Ergonomic visualization of cardiotocographic data in computerized fetal monitoring system

The KOMPOR System provides computerized fetal monitoring. The data acquired from a bedside monitor comprise fetal heart rate and uterine activity signals. In conventional cardiotocography, a trace is printed on a chart paper steadily fed out from a printer. An ergonomic study of the medical staff's habits showed that a new technology to be introduced should provide the same graphic form and quality as on a strip chart. Four display formats are designed to meet various medical needs: full-size, overview, trend and browse. The full-size display emulates conventional monitoring. The overview display shows traces from up to 9 beds simultaneously. The trend display enables to view and analyse a one-hour trace on one screen. In the browse display a record is accessible in the system archive simply by trace appearance. Applied compression algorithms avert substantial information loss. Data visualization according to the presented considerations allows optimal transfer from conventional cardiotocography to the computerized one.