Parametric spectral analysis of umbilical artery doppler signals for fetal heart rate variability evaluation

✍ Scribed by A. Fort; L. Masotti; S. Rocchi; V. Vignoli; M. Di Tommaso; C. Consoli; F. Branconi

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 764 KB
• Volume: 2
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0929-8266
• DOI: 10.1016/0929-8266(95)00122-8

✦ Synopsis

Objective: To improve the measurement resolution of the fetal heart rate (FHR) beat-to-beat variation, which is an important prognostic indicator of fetal well-being. Method: The goal was reached using an autoregressive (AR) approach, instead of conventional algorithms based on the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), for the analysis of the umbilical artery Doppler signals. Rest&s: The resolution improvement obtainable with the proposed technique in the FHR beat-to-beat variation was proved both with simulation and with experimental results. The method was implemented in a personal computer (PC) based equipment which works in a quasi-real time mode. Conclusions: The proposed technique can be usefully applied to the FHR beat-to-beat variation measurements; the developed prototype is at present used for clinical practice at the 'Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica' of the University of Firenze.