Optimized Measurement and Signal Processing of Fetal MCG

描述（由申请人提供）：尽管进行了数十年的胎儿心电图研究，但胎儿心脏电生理学的无创评估仍不可能常规进行。然而，最近，我们和其他小组已经证明了胎儿心磁图（fMCG）的有效性，胎儿心电图的磁性模拟，作为一种有效的新方法，评估胎儿心率，心律和传导。该计划的长期目标是将fMCG发展为胎儿研究和临床应用的新技术。如果成功的话，这项研究可以提高对危及生命的胎儿心律失常的诊断，并揭示不明原因的胎儿死亡的原因。它还可以提供监测胎儿治疗效果的有效手段，并有助于评估新疗法。本文提出的研究的短期目标是通过将其与其他技术相结合来扩展fMCG的功能，并进行进一步的患者研究，以增加胎儿心脏电生理学新兴领域的科学知识基础。具体目标如下：1.开发和应用基于统计估计和检测理论的检测器，以识别复极异常，如QTc延长和T波交替。2.开发并应用同步fMCG/超声心动图记录的分析方法，以直接比较胎儿电节律和机械节律，并评价胎儿机电功能。3.联合收割机结合超声监测胎儿心动图，以提高胎儿健康的评估。4.继续我们对正常妊娠和妊娠合并胎儿心律失常和其他高危情况的研究，结合在上述目标中开发的技术。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Noninvasive assessment of fetal cardiac electrophysiology has not been routinely possible despite many decades of fetal ECG research. Recently, however, we and other groups have demonstrated the efficacy of fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG), the magnetic analog of fetal ECG, as an effective new method of assessing fetal heart rate, rhythm, and conduction. The long-term goal of this program is to develop fMCG as a new technology for fetal investigation and clinical application. If successful, this research can improve the diagnosis of life-threatening forms of fetal arrhythmia and shed light on causes of unexplained fetal death. It can also provide an effective means of monitoring the effects of fetal therapies and can aid in the evaluation of new therapies. The short-term objective of the research proposed here is to extend the functionality of fMCG by combining it with other techniques and to perform further patient studies to increase the base of scientific knowledge in the nascent field of fetal cardiac electrophysiology. The specific aims are as follows: 1. Develop and apply detectors based on statistical estimation and detection theory to identify repolarization abnormalities, such as QTc prolongation and T-wave alternans. 2. Develop and apply methodology for analysis of simultaneous fMCG/echocardiography recordings in order to directly compare fetal electrical and mechanical rhythm and evaluate fetal electromechanical function. 3. Combine fetal actocardiography with ultrasound surveillance in order to improve the assessment of fetal well-being. 4. Continue our studies of normal pregnancies and pregnancies complicated by fetal arrhythmia and other high-risk conditions, incorporating techniques developed in the preceding aims.