An experimental rig to simulate fetal heart sounds.

Renewed interest in fetal phonocardiography has brought about new phono-sensor designs. We have developed an experimental rig to simulate generation of fetal heart sounds and also their passage through to the maternal abdominal wall. Using this rig we have investigated the design techniques applied to the new phono-sensors and we have also analysed the sensors themselves. We can now approach an ideal sensor design for the faithful detection of fetal heart sounds.