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Feasibility Trial of the Womb Watch Smartphone App To Assess Fetal Movements (WWA)

2026年9月11日 更新者:Kenneth Moise MD

A Pilot Study of the Womb Watch App: Fetal Assessment Using the Microphone of the Smartphone

The surveillance of pregnancies at risk for fetal loss secondary to high-risk maternal or fetal conditions remains a mainstay of perinatal care. Current testing to prevent fetal loss includes the regular use of ultrasound (biophysical profile) or fetal heart rate monitoring (non-stress test) in an outpatient clinic setting once or twice weekly. A patient may also be asked to subjectively assess daily fetal movements during the time between routine antepartum testing appointments. However, there are no good systems for pregnant women to objectively measure fetal movements. Smartphones have allowed for the development of applications that utilize various embedded devices including the camera and microphone.

In our recent pilot STUDY00001552 of 205 pregnant patients, placement of the iPhone10 microphone directly on the maternal abdominal wall was utilized to detect fetal movements. AI assessment of the audio recordings proved superior to maternal perception of fetal movements that were recorded during simultaneous ultrasound (gross fetal movements: 64% audio vs 18% maternal; breathing: 93% vs 3%, hiccups: 73% vs 3%).

This trial is a prospective, observational, feasibility study of 60 patients that includes both low-risk and high-risk pregnant women to examine the usability of the Womb Watch smartphone application.

The study will involve introduction of the Womb Watch app to a population of pregnant patients. Features of the app will be modified based on participant feedback. Anxiety levels of the patient will be tracked serially using a survey tool. The various types and versions of smartphones will be assessed to see if they affect the AI model. Finally, patients will be asked to determine the strength of fetal movements to see if this parameter can be assessed by the AI model. Amniotic fluid data will assessed through clinical ultrasounds to see if this also has any effect on the AI model's ability to detect fetal movements.

調査の概要

詳細な説明

60 pregnant participants in total (mixed population of low-risk and high-risk pregnancies) will be approached at 28-32 weeks' gestation to participate in the study. 20 patients will be enrolled at each of three health science centers - Dell Medical School - UT Austin, UT Health in Houston and UTMB Health in Galveston. Participant's will be identified through medical record review or by self interest through a recruitment flyer. Signed written informed consent will be obtained in-person by a study coordinator (SC) on an Apple iPad within the HIPAA-compliant UT Austin REDCap database. Participants will be assigned their participant ID in REDCap and then complete a baseline Generalized Anxiety Disorder survey (GAD-7) to ensure eligibility. A score of 10 or more is an exclusion criteria. If they qualify to participate, they will then be asked to download the prototype Womb Watch application to their personal smartphone. iPhones and Androids of any generation may be used. Participants must own a personal smartphone with access to an internet connection to qualify for the study.

When a participant opens the application for the first time they will be provided with various options for setting up the app. These include written instructions and/or an animated instructional video. A study coordinator will assist with the initial setting up of the app. The ID that was assigned to the participant in the REDCap database will match the ID assigned in the Womb Watch app. Participants can choose their own username and password for the app. Additionally, the app requires that the participant provides a current email address, which the participant must confirm. When a participant registers on the app, they are asked for a phone number for a one -time, two-factor authentication. The following participant data will be stored encrypted on the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC; Austin, Texas) Firestore database: email address, phone number, Participant ID, audio recordings, and Likert Scale assessment of fetal movement strength. Participant data that will be stored in the HIPAA-compliant, encrypted UT Austin REDCap database and will include demographics, usability statistics, GAD-7 surveys, and clinical outcomes of pregnancies.

All participants will utilize the Womb Watch smartphone application from enrollment until delivery. Participants will be asked to use Womb Watch for 15 minutes daily, preferably in the evening at a time of their choosing. Participants will be informed during consent that the smartphone will record more than just the fetal movement sounds, and as such they should record in a quiet space with minimal conversations. In addition to the intended recording of sounds produced by fetal movement, the app will record all audible sounds. Participants will be informed that audio files which are transmitted to TACC for analysis will be deidentified and the sounds recorded will not be traceable back to them-only the frequency of sound associated with fetal movement sounds will be analyzed. In situations where an audio recording is complicated by noise disruptions in the environment, participants will have the option to delete the recording and re-record a new audio file. The app is designed such that no more than one audio file will be on their phone at a given time.

Study coordinators will contact participants by phone every two weeks to check in to ensure the app is functioning correctly and to answer any participant questions. All app usage and audio recordings will be maintained within the REDCap database. If a participant fails to use the app for 3 consecutive days, the participants and coordinator will receive an automated reminder from the REDCap database via email prompting them to record another fetal movement assessment. If a participant fails to use the app for another 3 consecutive days, the participant and coordinator will receive a second automated email reminder to record using the app. If a participant fails to use the app for 7 consecutive days, the coordinator will be notified via email from the REDCap database. SCs will then contact the participants by phone to determine if they are still interested in participating and/or determine if they are still pregnant. If a participant is unable to be reached after 3 automated reminders are sent, they will be considered lost to follow up and removed from the study.

