Efficiency of automated detection of uterine contraction using tocography

Monitoring of uterine contractile activity enables to control the progress of labour. Automated detection of contractions is to be an integral part of the signal analysis implemented in computer aided fetal surveillance system. Evaluation of efficiency of three algorithms for automated detection of uterine contractions in the signal of uterine mechanical activity is presented. These algorithms are based generally on analysis of the frequency distribution of signal values. The reference data in form of beginning and end of contraction episodes were obtained from human expert. Obtained results showed high efficiency of the algorithms tested where the best one ensured the sensitivity and positive predictive value equal to 92.2 and 97.2, respectively.