Quantitative evaluation of fetal heart rate patterns: I. Processing methods

Abstract Recording of the tachogram during fetal monitoring provides a continuous stream of data. The insight in the fetal heart action obtained with the cardio-tachogram and with the interval histogram can be greatly amplified by second order interval distribution, interval distribution in polar coordinates, histograms of the argument and the modulus, and multi dimensional approximation for the modulus and the argument. These processing methods give the advantage of data reduction and the possibility of quantification of details, whereas trends during the course of time can be detected.