Participants will be asked to complete up to four GAD-7 surveys-one at the time of enrollment, and again every 4 weeks while using the app. The number of surveys will vary by participant, depending on their gestation at enrollment. Participants will be sent a link to the surveys via text message or to their personal email. Survey responses will be recorded automatically in the database. If the participant's GAD-7 scores are elevated (scoring 10+) they will be flagged for behavioral health follow-up, referred to clinical care, or removed from the study if clinically appropriate at the discretion of the PI or Co-I. Once a participant delivers, they will be asked to complete a final GAD-7 survey and a Usability survey within 7 days. Participants will then be asked to remove the app from their personal device.

This is a Multi-Site Study that involves more than one site performing all aspects of the research procedures as outlined above.

研究の種類

観察的

入学 (推定)

60

連絡先と場所

このセクションには、調査を実施する担当者の連絡先の詳細と、この調査が実施されている場所に関する情報が記載されています。

研究連絡先

研究場所

    • Texas
      • Austin、Texas、アメリカ、78723
      • Galveston、Texas、アメリカ、77555
        • 募集
        • University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston - UTMB Health
        • コンタクト:
          • Corey C. Clifford, DO
          • 電話番号:402-440-5726
          • メール:ccliffo@utmb.edu
        • コンタクト:
        • 副調査官:
          • Corey C. Clifford, DO
      • Houston、Texas、アメリカ、77030
        • 募集
        • McGovern Medical School - UTHealth Houston
        • コンタクト:
        • コンタクト:
        • 副調査官:
          • Jerrie S. Refuerzo, MD

参加基準

研究者は、適格基準と呼ばれる特定の説明に適合する人を探します。これらの基準のいくつかの例は、人の一般的な健康状態または以前の治療です。

適格基準

就学可能な年齢

  • 大人

健康ボランティアの受け入れ

いいえ

サンプリング方法

非確率サンプル

調査対象母集団

Pregnant women between 28 - 40 weeks of gestation with a singleton pregnancy.

説明

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ability to understand and voluntarily provide written signed informed consent to participate in the study.
  • English speaking (the alpha version of the Womb Watch app is only available in English)
  • Singleton intrauterine pregnancy
  • Estimated gestational age at enrollment 28 weeks to 32 weeks
  • Low-risk pregnancy with normal fetal growth and anatomy and no maternal co-morbidities of note.
  • High-risk pregnancy including fetal anomalies and maternal co-morbidities including but not limited to cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, hematologic, gastrointestinal, endocrine/metabolic, immunologic, dermatologic, neurologic, or oncologic.
  • No prior diagnosis of an anxiety mood disorder or a psychiatric illness
  • Access to internet
  • A functioning email address
  • Owns personal smartphone; iPhone or Android of any generation

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Currently pregnant with multiples (twins or more)
  • Baseline GAD-7 score of 10 or more

研究計画

このセクションでは、研究がどのように設計され、研究が何を測定しているかなど、研究計画の詳細を提供します。

研究はどのように設計されていますか?

デザインの詳細

コホートと介入

グループ/コホート
介入・治療
Single Group Assignment
Pregnant women between 28 - 40 weeks gestation will record sounds coming from their pregnant abdomen daily for 15 minutes with the Womb Watch smartphone application. Participants must have a singleton intrauterine pregnancy, diagnosed as a low-risk or high-risk pregnancy, no prior diagnosis of an anxiety mood disorder or a psychiatric illness, access to the internet, a functioning email address, owns a personal smartphone, and be English speaking.
Pregnant women between 28 - 40 weeks gestation will audio daily for 15 minutes using their personal smartphone with upload to the Womb Watch app. The microphone of the smartphone will be placed against the pregnant uterus. The audio files will be uploaded from the Womb Watch app via Google Firestore to an encrypted database at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC-UT Austin). After the audio recording is uploaded, participants will be asked to assess the strength of fetal movements using a Likert scale in the app. Artificial intelligence will be employed to determine the number and strength of three categories of fetal movements: gross body movements, fetal breathing and fetal hiccups. Participants will receive the AI analysis regarding these movements through the customized app.

この研究は何を測定していますか?

主要な結果の測定

結果測定
メジャーの説明
時間枠
Feasibility of Fetal Movement Assessment Using Pilot Womb Watch Smartphone Application
時間枠:From July 2026 to September 2027

Audio signals from different models and brands of smartphones with or without smartphone cases will be compared in our AI model.

