Abstract
The objective is to analyse internal and external recordings of uterine EMG in order to reveal common features and to assess the relationship between electrical activity and intra-uterine pressure modification. Three monkeys participated in the study, one as a reference and the others for data. EMGs are recorded simultaneously, internally by unipolar wire electrodes and externally by bipolar Ag/AgCl electrodes. Intra-uterine pressure is recorded as a mechanical index. Except for delay measurements, parameters are derived from spectral analysis and relationships between recordings are assessed by studying the coherence. Spectral analysis exhibits two basic activities in the analysed frequency band, and frequency limits are defined as relevant parameters for electrical activity description. Parameter values do not depend on the internal electrode location. Internal and external EMGs present a similar spectral shape, despite differences in electrode configuration and tissue filtering. It is deduced that external uterine EMG is a good image of the genuine uterine electrical activity. To some extent, it can be related to an average cellular electrical activity.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bendat, J. S., andPiersol, A. G. (1986): ‘Random data’ (Wiley-Interscience, New York)
Bode, O. (1931): ‘Das Elektrohysterogramm’,Arch Gynäk.,146, pp. 123–128
Carter, G. C. (1987): ‘Coherence and time delay estimation’,Proc IEEE,75, pp. 236–255
Dill, L. V., andMaiden, R. M. (1946): “The electrical potentials of the human uterus in labor’,Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol.,52, pp. 735–745
Devedeux, D., Marque, C., Mansour, S., Germain, G., andDuchêne, J. (1993): ‘Uterine electromyography: a critical review’,Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol.,169, pp. 1636–1653
Duchêne, J., andGoubel, F. (1993): ‘Surface electromyogram during voluntary contraction: processing tools and relation to physiological events’,Crit. Rev Biomed. Eng.,21, pp. 313–397
Garfield, R. E. (1986): ‘Structural studies of innervation on nonpregnant rat uterus’.Am. J. Physiol.,251, pp. 41–56
Germain, G., Gabrol, D., Visser, A., andSureau, C. (1982): ‘Electrical activity of the pregnant uterus in the cynomolgus monkey’,Am. J. Obset. Gynecol.,142, pp. 513–519
Helal, J. N., andBouissou, P. (1992): ‘The spatial integration effect of surface electrode detecting myoelectric signal’,IEEE Trans.,BME-39, pp. 1161–1165
Kao, C. Y. (1977): ‘Electrical properties of uterine smooth muscle’InWynn, R. (Ed.): Biology of the uterus’ (Plenum Press, New York)
Kay, S. M., andMarple, S. L. (1981): ‘Spectrum analysis—a modern perspective’,Proc. IEEE,69, pp. 1380–1419
Larks, S., Assali, N., Morton, D., andSelle, W. (1957): ‘Electrical activity of the human uterus in labor’,J. Appl. Physiol.,10, pp. 479–483
Marque, C., Duchêne, J., Leclercq, S., Panczer, G., andChaumont, J. (1986): ‘Uterine EHG processing for obstetrical monitoring’,IEEE Trans.,BME-33, pp. 1182–1187
Planes, J. G., Morucci, J. P., Grandjean, H., andFavretto, R. (1984): ‘External recording and processing of fast electrical activity of the uterus in human parturition’,Med. Biol. Eng. Comput.,22, pp. 585–591
Rosenberg, J. R., Amjad, A. M., Breeze, P., Brillinger, D. R., andHalliday, D. M. (1989): ‘The Fourier approach to the identification of functional coupling between neuronal spike trains’,Prog. Biophys. Molec. Biol.,53, p. 1
Shiavi, R. (1991): ‘Introduction to applied statistical signal processing’ (Irwin Inc., Homewood)
Stahl, W. R. (1967): ‘Scaling of respiratory variables in mammals’,J. Appl. Physiol.,22, p. 453
Steer, C. M., andHertsh, G. J. (1950): ‘Electrical activity of the human uterus in labor’,Am. J. Obsetet. Gynecol.,59, pp. 25–40
Sureau, C., Chavinié, J., andCannon, M. (1965): ‘L'électrophysiologie utérine’,Bull. Féd. Soc. Gyn. Obst.,17, pp. 79–140
Welch, P. D. (1970): ‘The use of the Fast Fourier Transform for the estimation of power spectra’,IEEE Trans.,AE-17, pp. 153–157
Wolfs, G. M. J. A., andVan Leeuwen, M. (1979): ‘Electromyographic observations on the human uterus during labour’,Acta Obstet. Gynecol. Scand. [Suppl.],90, pp. 1–62
Yoshihito, I., Kazuhisa, N., andKohji, O. (1990): ‘Some electrical properties of human pregnant myometrium’,Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol.,162, pp. 1090–1098
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mansour, S., Devedeux, D., Germain, G. et al. Uterine EMG spectral analysis and relationship to mechanical activity in pregnant monkeys. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 34, 115–121 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02520015
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02520015