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

Abstract

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