Fetal ecg and heart rate assessment and monitoring device

Abstract

A system for assessing and monitoring a fetal electrocardiogram (ECG) and heart rate in a pregnant mother comprises wearable mechanical-electronic sensors, e.g., embedded in a wrist or arm band, which can measure mechanical pulse signals from the mother, and an abdomen patch which can measure the combined ECG signals of the fetus and mother. In another embodiment, the sensors in the wrist or arm band measure the combined fetal/maternal ECG signals, and the mother's mechanical pulse signals. By signal processing and gating out the maternal ECG signals as correlated with the mechanical maternal pulse signals, the fetal ECG and heart rate can be measured and monitored. These measurements may be displayed on the wrist or arm band device, or wirelessly through a remote device, mobile phone or computer. Sensors in the abdominal patch may also measure uterine electromyogram, uterine contractions, and fetal movements, to be correlated with the fetal ECG.