Current external fetal heart rate monitors provide valuable information. However, they require skilled attention, frequent adjustments, and patient restraint in order to obtain consistent reliable information. This is because the Doppler signal can only be captured from a small volume in the uterus, and the fetal heart moves out of this region with fetal or maternal motion. Our ahn is to develop a Doppler ultrasound system for unattended reliable monitoring irrespective of maternal or fetal position or change in position. This system could reduce nurse training and labor, enhance patient comfort and mobility, provide technology for Holter monitoring, and reduce internal monitoring. To accomplish this, a small lightweight ultrasound source with go degree solid angle insonicates the entire uterus from the midline, and peripheral lightweight sensors detect all returns. Improved electronics and signal extraction logic are required as well. Biomedics produces fetal monitors, is experienced in advanced Doppler systems, and has developed a very wide angle transducer (patented). Phase I studies will demonstrate engineering models of the transducers and electronics and prepare for clinical trials. In Phase II, production-ready models will be tested in the clinic.National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
