The Hilbert Transform in Analysis of Uterine Contraction Activity

Prevention and early diagnosis of forthcoming preterm labor is of vital importance in preventing child mortality. To date, our understanding of the coordination of uterine contractions is incomplete. Among the many methods of recording uterine contractility, electrohysterography (EHG) – the recording of changes in electrical potential associated with contraction of the uterine muscle, seems to be the most important from a diagnostic point of view. There is some controversy regarding whether EHG may identify patients with a high risk of preterm delivery. There is a need to check various digital signal processing techniques to describe the recorded signals. The study of synchronization of multivariate signals is important from both a theoretical and a practical point of view. Application of the Hilbert transformation seems very promising.