which may be an optical sensor. A module unit is connected to the conductive layer at the center region. The module unit is configured to receive biopotential physiological data from the plurality of electrodes and photosignal data from the optical sensor. The module unit calculates at least fetal heart rate (fHR), maternal heart rate (mHR), and uterine activity (UA) from the biopotential physiological data and fHR, mHR, and SpO2 from the photosignal data.

Apparatus and methods for monitoring pregnancy or labour are disclosed. In one embodiment the apparatus includes an electromyography (EMG) sensor having two or more EMG electrodes to monitor fetal or maternal activity during pregnancy or labour and one or more position sensors to monitor the relative positioning of the two or more EMG electrodes during the fetal or maternal activity. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a monitoring device to be placed on a body and having a plurality of sensors integrated into the monitoring device, the plurality of sensors including at least: a first sensor configured to detect a first type of signal from the body indicative of a first type of fetal or maternal activity during pregnancy or labour; and a second sensor configured to detect a second type of signal from the body, different from the first type of signal, also indicative of the first type of fetal or maternal activity during pregnancy or labour.

An apparatus has a computer receiving input signals indicative of fetal heart rate (“FHR”) and maternal uterine activity in a patient. The computer determines when each of FHR, baseline FHR variability, FHR accelerations, FHR decelerations, and maternal uterine activity exhibit a plurality of pre-defined non-reassuring characteristics. The computer receives inputs indicating the presence of maternal, obstetrical, and fetal risk factors, and determines at predetermined times during labor a present level of risk to the fetus which accounts for the total of the number of parameters that each exhibit the non-reassuring characteristics at predetermined points in time during labor and the number of risk factors present. An output display depicts in a single graphical interface information respecting the parameters and risk factors over time during labor. The graphical interface includes indicia for indicating the present level of fetal risk at the predetermined times during labor and signals the need for intervention.

This present invention discloses a fetal monitoring device that enables the monitoring of an unborn baby's heartbeat and its movements inside the womb. The fetal monitoring device includes an elastic strap with a fetal monitor disposed centrally on the strap. The fetal monitoring device is worn such that the strap fits to the abdomen of the pregnant woman, and the fetal monitor is placed adjacent to the location of the fetus, so as to monitor the fetus' condition and further project real-time imagery of the unborn baby on a related display device.

A method of fetal ultrasound monitoring includes detecting contact of a first ultrasound transducer to a mother’s abdomen based on input from a contact sensor in the first ultrasound transducer. A first transducer identifier is received from the first ultrasound transducer, and then the first transducer identifier is correlated with a first transducer label. A first heart rate is measured based on output of an ultrasound device in the first ultrasound transducer, and a heart rate indicator is displayed accordingly. A position of the first ultrasound transducer is identified in a two-dimensional plane, and the first transducer label is displayed on an abdomen image based on the first position.

Systems and methods are described, and one method includes determining a fetal blood oxygenation level, including: activating at least one light source with at least two distinct wavelengths of light on an abdomen of a pregnant mammal to direct light into a maternal abdomen toward a fetus; receiving a set of mixed signals from a set of photodetectors positioned at different locations on the maternal abdomen from reflected light that traverses maternal tissue or maternal tissue and fetal tissue; determining the fetal blood oxygenation level by performing computations on a composite fetal signal produced from the mixed signals; and ensuring a skin temperature of the maternal abdomen does not rise to unsafe levels due to activating the at least one light source.

A multi-sensor patch for simultaneous abdominal monitoring of maternal and fetal physiological data includes a multi-layer flexible substrate. The multi-layer flexible substrate includes a center region and a plurality of electrode regions. An electrode of the plurality of electrodes is located in each of the electrode regions. At least one auxiliary sensor which may be an optical sensor. A module unit is connected to the conductive layer at the center region. The module unit is configured to receive biopotential physiological data from the plurality of electrodes and photosignal data from the optical sensor. The module unit calculates at least fetal heart rate (fHR), maternal heart rate (mHR), and uterine activity (UA) from the biopotential physiological data and fHR, mHR, and SpO2 from the photosignal data.

Techniques are described for performing fetal heart rate (FHR) analytics using machine learning techniques. According to an embodiment, computer-implemented method comprises training a machine learning model using a supervised machine learning process to identify patterns in training cardiotocograph data that correspond to defined physiological events associated with respective fetuses and mothers of the fetuses represented in the training cardiotocograph data. The method further comprises receiving new cardiotocograph data for a fetus and mother in real-time over a period of labor and applying the machine learning model to the new cardiotocograph data as it is received to identify the patterns in the new cardiotocograph data.

A method of sensing the heart rate and blood oxygen saturation of a maternal patient and a fetal patient can include obtaining maternal electrocardiogram (mECG) data and fetal electrocardiogram (fECG) data with a plurality of electrodes. The method can also include obtaining photosignal data with an optical sensor, the photosignal data including a maternal photosignal component and a fetal photosignal component. Additionally, the method can include applying mECG to the photosignal data to calculate maternal photoplesthograph (mPPG) data, applying the mPPG to the photosignal data to remove the maternal photosignal component from the photosignal data, and applying the fECG to remaining photosignal data to calculate fetal photoplesthograph (fPPG) data.