Affiliations: [a] Department of Cybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava 70833, Czech Republic | [b] Polytech Grenoble, Saint-Martin-d’Hres 38400, France | [c] Department of Telecommunications, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava 70833, Czech Republic
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Radek Martinek, Department of Cybernetics and Biomedical Engineering, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Ostrava
70833, Czech Republic. Tel.: +123 45 678910; E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: This paper introduces a comprehensive fetal Electrocardiogram (fECG) Signal Extraction and Analysis Virtual Instrument that integrates various methods for detecting the R-R Intervals (RRIs) as a means to determine the fetal Heart Rate (fHR) and therefore facilitates fetal Heart Rate Variability (HRV) signal analysis. Moreover, it offers the capability to perform advanced morphological fECG signal analysis called ST segment Analysis (STAN) as it seamlessly allows the determination of the T-wave to QRS complex ratio (also called T/QRS) in the fECG signal. The integration of these signal processing and analytical modules could help clinical researchers and practitioners to noninvasively monitor and detect the life threatening hypoxic conditions that may arise in different stages of pregnancy and more importantly during delivery and could therefore lead to the reduction of unnecessary C-sections. In our experiments we used real recordings from a Fetal Scalp Electrode (FSE) as well as maternal abdominal electrodes. This Virtual Instrument (Toolbox) not only serves as a desirable platform for comparing various fECG extraction signal processing methods, it also provides an effective means to perform STAN and HRV signal analysis based on proven ECG morphological as well as Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) indices to detect hypoxic conditions.
