STAR-MAT v.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibilty of Smart Thermal Analysis Resource (STAR) in Maternity (MAT) Services
IRAS ID
227063
Contact name
Soo Downe
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Central Lancashire
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 2 days
Research summary
There is significant concern about the health and economic consequences of over diagnosis of risk during pregnancy and birth with associated unnecessary procedures. The recent NHS Maternity Review put a spotlight on safety and choice in maternity care. The routine use of Doppler-based cardiac monitoring for healthy women and babies during pregnancy and birth is not supported by evidence over the last 20 years, so new triggers for identification of foetal wellbeing or compromise are proposed. The motivation is to develop a system to increase sensitivity and specificity to identify healthy babies, and those that are compromised. We propose a feasibility study for a system combining thermal imaging recordings with analytical algorithm to interpret static and dynamic bio mechanical data to measure foetal movements, position and labour progression in a non-invasive, non-contact manner. Real-time access to this data could accurately assess the need for referral to enable normal pregnancy, labour and birth. Local maternity care staff with real-time access to fetal movement data could assess the need for referral accurately, enabling more women to experience a physiological pregnancy, labour and birth, and increasing the accuracy of diagnosis of fetal compromise in the few babies that need referral and action. We will also explore the acceptability of our new technology to labouring women and clinicians, to be ready for Phase 2 work including a larger trial. Specifically, the purpose is to assess the capacity of thermal imaging to: a) identify the fetus/fetal movements in late pregnancy/labour and b) contribute to the biomechanical assessment of mother/fetus as interrelated biomechanical entities. The task is to develop hardware and relevant software. Women taking part in the study, and the midwives and other staff attending them in pregnancy/labour, will be asked about their views and experiences of the technique.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EE/0444
Date of REC Opinion
29 Nov 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion