At 2015, the innovative Baby Beat project was born in a scenario of decreasing birth rates, where the increase in the number of pregnancies at risk and other risks associated with the age of pregnancy is commonplace. According to our idea, Baby Beat consisted of a portable device that integrates non-invasive technology initially based on laser interferometry, which measures fetal heart rate continuously during the last months of pregnancy. This device was able to communicate with Bluetooth Smartphones and generated automatic alarms when the fetus heart rate exceeded certain thresholds.
The ultimate objective of this project was for every pregnant woman of any age, background and nationality to use Baby Beat, whether for medical reasons or simply to establish a closer emotional connection with her children.
The main innovation of the method was that it is non-invasive and targeted to be available at an attainable price. The overall objective of the project was to adapt, integrate and reinforce the prior design of optics (done with UPC-CD6 during 2014), electronics and software in order to cope with the harsh conditions of continuous daily use. In addition, proving and proving its utility in a larger group of pregnant women in clinical trials.
At December 2015, we were aware that the fetus measurements, we thought we had been done during 2014 in the nail of the mother, were noise and we were completely aware of the limitations of SMI (self-mixing interferometry) for measures on skin. At January/February 2016, we tried to change the subcontractor and started to analyze other lines as mitigation actions. During the last 3 months of RP1, we found that applanation tonometry could be a perfect method for us, with a generated APW (Arterial Pressure Wave) signal with more resolution than interferometry, and without their problems (artefacts, changes in optical feedback due to skin variations, etc.).
Also, we were aware that it was very important to do a significant data acquisition campaign with pregnant women very near to delivery. We knew a doctor in Salamanca (200 km from Madrid) very fond of to help us and with a very interesting facilities with the proper size (not too big, and not too small). Finally, we did these tests t the beginning of RP2 in July, after the PO said OK. For these tests, we were helped by:
• The Salamanca Health Center with 20 pregnant women (the project was approved by their ethical committee at the beginning of July). Also they had a device from an Australian company for tonometry measurements that was also A used with women. Besides we bought a low-cost fetus-pulse device (using ultrasounds) that was used to get measures by the doctor and nurses.
• The UC3M (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid). They are experts in high-resolution interferometry, and we used their services to acquire signal with their lasers and with devices specifically developed between UC3M and BCB, for the nail and for the wrist of the pregnant women.
• DiaTecne, an Italian SME from Milan. They have developed several years ago a device named PulsePen, to measure the APW signal using applanation tonometry in different places of the body (wrist, neck, leg, etc.) for hypertension purposes. Obviously, our purposes were different but their device was perfect for us.
s a resume, the following objectives have been developed in the second period of the project:
• New sensor definition (optical and non-optical technologies)
• Analysis of applanation tonometry technology.
• Comparison of tonometry and interferometry.
• Measures in pregnant women in different places (wrist, neck, belly, groin) and their analysis.
• Analysis of other options: Digital stethoscope and high gain microphone.
• Software tools design for tests
• Acquisition of software for the acquisition of different data sources for measurements in pregnant women (high resolution interferometry, tonemetry, digital stethoscope) and analysis of the large amount of data as automatic as possible.
- Dissemination
Before the end of the first period, the project was frozen hoping to be able to carry out measures with pregnant women and analyze the signals obtained.
For this reason, the communication and dissemination actions in the second period of the project have been reduced to the publication of two news items on the BCB website (http://www.bcb.es ) and on the linkedin page; In addition to the Baby Beat project website
http://babybeat-project.eu/(opens in new window) and the article published in Horizon 2020 Projects digital magazine http: //www.horizon2020 publications.com/H11/#72 which offers the latest advances In research, development and innovation in the European Union.
At the end of 2016 (11/24/16) we received a letter of pre-information about termination on its scientific or technological relevance of the action and on January 13 we received the confirmation of the termination of the GA. We accepted this termination because of we have been unable to find a technical solution for acquisition part (and detect the fetus information in the pregnant women APW signal).
