Fetal Movement Monitoring with Motion Artifact Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cardiotocography (CTG) monitoring systems are prone to motion-related mismeasurements, leading to unreliable fetal movement detections due to maternal and external movements, which can result in false indications and affect the accuracy of fetal condition assessment during pregnancy monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A cardiotocographic pregnancy monitoring system that includes a fetal monitoring transducer with an ultrasound sensor, a motion assessment unit, and a maternal monitoring transducer with a tocodynamometer, which processes fetal movement grading information to provide an augmented fetal movement signal, indicating the reliability of fetal movement indications, thus distinguishing between genuine and distorted fetal movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional CTG monitoring systems are used to detect fetal movements, then fetal movement information can be obtained, but motion artifacts from maternal and external movements cause false indications and reduce measurement reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces motion sensor units as intermediary devices that detect motion artifacts caused by maternal and external movements. These motion sensors act as mediators between the ultrasound transducer and the fetal movement detection process, providing information about spurious motions so they can be filtered out, thereby improving both measurement precision and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring motion artifacts through motion sensor units and using this information to adjust or correct the fetal movement detection. The motion information feeds back into the processing system to distinguish genuine fetal movements from spurious motions, enhancing measurement reliability without sacrificing detection accuracy
2Reliability
If motion sensor units are added to verify fetal movements, then measurement reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motion sensor units are designed to serve multiple functions: they detect maternal movements, identify external motion artifacts, and provide correction information for fetal movement detection. This multi-functionality allows the system to improve reliability without adding proportionally complex components, as the same motion sensors perform several verification tasks
3Measurement precision
If fetal movement transducers are repositioned to maintain signal strength, then signal quality improves, but motion artifacts increase due to transducer movement
Solution Approach 1:
Motion sensor units are positioned as intermediaries between the transducer and the detection system to monitor transducer movement independently. This allows the system to distinguish between genuine fetal movements and artifacts caused by transducer repositioning, enabling signal quality improvement through proper transducer placement without suffering from the harmful effects of motion artifacts
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances monitoring accuracy and reliability by providing a clear and manageable visual representation of fetal movement states, allowing medical staff to promptly assess fetal movement validity and take corrective actions, while maintaining the acceptance of traditional CTG plots without introducing excessive uncertainty.
Implementation Method 1
a fetal monitoring transducer (20) that detects fetal medical condition information and comprises at least one ultrasound sensor
Implementation Method 2
a first motion sensor unit (30) that is associated with the fetal monitoring transducer (20), the first motion sensor unit comprising at least one first motion sensor; a second motion sensor unit (32) comprising at least one second motion sensor
Implementation Method 3
a maternal monitoring transducer (40) comprising at least one tocodynamometer transducer (42) that detects maternal medical condition information
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a pregnancy monitoring system, the system comprising a fetal monitoring transducer (20) arranged to detect fetal medical condition information; and a control device (48) comprising a motion assessment unit (50) and a signal output unit (52); wherein the fetal monitoring transducer (20) is arranged to detect fetal movement indicative information, wherein the motion assessment unit (50) is arranged to process fetal movement grading information, in addition to the fetal movement indicative information, wherein the signal output unit (52) is arranged to simultaneously output a fetal condition signal, particularly a fetal heart rate signal, and an augmented fetal movement signal based on the fetal movement indicative information and the fetal movement grading information, wherein a characteristic property of the original fetal movement information is still present in the augmented fetal movement signal. The disclosure further relates to a corresponding pregnancy monitoring method.