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.