Identifying fetal heart anomalies using fetal ECG and Doppler cardiogram signals

This study presents an automated and non-invasive technology using an integrated fetal transabdominal electrocardiogram system and Doppler cardiogram (DCG) to identify fetal heart anomalies. Multiresolution wavelet analysis and Jensen-Shannon divergence (JSD) methods were used to identify the frequency contents of the Doppler signals to be linked to the opening and closing of the heart´s valves (Aortic and mitral). For the normal fetuses, PEP (Pre-ejection period), VET (Ventricular ejection time), ICT(Isovolumic contraction time) and IVRT (Isovolumic relaxation time) were found to be 75.0±11.9 (msec), 153.2±18.9 (msec), 50.0±15.9 (msec) and 69.6±9.7 (msec) respectively. On the other hand, for fetuses with heart anomalies, these timing intervals were found to be 89.0±10.3 (msec), 168.6±25.0 (msec), 52.2±17.2 (msec) and 51.6±13.7 (msec) respectively. PEP, VET and IVRT values are significantly (p<;0.01) different between the two groups.