During childbirth process, trauma to an infant can readily arise, ultimately resulting in fetal hypoxia, academia, and brain damage. Such unfavorable conditions can be prevented by measuring the fetus' blood-oxygen level and heart rate. Without a fetal pulse oximeters, blood oxygen level cannot be monitored non-invasively reliably, which reduces the chance for birth complications to be recognized in time. A noninvasive system to implement such goals and maximize the potential welfare of the fetus may include devices to measure oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (SpO2). Such a device may be an oxy probe that uses a trans-reflective method of SpO2 measurement where oxygen saturation data can be transmitted through wire, fiber optics, and or using a radio frequency link, fetal monitor data can be analyzed, compared to existing data base, and or transmitted via radio waves or internet.

A method for detecting fetal blood oxygen saturation, including: using at least two detection light of different wavelengths, to irradiate a fetus in an examined pregnant woman's abdomen in a time-sharing manner and acquiring first photoplethysmography signals corresponding to the abdomen under irradiation of the respective wavelengths of detection light, and to irradiate a detection site except the examined pregnant woman's abdomen in a time-sharing manner and acquiring second photoplethysmography signals corresponding to the detection site under irradiation of the respective wavelengths of the detection light; determining a target photoplethysmography signal of the fetus that corresponds to the detection light of each wavelength, according to the first photoplethysmography signals and the second photoplethysmography signals that correspond to the detection light of each wavelength; and determining the fetal blood oxygen saturation, according to respective target photoplethysmography signals determined.

A method for detecting fetal blood oxygen saturation, including: using at least two detection light of different wavelengths, to irradiate a fetus in an examined pregnant woman's abdomen in a time-sharing manner and acquiring first photoplethysmography signals corresponding to the abdomen under irradiation of the respective wavelengths of detection light, and to irradiate a detection site except the examined pregnant woman's abdomen in a time-sharing manner and acquiring second photoplethysmography signals corresponding to the detection site under irradiation of the respective wavelengths of the detection light; determining a target photoplethysmography signal of the fetus that corresponds to the detection light of each wavelength, according to the first photoplethysmography signals and the second photoplethysmography signals that correspond to the detection light of each wavelength; and determining the fetal blood oxygen saturation, according to respective target photoplethysmography signals determined.

Independent component analysis may be performed on a plurality of detected electronic signals to separate signals within the detected electronic signals that are contributed by different sources. Each of the plurality of detected electronic signals may be received from a separate detector and may correspond to a detected optical signal emanating from a pregnant mammal's abdomen and a fetus contained therein. The detected optical signals may correspond to light that is projected into the pregnant mammal's abdomen from a light source. The separated signals may be analyzed to determine a separated signal that corresponds to light incident upon the fetus, which may be analyzed to determine a fetal hemoglobin oxygen saturation level of the fetus. An indication of the fetal hemoglobin oxygen saturation level may then be provided to the user.

Independent component analysis may be performed on a plurality of detected electronic signals to separate signals within the detected electronic signals that are contributed by different sources. Each of the plurality of detected electronic signals may be received from a separate detector and may correspond to a detected optical signal emanating from a pregnant mammal's abdomen and a fetus contained therein. The detected optical signals may correspond to light that is projected into the pregnant mammal's abdomen from a light source. The separated signals may be analyzed to determine a separated signal that corresponds to light incident upon the fetus, which may be analyzed to determine a fetal hemoglobin oxygen saturation level of the fetus. An indication of the fetal hemoglobin oxygen saturation level may then be provided to the user.

A system and/or device for transabdominal fetal oximetry and/or fetal pulse oximetry and/or uterine tone determination may include one or more articulating, adjustable, and/or selectable components such as a light source and/or a photodetector. In some embodiments, the positioning of a light source and/or detector may be adjustable. The articulation and/or adjustment of position of the light source and/or photodetector may be in any plane (X, Y, and/or Z) and, in some instances, may be responsive to a fetal position within a maternal abdomen. Light detected by the detectors may be used to determine a fetal hemoglobin oxygen saturation level and/or a muscular state (e.g., contracted or relaxed) of the pregnant mammal's uterus.

A system and/or device for transabdominal fetal oximetry and/or fetal pulse oximetry and/or uterine tone determination may include one or more articulating, adjustable, and/or selectable components such as a light source and/or a photodetector. In some embodiments, the positioning of a light source and/or detector may be adjustable. The articulation and/or adjustment of position of the light source and/or photodetector may be in any plane (X, Y, and/or Z) and, in some instances, may be responsive to a fetal position within a maternal abdomen. Light detected by the detectors may be used to determine a fetal hemoglobin oxygen saturation level and/or a muscular state (e.g., contracted or relaxed) of the pregnant mammal's uterus.

Fetal tissue oxygenation may be performed transabdominally by, for example, receiving a plurality of detected electronic signals that correspond to light emitted from a pregnant mammal's abdomen and a fetus contained therein that has been detected by the detector and converted into the detected electronic signal. An indication of a depth of the fetus within the pregnant mammal's abdomen may be received and a portion of the detected electronic signals that correspond to light that was incident upon the fetus may be isolated responsively to the indication of the depth of the fetus using, for example, time of flight of photons that correspond to the detected electronic signals. A fetal tissue oxygen saturation level may then be determined using the isolated portion of the detected electronic signals that correspond to light that was incident upon the fetus.

Fetal tissue oxygenation may be performed transabdominally by, for example, receiving a plurality of detected electronic signals that correspond to light emitted from a pregnant mammal's abdomen and a fetus contained therein that has been detected by the detector and converted into the detected electronic signal. An indication of a depth of the fetus within the pregnant mammal's abdomen may be received and a portion of the detected electronic signals that correspond to light that was incident upon the fetus may be isolated responsively to the indication of the depth of the fetus using, for example, time of flight of photons that correspond to the detected electronic signals. A fetal tissue oxygen saturation level may then be determined using the isolated portion of the detected electronic signals that correspond to light that was incident upon the fetus.

The invention provides a fetal movement monitoring system which uses optical pattern sensing to detect fetal movements. Fetal movements provide a change in the optical path between the optical sensor and detector, such as a different proportion of amniotic fluid and fetus and/or a different contact pressure with the optical sensor arrangements. One or both of these effects may be detected based on analysis of the optical signals captured by the system.