Ambulatory non-invasive automatic fetal monitoring system

An ambulatory, non-invasive, automatic fetal monitoring system for portable use on a mother to continuously measure and analyze information indicative of the well-being of a fetus living within the mother, comprising:

• a plurality of fetal cardiac sensor means for detecting fetal heartbeats when the fetus is in a variety of positions within the mother and providing a plurality of electronic fetal cardiac sensor signals which are indicative of fetal heartbeats as perceived from the plurality of fetal cardiac sensor means;
• at least one fetal movement sensor means for detecting physical movement of the fetus within the mother and providing an electronic fetal movement sensor signal which is indicative of fetal movement;
• a sensor belt for extending about a torso of the mother and positioning the plurality of fetal cardiac sensors and the at least one fetal movement sensor in close proximity to the mother's abdomen when the sensor belt is properly worn;
• a digital system including at least one microprocessor means and memory means for analyzing said cardiac and movement sensor signals to determine fetal heart rate and including means for analyzing whether fetal heart rate has accelerated immediately after movement by the fetus;
• and
• fetal heart rate indicator means for indicating fetal heart rate;
• and
• indicator means for indicating whether fetal heart rate has accelerated immediately after fetal movement.

A non-invasive, automatic multiple fetus monitoring system for continuous use on a mother to indicate a likelihood that multiple fetuses are present within the mother, comprising:

• a sensor garment for wear by the mother about the mother's abdomen;
• a plurality of fetal cardiac sensor means mounted on said garment at spaced locations to continuously detect fetal heartbeats when the fetus is in a variety of positions within the mother and provide electronic fetal cardiac sensor signals which are indicative of fetal heartbeats with time;
• a computing means connected to receive and analyze said fetal cardiac sensor signals;
• said computing means including memory means and means for comparing measured fetal cardiac sensor signal strengths from the plurality of fetal cardiac sensors against preprogrammed criteria indicating an increased likelihood of multiple fetuses;
• and
• multiple fetus indicator means for indicating increased probably that multiple fetuses are present.

A non-invasive, automatic breech position detector for continuous use on a mother to indicate a likelihood that a fetus has assumed a breech position in the mother's womb, comprising:

• a sensor garment for wear by the mother about the mother's abdomen;
• a plurality of fetal cardiac sensors mounted on said sensor garment at a plurality of spaced positions for detecting fetal heartbeats and providing electronic fetal cardiac sensor signals;
• computing means electrically connected to receive and analyze said fetal cardiac sensor signals;
• said computing means including memory means and means for analyzing said fetal cardiac sensor signals to compare measured fetal cardiac sensor signal strength against preprogrammed criteria indicating an increased likelihood of breech position for at least one combination of relative signal strengths for the plurality of cardiac sensor signals, and for producing a breech position signal;
• and
• breech position indicator means for indicating when the breech position signal has been produced.