Wireless fetal monitoring at home with on-line signal analysis

Remote fetal monitoring system based on the GPRS packet data transmission service and WAN network is described in this paper. The system enables analysis, archiving and presentation of signals directly from homes of high-risk pregnancy patients. Mobile instrumentation based on PDA computer acquires the fetal signals, and wirelessly transmits them trough built-in GSM module. Since the signals received have to be analysed on-line in the surveillance center, possible problems in transmission channel were considered in details. Data stream continuity for visualization is ensured by implementation of incoming data buffer and procedures of its data read-period control. The buffer control procedure assures the compromise between buffer size and the time delay between the transmitted and received data.