A TRANSDUCER FOR DETECTING FETAL BREATHING MOVEMENTS USING PVDF FILM

Foetal breathing movement (FBM) in utero has come to play an important role in foetal diagnosis. FBM may be monitored using real time ultras ound imaging of the foetus in utero. Foetal breathing activities can a lso be detected by monitoring maternal abdominal wall movement in the frequency range of 0.5-2.5 Hz. This paper presents a transducer which detects FBM non-invasively by monitoring maternal abdominal wall movem ents. Foetal heart sounds can also be monitored. The transducer presen ted uses piezo-electric film as the transducing medium. Results from p reliminary clinical trials of prototype transducers on 10 patients are discussed.