Passive fetal heart monitoring system
First Claim
1. A fetal heart monitoring system, comprising:
- a passive fetal heart monitoring sensor having a plurality of sensor elements for acquiring acoustic signals emitted from a fetus inside a body and outputting a plurality of sensor signals;
a selection circuit for selecting a particular one of the sensor signals;
a signal processing device having a first signal processing channel for processing acoustic signals in a first frequency band and a second signal processing channel for processing acoustic signals in a second frequency band, the signal processing device having a first state such that the signal processing device outputs sensor signals processed by the first signal processing channel and a second state such that the signal processing device outputs sensor signals processed by the second signal processing channel;
a monitoring device responsive to the signal processing device for monitoring the characteristics of the processed signals outputted by the signal processing device and determining if such characteristics meet or exceed predetermined criteria; and
a control device for configuring the signal processing device to the first state so as to process selected sensor signals with the first signal processing channel if such processed signals meet or exceed the predetermined criterion and for configuring the signal processing device to the second state so as to process selected sensor signals with the second signal processing channel if the sensor signals processed by the first signal processing channel do not meet the predetermined criteria.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fetal heart monitoring system and method for detecting and processing acoustic fetal heart signals transmitted by different signal transmission modes. One signal transmission mode, the direct-contact mode, occurs in a first frequency band when the fetus is in direct contact with the maternal abdominal wall. Another signal transmission mode, the fluid propagation mode, occurs in a second frequency band when the fetus is in a recessed position with no direct contact with the maternal abdominal wall. The second frequency band is relatively higher than the first frequency band. The fetal heart monitoring system and method detect and process acoustic fetal heart signals that are in the first frequency band and in the second frequency band.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A fetal heart monitoring system, comprising:
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a passive fetal heart monitoring sensor having a plurality of sensor elements for acquiring acoustic signals emitted from a fetus inside a body and outputting a plurality of sensor signals;
a selection circuit for selecting a particular one of the sensor signals;
a signal processing device having a first signal processing channel for processing acoustic signals in a first frequency band and a second signal processing channel for processing acoustic signals in a second frequency band, the signal processing device having a first state such that the signal processing device outputs sensor signals processed by the first signal processing channel and a second state such that the signal processing device outputs sensor signals processed by the second signal processing channel;
a monitoring device responsive to the signal processing device for monitoring the characteristics of the processed signals outputted by the signal processing device and determining if such characteristics meet or exceed predetermined criteria; and
a control device for configuring the signal processing device to the first state so as to process selected sensor signals with the first signal processing channel if such processed signals meet or exceed the predetermined criterion and for configuring the signal processing device to the second state so as to process selected sensor signals with the second signal processing channel if the sensor signals processed by the first signal processing channel do not meet the predetermined criteria. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A fetal heart monitoring system, comprising:
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a passive fetal heart monitoring sensor having a plurality of sensor elements for acquiring acoustic signals emitted from a fetus inside a body and outputting a plurality of sensor signals;
a selection circuit for selecting a particular one of the sensor signals;
a signal processing device having a first signal processing channel for processing acoustic signals in a first frequency band and a second signal processing channel for processing acoustic signals in a second frequency band, the signal processing device having a first state such that the signal processing device outputs sensor signals processed by the first signal processing channel and a second state such that the signal processing device outputs sensor signals processed by the second signal processing channel;
a monitoring device responsive to the signal processing device for monitoring the characteristics of the processed signals outputted by the signal processing device and determining if such characteristics meet or exceed predetermined criteria; and
a control device for configuring the signal processing device to the first state so as to process selected sensor signals with the first signal processing channel if such processed signals meet or exceed the predetermined criterion and for configuring the signal processing device to the second state so as to process selected sensor signals with the second signal processing channel if the sensor signals processed by the first signal processing channel do not meet the predetermined criteria, wherein the control device comprises a switch. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A fetal heart monitoring system, comprising:
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a passive fetal heart monitoring sensor having a plurality of sensor elements for acquiring acoustic signals emitted from a fetus inside a body and outputting a plurality of sensor signals;
a selection circuit for selecting a particular one of the sensor signals;
a signal processing device having a first signal processing channel for processing acoustic signals in a first frequency band and a second signal processing channel for processing acoustic signals in a second frequency band, the signal processing device having a first state such that the signal processing device outputs sensor signals processed by the first signal processing channel and a second state such that the signal processing device outputs sensor signals processed by the second signal processing channel;
a monitoring device responsive to the signal processing device for monitoring the characteristics of the processed signals outputted by the signal processing device and determining if such characteristics meet or exceed predetermined criteria;
a control device for configuring the signal processing device to the first state so as to process selected sensor signals with the first signal processing channel if such processed signals meet or exceed the predetermined criterion and for configuring the signal processing device to the second state so as to process selected sensor signals with the second signal processing channel if the sensor signals processed by the first signal processing channel do not meet the predetermined criteria; and
wherein the first signal processing channel comprises a low pass anti-aliasing filter for filtering signals outputted by the selection circuit, and a high pass filter configured to pass only signals having frequencies in the first frequency band.
