Development and evaluation of wearable vital monitor system for fetal and neonate heart rates

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25289121
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Measurement engineering
• Research Institution: University of Yamanashi
• Principal Investigator: HANAWA Masanori 山梨大学, 総合研究部, 教授 (90273036)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 平田 修司 山梨大学, 総合研究部, 教授 (00228785) ; 佐藤 隆英 山梨大学, 総合研究部, 准教授 (10345390) ; 阪田 治 山梨大学, 総合研究部, 准教授 (30391197) ; 鈴木 裕 山梨大学, 総合研究部, 助教 (40516928)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): 大木 麻喜 山梨大学, 大学院総合研究部, 教授 (00377574) ; 植野 彰規 東京電機大学, 工学部, 教授 (20318158) ; 鳥養 映子 山梨大学, 大学院総合研究部, 教授 (20188832)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: fetal / neonatal / heart rate monitor / PCA / ICA / wavelet analysis / biological amplifier / multi-channel amplifier

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To prevent intrauterine fetal death and unexpected neonatal death, we developed and evaluated wearable vital monitor devices and algorithms to continuously monitor fetal / newborn heartbeat signals without stressing mothers, fetuses and neonates. In order to enable continuous heart rate measurement of fetus in late pregnancy without restraining maternal body, we developed a sensor head for acquiring the maternal abdominal wall electrical potential with electrodes attached to pregnant womb band, a small data acquisition device, a fetal heartbeat signal separation algorithm.
Moreover, in order to enable continuous heart rate measurement of neonates without restraining newborn babies under measurement, we clarified conditions of body surface potential signal recording by conductive cloth sheet electrodes. We also developed an algorithm to reduce noise from body surface potential signals by wavelet analysis.

Free Research Field

光ファイバ通信、光信号処理、医用信号処理