Participants using the pilot Womb Watch smartphone application will receive feedback on fetal movement assessment and help researchers determine if the application needs to be modified for real-world use.

From July 2026 to September 2027

二次結果の測定

結果測定
メジャーの説明
時間枠
Fetal Gross Movement Assessment
時間枠:From the time of enrollment at 28 to 32 weeks' gestation, up until delivery. Kick counts and gross motor movements will be assessed daily.
The app is designed to collect audio of the fetus moving. Kicks/gross motor movements will be counted.
From the time of enrollment at 28 to 32 weeks' gestation, up until delivery. Kick counts and gross motor movements will be assessed daily.
Fetal Breathing
時間枠:From the time of enrollment at 28 to 32 weeks' gestation, up until delivery. Kick counts and gross motor movements will be assessed daily.
The app is designed to collect audio of the fetal breathing. Fetal breathing duration will be counted in minutes.
From the time of enrollment at 28 to 32 weeks' gestation, up until delivery. Kick counts and gross motor movements will be assessed daily.
Fetal Hiccups
時間枠:From the time of enrollment at 28 to 32 weeks' gestation, up until delivery. Fetal hiccups will be assessed daily.
The app is designed to collect audio of the fetal hiccups. Fetal hiccups will be counted in minutes.
From the time of enrollment at 28 to 32 weeks' gestation, up until delivery. Fetal hiccups will be assessed daily.
Fetal Movement Intensity
時間枠:From the time of enrollment at 28 to 32 weeks' gestation, up until delivery. The Likert scale coincide with daily recordings made by the participant.
After completing a recording within the app, participants will be asked to rank the intensity of the fetal movements they felt during that recording using a Likert scale within the app. A zero would indicate they didn't feel baby move at all or movements felt weak/faint, whereas a 10 would indicate the baby had very strong movements.
From the time of enrollment at 28 to 32 weeks' gestation, up until delivery. The Likert scale coincide with daily recordings made by the participant.
Amniotic Fluid Index
時間枠:From the time of enrollment at 28 to 32 weeks' gestation, up until delivery. AFI will be assessed only after a participant has an ultrasound as part of their routine pregnancy care.
Participant ultrasound records will be reviewed for the duration of their study timeline. We will record their amniotic fluid index (AFI). We believe this may affect the audio quality of fetal movement assessment.
From the time of enrollment at 28 to 32 weeks' gestation, up until delivery. AFI will be assessed only after a participant has an ultrasound as part of their routine pregnancy care.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screening (GAD-7)
時間枠:Once at enrollment (28-32 weeks gestation), once every four weeks from the time of enrollment, and one after delivery.
Participants will complete GAD-7 surveys at the time of enrollment, once every 4 weeks throughout pregnancy and one final GAD-7 survey after delivery. This is to ensure that the app is not creating anxiety in participants. If a participant scores 10+ on any of the GAD-7 surveys, they may be withdrawn from the study and referred for appropriate follow up.
Once at enrollment (28-32 weeks gestation), once every four weeks from the time of enrollment, and one after delivery.
Haptic data
時間枠:From the time of enrollment at 28 to 32 weeks' gestation, up until delivery. Haptic data will be assessed daily.
Sensors within the smartphone will be included to capture haptic data using the gyroscope and ambient light sensor. This is to record intensity of fetal movements as well as user behaviors.
From the time of enrollment at 28 to 32 weeks' gestation, up until delivery. Haptic data will be assessed daily.

協力者と研究者

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出版物と役立つリンク

研究に関する情報を入力する責任者は、自発的にこれらの出版物を提供します。これらは、研究に関連するあらゆるものに関するものである可能性があります。

研究記録日

これらの日付は、ClinicalTrials.gov への研究記録と要約結果の提出の進捗状況を追跡します。研究記録と報告された結果は、国立医学図書館 (NLM) によって審査され、公開 Web サイトに掲載される前に、特定の品質管理基準を満たしていることが確認されます。

主要日程の研究

研究開始 (実際)

2026年8月6日

一次修了 (推定)

2027年9月30日

研究の完了 (推定)

2027年9月30日

試験登録日

最初に提出

2026年5月23日

QC基準を満たした最初の提出物

2026年5月30日

最初の投稿 (実際)

2026年6月4日

学習記録の更新

投稿された最後の更新 (実際)

2026年9月14日

QC基準を満たした最後の更新が送信されました

2026年9月11日

最終確認日

2026年9月1日

詳しくは

本研究に関する用語

個々の参加者データ (IPD) の計画

個々の参加者データ (IPD) を共有する予定はありますか?

いいえ

IPD プランの説明

The data generated from this feasibility trial will be used to further refine the AI model to detect fetall movements

医薬品およびデバイス情報、研究文書

米国FDA規制医薬品の研究

いいえ

米国FDA規制機器製品の研究

はい

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