Sensitivity analysis of transabdominal fetal pulse oximetry using MRI-based simulations

Area of Science:

• Biomedical optics
• Medical imaging
• Fetal physiology

Background:

• Current fetal monitoring methods can lead to interventions.
• Non-invasive techniques are needed to improve fetal monitoring accuracy and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine optimal source-detector (SD) configurations for transabdominal fetal pulse oximetry.
• To assess the feasibility of measuring fetal heart rate and oxygenation non-invasively.

Main Methods:

• Photon simulations were performed using realistic 3D fetal geometries from MRI scans.
• Simulations evaluated various source-detector distances and light wavelengths (730-850 nm).

Main Results:

• Fetal signals are theoretically detectable at depths up to 30 mm.
• Optimal detection requires SD distances >100 mm and wavelengths of 730-850 nm.
• Customization of SD configurations based on fetal position and maternal anatomy is crucial.

Conclusions:

• Transabdominal fetal pulse oximetry is theoretically feasible for non-invasive fetal monitoring.
• Optimized and customized SD configurations can enhance fetal heart rate and oxygenation detection.
• This research supports the development of advanced non-invasive fetal monitoring tools for clinical application.