US 12,324,654 B2
Fetal health monitoring system and method for using the same
Michael Daniele, Raleigh, NC (US); and Michael Wilkins, Raleigh, NC (US)
Assigned to North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (US)
Filed by North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (US)
Filed on Jun. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/336,547.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/034,146, filed on Jun. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0378585 A1, Dec. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 5/024 (2006.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/0205 (2006.01); A61B 5/11 (2006.01); A61B 5/1455 (2006.01); A61B 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 5/02411 (2013.01) [A61B 5/0205 (2013.01); A61B 5/14551 (2013.01); A61B 5/4362 (2013.01); A61B 5/6823 (2013.01); A61B 5/6832 (2013.01); A61B 5/7203 (2013.01); A61B 5/7278 (2013.01); A61B 7/00 (2013.01); A61B 5/02405 (2013.01); A61B 5/1118 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fetal monitoring patch for determining a health condition of a fetus based on biosignals of an expecting mother and the fetus, the fetal monitoring patch comprising:
a first acoustic sensor configured to provide mechano-acoustically sensed phonocardiogram (aPCG) data from an anterior side location on a maternal torso;
an optical sensor configured to provide optically sensed maternal photoplethysmogram (mPPG) data from an anterior centralized location on the maternal torso relative to the anterior side location;
a breathable substrate configured to provide skin contact of the first acoustic sensor via a first acoustic impedance coupler and skin contact of the optical sensor to the maternal torso for continuous non-invasive non-clinical monitoring; and
a microcontroller mechanically coupled with the breathable substrate, wherein the microcontroller is configured for:
continuously monitoring fetal movement (fM) using the first acoustic sensor while operating in a first mode, wherein the first mode is a low-power vigilant monitoring state; and
upon detecting reduced fM activity, transitioning to a second mode comprising:
decomposing the mechano-acoustically sensed aPCG data using the optically sensed mPPG data to extract mechano-acoustically sensed fetal phonocardiogram (fPCG) data;
determining fetal heart rate variability (fHRV) data from the mechano-acoustically sensed fPCG data; and
providing an alert to the expecting mother based on the fHRV data, wherein the alert is indicative of a medical emergency.