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Transabdominal Fetal Oximetry via Diffuse Optics: Principled Analysis and Demonstration in Pregnant Ovine Models
Weitai Qian1, Rishad Raiyan Joarder1, Randall Fowler1
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UC Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
Arxiv
|October 3, 2025
Summary
This study introduces a new method for fetal blood oxygen saturation (fSpO2) monitoring using diffuse optics. The approach enhances accuracy for intrapartum fetal monitoring, improving upon existing techniques.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Optics
- Medical Physics
- Fetal Physiology
Background:
- Continuous fetal health monitoring is crucial during labor.
- Diffuse optics offers potential for non-invasive fetal blood oxygen saturation (fSpO2) measurement.
- Current methods for intrapartum fetal monitoring have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance sensing accuracy for Transabdominal Fetal Oximetry (TFO).
- To explore the foundational limits of TFO using diffuse optics.
- To develop a robust pipeline for fSpO2 estimation.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical derivation and computational pipeline for fSpO2 estimation.
- Utilized diffuse light intensity values from simulations and in-vivo experiments.
- Proposed the Exponential Pulsation Ratio (EPR) feature and employed machine learning models.
Main Results:
- Achieved Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 4.81% (simulated) and 6.85% (in-vivo).
- Demonstrated strong correlations: r=0.81 (simulated) and r=0.71 (in-vivo), both p<0.001.
- Outperformed existing methods in fSpO2 estimation accuracy across both datasets.
Conclusions:
- The developed method significantly enhances fSpO2 estimation accuracy.
- The proposed technique shows viability as a supplemental tool for intrapartum fetal monitoring.
- Diffuse optics-based TFO holds promise for improved fetal health surveillance.