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20. A fetal heart monitoring system, comprising:
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a passive fetal heart monitoring sensor having a plurality of sensor elements for acquiring acoustic signals emitted from a fetus inside a body and outputting a plurality of sensor signals;
a selection circuit for selecting a particular one of the sensor signals;
a signal processing device having a first signal processing channel for processing acoustic signals in a first frequency band and a second signal processing channel for processing acoustic signals in a second frequency band, the signal processing device having a first state such that the signal processing device outputs sensor signals processed by the first signal processing channel and a second state such that the signal processing device outputs sensor signals processed by the second signal processing channel;
a monitoring device responsive to the signal processing device for monitoring the characteristics of the processed signals outputted by the signal processing device and determining if such characteristics meet or exceed predetermined criteria; and
a control device for configuring the signal processing device to the first state so as to process selected sensor signals with the first signal processing channel if such processed signals meet or exceed the predetermined criterion and for configuring the signal processing device to the second state so as to process selected sensor signals with the second signal processing channel if the sensor signals processed by the first signal processing channel do not meet the predetermined criteria; and
wherein the second signal processing channel comprises a low pass anti-aliasing filter for filtering signals outputted by the selection circuit, and a high pass filter configured to pass only signals having frequencies in the second frequency band. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. An article of manufacture comprising:
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a computer processor usable medium having computer processor readable program code embodied therein for monitoring cardiac activity of a fetal heart using a fetal heart monitoring system comprising a passive fetal heart monitoring sensor having a plurality of sensor elements for acquiring acoustic signals emitted from a fetus inside a body and outputting a plurality of sensor signals, a selection circuit for selecting a particular one of the sensor signals, a signal processing device having a first signal processing channel for processing acoustic signals in a first frequency band and a second signal processing channel for processing acoustic signals in a second frequency band, the signal processing device having a first state such that the signal processing device outputs sensor signals processed by the first signal processing channel and a second state such that the signal processing device outputs sensor signals processed by the second signal processing channel, a monitoring device responsive to the signal processing device for monitoring the characteristics of the processed signals outputted by the signal processing device and determining if such characteristics meet predetermined criteria, and a control device for configuring the signal processing device in either the first state or the second state, the computer processor readable program code in the article of manufacture comprising;
computer processor readable program code configured to cause the system to select a particular one of the sensor signals;
computer processor readable program code configured to cause the system to monitor the characteristics of the processed signals outputted by the signal processing device to determine if the processed sensor signal meets predetermined criteria; and
computer processor readable program code configured to cause the system to configure the signal processing device in the first state such that first signal processing channel processes the sensor signals when such processed sensor signals meet predetermined criteria and to configure the signal processing device in the second state such that the sensor signals are processed by the second signal processing channel when the processed sensor signals outputted by the first signal processing channel do not meet predetermined criteria. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A method of monitoring fetal heart activity, comprising the steps of:
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providing a fetal heart monitoring system comprising a passive fetal heart monitoring sensor having a plurality of sensor elements for acquiring acoustic signals emitted from a fetus inside a body and outputting a plurality of sensor signals, and a signal processing device having a first signal processing channel for processing acoustic signals in a first frequency band and a second signal processing channel for processing acoustic signals in a second frequency band, the signal processing device having a first state such that the signal processing device processes sensor signals with the first signal processing channel when such processed signals meet predetermined criteria and a second state such that the sensor signals are processed by the second signal processing channel when the processed signals outputted by the first signal processing channel do not meet predetermined criteria;
processing the sensor signals with one of the signal processing channels of the signal processing device;
monitoring the characteristics of the processed sensor signals to determine if such processed sensor signals meet predetermined criteria; and
configuring the signal processing device so as to process the sensor signals with the other signal processing channel if the processed signals do not meet predetermined criteria. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
configuring the signal processing device in the first state;
filtering the selected sensor signals with a low pass anti-aliasing filter; and
filtering the previously filtered selected sensor signals with a high pass filter configured to pass only signals having frequencies in the first frequency band.
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30. The method according to claim 25 wherein when the processing step comprises the steps of:
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configuring the signal processing device in the second state;
filtering the selected sensor signals with a low pass anti-aliasing filter;
filtering the previously filtered selected sensor signals with a high pass filter configured to pass only signals having frequencies in the second frequency band; and
thereafter, amplifying the filtered signals.
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31. The method according to claim 25 further comprising the step of generating audio signals representative of the acoustic signals emanating from the heart of the fetus.
Specification