Introduction
Pregnancy and birth are among the most dangerous days in your life. Stillbirth tragically ends 3 million pregnancies globally every year whilst fetal asphyxia inflicted by labour is a leading cause of neonatal seizures, cerebral palsy and death. Pregnancy can also be detrimental to the mother and multisystem organ injury can result from preeclampsia, with delivery, often at preterm gestations, being the only treatment.
We are developing a wearable device and software diagnostics to better monitor the fetus during pregnancy. Furthermore, we have identified a possible medical treatment for preeclampsia, metformin and examining possible treatments for fetal growth restriction.
Methods
With a team of electronic engineers we have used flexible electronics and artificial intelligence to develop a wearable fetal monitoring device. Using machine learning and deep learning we have developed an algorithm that accurately detects fetal asphyxia in labour. We identified metformin as a possible treatment for preeclampsia in laboratory assays and colleagues in south Africa performed a randomised control trial evaluating its potential as a treatment for preterm preeclampsia.
Results
We have developed a wearable sensor and wireless, portable hardware that is smaller and lighter than a smart phone that could be worn by patients in hospital and opens the possibility of a virtual hospital.
Utilising CTGs from labour, we have developed an algorithm that detects fetal asphyxia with a sensitivity of 90% compared to clinicians at 36% at a match specificity of 80% and validated this model on 2 datasets – an Australian dataset and an international dataset.
We have shown metformin reduces antiangiogenic markers of preeclampsia in laboratory assays and colleagues in South Africa conducted a randomised controlled trial enrolling 180 women with preterm preeclampsia demonstrated metformin prolonged pregnancy by 7 days (p = 0.056).
Conclusion
We are developing wearable fetal monitoring technology and software to better detect fetal asphyxia. We are also developing treatments for preeclampsia.