title: Ultrasonic tissue characterization of fetal lung, liver, and placenta for the purpose of assessing fetal maturity.
abstract: The purpose of this research effort was to establish a physical basis for the development of an accurate noninvasive technique to differentiate between mature and immature fetal tissues, particularly the lung and placenta. The research utilized RF waveform analysis via a microcomputer-based digital processing system interfaced directly to a standard real-time clinical diagnostic ultrasound instrument. Differences between the frequency spectra of the RF waveforms for mature and immature fetal tissues could be demonstrated in accordance with proposed tissue models.
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology*; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology*; D008961:Models, Structural; D010920:Placenta / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013909:Thorax / Q000196:embryology; D014463:Ultrasonography