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Poster Session 1

Category: Clinical Obstetrics

Poster Session 1

(177) Novel Electrohysterography Simulation Model and Non-Invasive Detection Method for Patients with High Postpartum Hemorrhage Risk

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Submitting Author and Presenting Author(s)

Deneb Zavala, BA (she/her/hers)

Medical Student
University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Coauthor(s)

KY

Kelly W. Yang, BS

Medical Student
University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Catalin S. Buhimschi, MBA, MD, MS

Professor and Division Director Maternal Fetal Medicine
University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Chicago, Illinois, United States

Objective:
Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a leading cause of maternal mortality, with uterine atony implicated in 70-80% of cases. Current detection methods—visual estimation, blood loss quantification, and manual palpation—are imprecise and delay treatment. We developed an in vitro non-invasive electrohysterography (EHG) method to assess postpartum uterine contraction strength from the maternal abdominal surface, to potentially treat PPH sooner and ultimately prevent it.

Study Design:
Our in vitro saline-filled uterine model was designed to simulate and record EHG signals non-invasively. Due to the lack of postpartum datasets, the Term-Preterm Electrohysterogram Database (TPEHG), which contains well-characterized laboring myoelectrical signals, was used for sensor calibration and validation. One hundred EHG signals spanning mild to strong contractions (~0.7-2.3 µV peak-to-peak) were transmitted. A 0.3-3 Hz noise filter was applied, and fidelity was verified using Welch’s method. Non-contracting signals defined the noise floor; alert threshold was set at 3x baseline. Sensor outputs were compared to inputs to calculate linearity, gain, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). A Kruskal-Wallis test evaluated the sensors’ ability to differentiate resting tone from active contractions.

Results:
Linearity analysis showed a strong correlation between detected signals and input EHG signals across uterine contraction strengths (R2 > 0.98). Sensor gain was 3.60 counts/uV while noise baseline was 3.95 counts. Weakest contractions yielded an SNR of 7.5, confirming reliable low-amplitude detection. The 11.9-count alert threshold triggered warnings within 1 second, achieving 91.3% sensitivity, 8.7% false positives, and 8.9% specificity. There was a significant signal energy (RMS) difference between baseline and all contraction strengths (p < 0.01).

Conclusion:
Our novel in vitro proof-of-concept EHG uterine model supports the feasibility of continuous, objective monitoring of ineffective uterine contractions and lays the groundwork for future in vivo validation to ultimately prevent PPH.