Abstract: An ultrasound system includes a transducer array including a flexible substrate, ultrasound transducer elements disposed on the flexible substrate and configured to transmit and acquire ultrasound signals that propagate in a body of a patient, and strain sensors coupled to or integrated into the flexible substrate and configured to measure a strain in the flexible substrate generated by flexing the flexible substrate. The ultrasound system also includes a processor coupled to the ultrasound transducer elements and the strain sensors, wherein the processor is configured to process the signals acquired by the ultrasound transducer elements based at least in part on the strain measured by the strain sensors.

Abstract: An ultrasound system includes a single transducer. The single transducer includes a flexible substrate. The single transducer also includes an array of transducer elements disposed on the flexible substrate and configured to be disposed on an abdomen of a subject having one or more fetuses disposed within a single uterus and to acquire scan data. The ultrasound system also includes a processor coupled to the single transducer and configured to receive the scan data and to determine a respective fetal heart rate of each fetus of the one or more fetuses based on the scan data.

Abstract: A system for monitoring health during a water birth includes a health sensor configured to be coupled to a mother. The health sensor includes a first sensor configured to measure one or more health parameters of a mother, a fetus within the mother or both, a second sensor configured to generate a submerged signal representing whether the health sensor is at least partially submerged in water, and a transmitter configured to transmit communication signals representing data collected by the first sensor. One or more parameters of the communication signals change depending on whether the submerged signal represents that the health sensor is at least partially submerged.

Abstract: A sensor of a maternal and fetal monitoring device is disclosed. The sensor includes a signal processor configured to transmit ultrasound beam on to a portion of a subject. Reflected ultrasound signals are received from the subject. These reflected ultrasound signals are processed to generate one or more of processed fetal information and processed maternal information. The sensor also includes a wireless module configured to communicate with a remote ultrasound processing system. The wireless module streams the processed fetal information and the processed maternal information to be stored in the remote processing subsystem.

Abstract: A continuous, noninvasive fetal heart rate measurement is produced using one or more ultrasonic transducer adhered to the abdomen of the mother. Each ultrasound transducer generates an ultrasound beam having a signal strength. The signal strength is determined by an excitation voltage applied to the ultrasound transducer. An excitation voltage adjustment device is positioned between an excitation voltage generator and the ultrasound transducer to selectively control the strength of the ultrasound beam. A user input device allows an operator to control the ultrasound signal strength to vary the depth of viewing of the fetal heart rate monitor.

Abstract: A continuous, noninvasive fetal heart rate measurement is produced using one or more ultrasonic transducer adhered to the abdomen of the mother. Each ultrasound transducer generates an ultrasound beam having a signal strength. The signal strength is determined by an excitation voltage applied to the ultrasound transducer. An excitation voltage adjustment device is positioned between an excitation voltage generator and the ultrasound transducer to selectively control the strength of the ultrasound beam. A user input device allows an operator to control the ultrasound signal strength to vary the depth of viewing of the fetal heart rate monitor.