World-first trial of 'wearable smartwatch' for foetus

Mums-to-be in Melbourne will be the first in the world to trial a wearable foetal heart monitor powered by artificial intelligence.

The technology trial, at Epworth Freemasons hospital's maternity unit, is aimed at giving expectant mothers peace of mind during complicated pregnancies that require extra monitoring.

The device is a sensor patch on the mother's abdomen, attached to a small, lightweight piece of hardware about the size of a smartphone.

It connects to an app and picks up the electrical activity of the baby's heart.

"Foetal heart rate is a vital bellwether of a baby's health, but comprehensive monitoring is cumbersome,'' Associate Professor Fiona Brownfoot said.

The Epworth Freemasons obstetrician-gynaecologist co-founded the device with electrical engineers Dr Emerson Keenan and Professor Marimuthu Palaniswami.

Their goal was to create a wearable smartwatch for the foetus.

"Currently foetal heart rate monitoring is hospital-centric and if mum or the baby moves the foetal heart rate signal is lost," A/Prof Brownfoot said.

"Our device aims to allow women to be free to walk around."

The app's algorithms turn the foetal heart rate activity into a trace clinicians can interpret.

"Some patterns of the trace are associated with healthy babies and others show us that the baby isn't coping with pregnancy or labour," A/Prof Brownfoot said.

"It opens up the possibility of a virtual hospital, which is particularly needed for rural and remote patients."

Once the trial is complete, the team plans to have the device ready for sales in 2026, focusing first on the Australian and then the United States.

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