New method for tracking fetal breathing movements using real-time pulsed Doppler ultrasonographic displacement measurement.
To develop a clinical device for monitoring FBM with a simplified mechanism, the multichannel pulsed Doppler device was achieved by modifying the ultrasonographic module and probe of a cardiotocograph. A new algorithm of signal processing with a high-accuracy displacement estimation technique produced real-time and continuous displacement calculations. In vivo measurements demonstrated that real-time output produced commendable quality in FBM tracking. The displacement of a few hundred micrometers because of FBM was measured successfully. The results suggest that quantitative assessments of FBM should be possible with this technique.
Shinozuka
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N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyko, Japan.
Yamakoshi
Y
Y
Taketani
Y
Y
D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D005324:Fetal Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D018617:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed / Q000379:methods*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal