Virtual simulator for the generation of patho-physiological foetal ECGs during the prenatal period

The design, implementation, and verification of a signal simulator for the generation of patho-physiological records of foetal electrocardiograms (fECGs) during the prenatal period are briefly reported. The simulator enables users to model the patho-physiological changes that occur within the foetus´ myocardium under hypoxic conditions (hypoxemia, hypoxia, asphyxia, etc.) during the 20th to 42nd week of pregnancy. The simulator deploys a dynamic fECG model including an actual fECG record taken from clinical practice, patho-physiological cardiotocography (CTG), and ST-analysis (STAN) records along with the ratio of T waves to the QRS complex; as well as clinical recommendations by FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) for classifying these records. By comparing synthesised and real patho-physiological CTG and STAN records, the functionality of the simulator, which effectively captured significant indicators of the foetus´ condition during the prenatal period including fECG morphology, dynamic fECG characteristics, and others is evaluated and validated. The simulator enables users to test both current and emerging approaches in a very challenging area of gynaecology, namely the identification/classification of hypoxic conditions in the foetus during labour. Obstetricians can also use the simulator as a reference tool during the evaluation of suspect fECG abnormalities.