Teleplot: a computing system for objective analysis of fetal heart rate recordings

In human pregnancies, fetal heart rate recordings are useful both in predicting and in preventing imminent fetal death. Although an objective numerical measurement of such recordings is preferable to visual analysis, few obstetric centres have the computer expertise to implement this. Here we describe the principles of a technique whereby the fetal heart rate versus time trace may be transferred into computer memory for further processing in a numerical and objective fashion. The methodology is valid howsoever the fetal heart rate is detected.