Electrode and electrode positioning arrangement for abdominal fetal electrocardiogram detection

Abstract

The invention relates to large area electrodes suitable for use in a fetal heart rate monitoring systems. The electrode comprises: a cutaneous gel contact () for sensing fetal electrocardiogram signals from a human pregnant subject; an electrical conductor () electrically connected to the gel contact () so as to define a first electrical contact region; a connector () in electrical contact with the electrical conductor () for connection to a lead wire; and a substructure () for attachment to a human pregnant subject. The gel contact () and the electrical conductor () are arranged on the substructure () to allow a contact surface () of the gel contact () to be in electrical communication with the skin of a human pregnant subject to define a second electrical contact region. The second electrical contact region has an area greater than 370 square millimeters. When arranged on a predefined electrode topology on the abdomen the success rate of fetal heart rate detection is significantly improved. The topology may be incorporated into a flat flexible cable which provides a comfortable and reproducible electrode arrangement allowing an untrained person to apply electrodes to a pregnant mother's abdomen.