Criteria for the design of fetal heart rate analysis systems.

Criteria are described for the automated analysis of fetal pulse intervals, fetal movements and of uterine contractions measured externally, antenatally and interactively on-line, for implementation on a personal computer interfaced to an appropriate fetal monitor, and tested on 10,000 records. Measurements of short and longer term fetal heart rate variation are compared; both are required to identify sinister records. Recall and display of records acquired on the same patient over several weeks has proved a useful diagnostic aid.