Sensors for Fetal Hypoxia and Metabolic Acidosis: A Review
Gerard Cummins,
Jessica Kremer,
Anne Bernassau,
Andrew Brown,
Helen L. Bridle,
Holger Schulze,
Till T. Bachmann,
Michael Crichton,
Fiona C. Denison,
Marc P. Y. Desmulliez
Affiliations
Gerard Cummins
Institute of Sensors, Signals and Systems, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK
Jessica Kremer
Institute of Sensors, Signals and Systems, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK
Anne Bernassau
Institute of Sensors, Signals and Systems, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK
Andrew Brown
MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, Scotland, UK
Helen L. Bridle
Institute of Sensors, Signals and Systems, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK
Holger Schulze
Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, Edinburgh Medical School, The Chancellor’s Building, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, Scotland, UK
Till T. Bachmann
Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, Edinburgh Medical School, The Chancellor’s Building, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, Scotland, UK
Michael Crichton
Institute of Mechanical, Processing and Energy Engineering, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK
Fiona C. Denison
MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, Scotland, UK
Marc P. Y. Desmulliez
Institute of Sensors, Signals and Systems, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton EH14 4AS, Scotland, UK
This article reviews existing clinical practices and sensor research undertaken to monitor fetal well-being during labour. Current clinical practices that include fetal heart rate monitoring and fetal scalp blood sampling are shown to be either inadequate or time-consuming. Monitoring of lactate in blood is identified as a potential alternative for intrapartum fetal monitoring due to its ability to distinguish between different types of acidosis. A literature review from a medical and technical perspective is presented to identify the current advancements in the field of lactate sensors for this application. It is concluded that a less invasive and a more continuous monitoring device is required to fulfill the clinical needs of intrapartum fetal monitoring. Potential specifications for such a system are also presented in this paper.
