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In both adults and children the standard tool for assessing the heart's electrical activity is the conventional electrocardiogram (ECG). It's the well-known technique that gives the relative timing of different heart functions, as well as the overall heart rate. But until now there has been no equivalent equipment for non-invasive foetal ECG. The difficulty is the weakness of the foetal signal at the mother's abdomen and the presence of strong interference from the mother's heartbeat and other sources.

Queen Charlotte's Hospital and Guy's and St Thomas's Hospital worked with XXXX to develop a fully working prototype system for non-invasive foetal ECG (fECG), that has the potential to change foetal science and clinical practice.

Using techniques originally designed for defence, XXXX developed sensors that are applied to the mother's skin. They detect the unborn baby's own electrical heart signals passively, and separate them from the mother's own signals and any other interference.

Queen Charlotte's Hospital made the first recordings with the XXXX equipment and helped with the early development of the recording technique. Since then they have been piloting the system, along with Guy's and St Thomas's Hospital. The foetal ECG (fECG) has the potential to change both foetal science and clinical practice.

These two hospitals made over 450 fECG recordings with the equipment. Most were from normal single pregnancies, to establish the vitally important normal clinical parameters that have never before been available.

Recordings on abnormal pregnancies have also detected previously unknown abnormalities, which were later confirmed by ultrasound. For example, the XXXX equipment detected a potentially fatal case of Complete Heart Block that may otherwise not have been found. The baby was delivered early and is now doing well.

Successful results have also been achieved for multiple pregnancies including twins and triplets, as well as singletons - believed to be a world first.

The fECG has the potential to change foetal science and clinical practice, by screening for abnormalities and monitoring high-risk cases. It has already saved one life and could save many more.

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I am sure like me when you read this paper you though "Great, a step forward in medical research that will benefit us". Well you're right it will, but I have a problem the company who developed this technology is QinetiQ and they did it in conjuction with BAE Systems. As a life long opponent of the Arms Industry I want to take a stand not to use this equipment but as a Doctor I must think first of the needs of my Patients.
I would be interested to hear what others think.