A fetal phonocardiogram system featuring an array of acoustic sensors designed to be temporarily affixed to a pregnant patient to convert the vibrations associated with a fetal heartbeat and/or fetal movement into a signal. The signal can be amplified and transferred to a processing element for filtering non-fetal sounds in order to resolve the fetal heartbeat. The filtered signal can be used in conjunction with an array of multiple acoustic sensors to locate a fetal position relative to the array.

A fetal phonocardiogram system featuring an array of acoustic sensors designed to be temporarily affixed to a pregnant patient to convert the vibrations associated with a fetal heartbeat and/or fetal movement into a signal. The signal can be amplified and transferred to a processing element for filtering non-fetal sounds in order to resolve the fetal heartbeat. The filtered signal can be used in conjunction with an array of multiple acoustic sensors to locate a fetal position relative to the array.

A system obtains a maternal electrocardiogram (ECG) signal that represents an ECG of a pregnant mother during a first time interval. The system further obtains a mixed maternal-fetal ECG signal that represents a combined ECG of the mother and her fetus during the first time interval; processes the maternal ECG signal and the mixed maternal-fetal ECG signal to generate a fetal ECG signal that represents the ECG of the fetus during the time interval, the fetal ECG signal substantially excluding the maternal ECG signal; and provides an output based on the fetal ECG signal.

A system obtains a maternal electrocardiogram (ECG) signal that represents an ECG of a pregnant mother during a first time interval. The system further obtains a mixed maternal-fetal ECG signal that represents a combined ECG of the mother and her fetus during the first time interval; processes the maternal ECG signal and the mixed maternal-fetal ECG signal to generate a fetal ECG signal that represents the ECG of the fetus during the time interval, the fetal ECG signal substantially excluding the maternal ECG signal; and provides an output based on the fetal ECG signal.

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.

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.

A computer-implemented method for detecting fetal peaks in a maternal ECG signal includes steps of receiving the maternal ECG signal and preprocessing the maternal ECG signal wherein preprocessing includes removal of mECG R-peaks to form a process ECG signal that includes both fetal and noise peaks. Both fetal and noise peaks are detected using a peak detection algorithm which yields an array of peaks X.sub.k×1. Permutations of all peak differences are calculated by subtracting elements of X.sub.k×1 from its transpose X.sub.k×1.sup.T to form a matrix M.sub.k×k. Characteristically, elements in the matrix M.sub.k×k corresponds to different sample periods that are used to determine peak positions. An array of periods denoted an array L.sub.P×1 is calculated. A 3-dimensional matrix G.sub.P×k×k is constructed by dividing M.sub.k×k by each element of L.sub.P×1. An optimal M.sub.k×k is determined by finding the M.sub.k×k in the 3-dimensional matrix G.sub.P×k×k that has it's first row with the most elements near a whole number.

A computer-implemented method for detecting fetal peaks in a maternal ECG signal includes steps of receiving the maternal ECG signal and preprocessing the maternal ECG signal wherein preprocessing includes removal of mECG R-peaks to form a process ECG signal that includes both fetal and noise peaks. Both fetal and noise peaks are detected using a peak detection algorithm which yields an array of peaks X.sub.k×1. Permutations of all peak differences are calculated by subtracting elements of X.sub.k×1 from its transpose X.sub.k×1.sup.T to form a matrix M.sub.k×k. Characteristically, elements in the matrix M.sub.k×k corresponds to different sample periods that are used to determine peak positions. An array of periods denoted an array L.sub.P×1 is calculated. A 3-dimensional matrix G.sub.P×k×k is constructed by dividing M.sub.k×k by each element of L.sub.P×1. An optimal M.sub.k×k is determined by finding the M.sub.k×k in the 3-dimensional matrix G.sub.P×k×k that has it's first row with the most elements near a whole number.

Methods and apparatus for reducing the risk of neurological injury to a human fetus during labor and before are disclosed, which include the steps of: (1) identifying during labor the risk of neurological injury to a fetus by, conducting an analysis of fetal blood to determine at least a first base excess (BE) value for the fetus; (2) determining a multiple of the median for the BE value at the first period in time, wherein a risk of neurological injury to the fetus is indicated when the BE value is a predefined multiple of a median BE value; and (3) treating the fetus for which the risk of neurological injury is, by intervening in labor to reduce or eliminate the risk of neurological injury to the fetus through any conventional therapeutic measures.

A system and method is provided for monitoring the fetal position and/or orientation of the fetus of an expectant mother. An acoustic sensor array is positioned over the belly. The pattern of acoustic sensor signals is processed to determine a fetal orientation and/or to determine movement over time of the fetus.