An inexpensive and accurate fetal heart rate monitoring system has been developed by researchers in India using Bluetooth technology.
The study will appear in the International Journal of Computers in Healthcare.
Fetal phonocardiography is the modern day version of the stethoscope in ante-natal baby care. However, Vijay Chourasia of the LNM Institute of Information Technology in Jaipur and Anil Kumar Tiwari of the Indian Institute of Technology Rajasthan, in Jodhpur, adapted this system to use Bluetooth.
According to the researchers, the new system will allow fetal heart monitoring to be conducted without the need for repeated intervention. In addition, the system will wirelessly transmit data to a personal computer to be analyzed and accessed by healthcare professionals.
The team tested the system on 33 pregnant women at different stages of gestation. They then compared data from the Bluetooth system with data obtained by the ultrasound-based Doppler shift technique and found the Bluetooth system to be 98% accurate.
In addition to being wireless, the new system consumes less power, making it portable and easy for expectant mothers to use. Phonocardiography is completely non-invasive and entirely safe. The system is able to identify anomalous heart problems in a cost efficient way.
Written By Grace Rattue