Fetal Pulse Oximetry

Project overview

Fetal Pulse Oximetry using NIRS

During labor, fetal monitoring is typically done by the electronic fetal monitor, which measures the fetal heart rate and maternal contractions. If a non-reassuring fetal heart rate is observed, emergency C-sections are performed to prevent fetal hypoxic injuries. To improve maternal and fetal outcomes and reduce unnecessary C-sections, we propose to use transabdominal fetal pulse oximetry, which uses NIR light to directly measure the fetal arterial oxygen saturation (spo2) non-invasively through the maternal abdomen.

In this project we are developing algorithms for distinguishing maternal and fetal signals, and calculating the fetal spo2. Multi-layer analytical models for NIRS and photon simulations in realistic 3D models were studied for the algorithm development.

People involved in this project:

• Jingyi Wu
• Gopika Satish
• Jana Kainerstorfer