A Method for Detecting Obstetric Complications During Early Stages of Human Pregnancy

University of Utah Technology Commercialization Office
posted on 03/31/2011

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Invention Description: A non-invasive pre-natal test to detect complications during pregnancy, in particular the first tri-semester, is described. The technology involves the use of Doppler ultrasound techniques to study the blood flow velocities from fetal and maternal arteries. Sophisticated signal processing algorithms are used to analyze these data for coherence between maternal and fetal blood flow. Any abnormalities in these coherence studies can be associated with a particular disease and thus can be used to define any pregnancy complication.

Market Applications: Currently, no non-invasive test exists for first tri-semester assessment of the maternal-fetal at risk for obstetric, maternal or long-term disease.  Our technology has the potential to become a standard pre-natal test for all pregnant women.

Features, Benefits & Advantages:
This method is non-invasive and simple to perform.

The method is highly sensitive.

If implemented, will allow for appropriate and cost-effective utilization of maternal-fetal medicine services.

Can be used to identify women at risk for hypertensive disorders at an early stage of pregnancy than currently possible.

Obstetric complications that can be diagnosed with this technology are Preeclampsia, preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, congenital cardiovascular malformations. Maternal complications (hypertension, diabetes, etc), and long-term health measures for the fetus (adult hypertension, obesity, diabetes, etc.) can also be diagnosed.

Intellectual Property: US patent application US20050065439A1 has been filed. The title is, 'Method and apparatus for predicting material hypertension during pregnancy using coherence analysis of material and fetal blood velocity waveforms'.

Development Stage: This technology has been demonstrated to work in proof-of-concept experiments.  It is available for developmental research support/licensing under either exclusive or non-exclusive terms.

Related Research & Publications:
Fernando K L, Mathews V J, Varner M W, Clark E B, ¿Robust Estimation of Fetal Heart Rate Variability Using Doppler Ultrasound¿, IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng., 50(8), 950-957, 2003.

Keywords: Pre-natal, blood flow, preeclampsia, pregnancy, hypertension