A simplified approach to peak detection in digitized intrauterine pressure waveforms

The detection of peaks in biological waveforms is a problem in many fields of data analysis. In an effort to analyze digitized waveforms obtained from intrauterine pressure recording in dysmenorrheic women a simple algorithm has been developed. This algorithm is based on the observation that a "wave" must rise above the background, have both a rising and a falling component, and encompass sufficient time to distinguish it from transient artifacts. This approach has been successful in this application and may be applicable in the evaluation of intrapartum data or in other areas where waveform data must be analyzed. The algorithm may be easily implemented using only basic computing hardware and programming skills, Examples of waveforms and the resultant analysis are presented.