Gestational Age Assessment Tool

Clinical techniques for the calculation of gestation include fetal ultrasound and clinical assessment tools, such as the Ballard Score, following birth. These techniques are rarely available (ultrasound which is expensive and requires trained users) or require significant training (Ballard) which makes them unsuitable for large scale assessment in many low-middle income (LMI) countries. In the UK, the gestational age of babies of mothers with no antenatal care requires a detailed clinical examination which can lack accuracy. Clinical assessment of postnatal gestational age utilises anatomical characteristics of the face, ear and foot during newborn development. There is an element of subjectiveness which reduces the precision of such an assessment which is only reduced with significant training and experience. Simpler techniques of postnatal gestational age assessment such as anthropometric measures are time consuming and lack the accuracy required. Emerging evidence suggests that gestational age can be calculated postnatally by measuring the newborn foot length and comparing to population appropriate charts. However, when used on their own, the specificity and sensitivity are still below acceptable limits to allow universal adoption.

New software-based analytical techniques now make it possible to perform fully automatic recognition of facial actions and dimensions. The investigators have developed techniques that allow live video facial feature identification and measurement using advanced analytical techniques of muscle actions. These techniques have been used for facial expression analysis as well as automated facial feature localization. The investigators propose that the same analysis could be used to create a unique gestational age assessment tool using a simple brief video clip of the newborns' face and foot.

Accurate assessment of gestational age, especially in LMI countries, could ensure high risk newborns receive appropriate low cost interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality. In the UK this could allow better estimation of babies born to mothers with no antenatal care where the gestational age is unclear. We propose a smartphone based, ethnic appropriate, combined face and foot video analysis tool to accurately determine gestational age of the newborn. Such a system could adapted to incorporate pain assessment tools to help inform treatment options and study new therapies.