Fetal Dopplers, Fetal Monitors and accessories

Fetal Dopplers, Fetal Monitors and accessories for sale

What is an Electronic Fetal Monitor?

Cardiotocography or CTG is a commonly used technical term in medicine, which means recording of the fetal heartbeats and uterine contractions in women during pregnancy. This device is commonly used in the third trimester to monitor the activities of the baby’s heart. The device used for the purpose of monitoring is called the cardiotocograph, or the electronic fetal monitor or simply EFM.

A device for invasive fetal monitoring was invented by Dr. Edward Hon and Dr. Orvan Hess. Later, a refined version of the cardiotocograph was developed by Dr. Konrad Hammacher for Hewlett Packard. 

These newer devices are non-invasive and include features that allow antepartum usage and beat-to-beat monitoring.  

Baby heartbeat dopplers provide a schematic explanation of the cardiotocography of the baby in the form of heart rate that is calculated from the movements of the fetal heart as determined by the ultrasound examination and uterine contractions that are measured by the pressure transducer. These parameters are represented by the baby heart doppler on a running piece of paper on a time scale, producing the graphical representation of the activities of the fetal heart.

Simultaneous recordings can be performed by 2 separate transducers for getting a clear picture of the fetal heart functioning. One of them helps in the measurement of the heart rate while the second one monitors the uterine contractions. The transducers may be internal or external.

External measurements involve taping and strapping the two sensors to the mother's abdominal wall. The ultrasonic sensors in the heart, which are similar to the fetal doppler monitor, can then detect the movements of the fetal heart. The tocodynamometer, a form of pressure-sensitive contraction transducers, measures the tension in the maternal abdominal wall providing an indirect way for the assessment of the intrauterine pressure.

The internal measurement requires the physician to perform cervical dilatation to allow for the easier insertion of a pressure catheter in the uterine cavity. The cervical dilatation also helps in attaching the scalp electrode to the fetal head for accurate measurement of the electric activities of the fetal heart. The internal measurements are more accurate and precise, and hence, are preferred in cases when the woman is likely to develop serious complications during childbirth.

The CTG reading by fetal doppler target is usually printed on paper or stored on a computer to be used as a reference in the future when needed. The use of a computer network and CTG can allow for the continual remote surveillance allowing the obstetricians, obstetrical nurses, or midwives to monitor the CTG traces of several patients simultaneously, through a computer station.

What is a Fetal Doppler?

Invented by Dr. Edward H. Hon in 1958, a doppler fetal heartbeat monitor or a doppler fetal monitor is a small hand-held device that works as an ultrasound transducer for detecting the heartbeats of a fetus during prenatal care. 

Baby dopplers involve the use of the doppler effect for providing an audible simulation of the fetal heartbeats. Some models display the heart rate in the form of beats per minute. The use of these monitors is sometimes called doppler auscultation. A doppler fetal monitor is commonly referred to as "dopplers" for convenience.

Some of the best fetal dopplers are designed to provide information about the activities of the heart of the baby similar to that provided by the fetal stethoscope. One of the advantages of using a doppler fetal monitor over the purely acoustic stethoscope is the output in the electronic audio format it provides. Unlike a fetal stethoscope that allows only the doctor using the stethoscope to hear the heartbeats, a doppler fetal monitor can also allow the people other than the user to hear the heartbeats. 

One disadvantage of using a baby heartbeat doppler monitor is it involves a greater complexity and higher costs. Also, the chances of lower reliability, just like that linked to most other electronic devices.

Additional information on fetal dopplers: 

Manufacturers: Reputed manufacturers include Nicolet, Summit Doppler, Huntleigh, EchoHeart, Parks Medical Electronics (as Obstetrical Dopplers), Ultrasound Technologies (Wakeling/Seward), and Sunray.

Frequency: The frequency of probes may range from 2 to 3 MHz. Some practitioners can find the heart rate with any of these probes. The 3-MHz probe is usually recommended for the detection of the heart rate in women in early pregnancy (8 to 10 weeks of gestation). The 2-MHz probe is commonly recommended for pregnant women with excessive weight gain or obesity. The latest 5-MHz EchoHeart fetal doppler probe can be used transvaginally. It helps in the detection of the fetal heart tones (FHT) even in early pregnancy at 6 to 8 weeks of gestation. It can also be used for pregnant women having a retroverted uterus and throughout pregnancy for the detection of FHT in women who are overweight.

Probe type: Some probes are waterproof. Waterproof probes are usually used for water births.

Heart rate display: Most dopplers have features that allow for the heart rate to be automatically displayed. However, for some Dopplers, the fetal heart rate needs to be counted or timed by the practitioners.

Sonicaid was the generic word commonly used to refer to the doppler fetal monitors. The use of this word came from the devices from a UK company, Sonicaid. The products from Sonicaid included the D205 and 206 portable fetal dopplers and the FM2/3/4 series of monitors. In 1987, Sonicaid was acquired by Oxford Instruments to form Oxford Sonicaid.

Our range of Fetal Dopplers / Monitors for sale

Lifedop 150

The LifeDop 150 fetal doppler features a hand-held non-display doppler equipped with superior sound quality, enhanced probe sensitivity, extended battery life, user-replaceable probe cable, a full warranty, and interchangeable probes. 

The LifeDop 150 system is designed ergonomically to ensure it fits into the palm of the physician with comfort while allowing easy access to all the control features. Each of these dopplers is tested individually and inspected to ensure they comply with the highest quality standards.

These prenatal heart rate monitors are designed to accept a full line of LifeDop probes including the non-directional ones. Options for audio recording and rechargeable batteries are available on some specific models.

All the obstetrical probes by LifeDop are designed specifically to provide maximum durability and excellent sensitivity. All the non-directional probes are interchangeable and compatible for use on the L series of LifeDop obstetrical dopplers including L150, L250, and L350, offering the convenience of choosing any one for use with the same unit. 

Key features of thr LifeDop 150:

• The high-fidelity speaker that provides a superior sound quality 
• Extended battery life
• Interchangeable probe capability
• Enhanced probe sensitivity
• Convenient, easy to use, handheld vascular doppler
• Powered by 3 AA batteries
• User-replaceable cable
• Each unit comes with a choice of 1 probe
• Available with a roll stand having a storage basket 

Lifedop 250

The L250 Dopplers feature a display unit having superior sound quality, enhanced probe sensitivity, extended battery life, and interchangeable probes. It has a large informative display, which shows battery life, extended 50-220 beats per minute heart rate, and signal quality.

These dopplers have a large display that makes it easier for the physician to view the activities of the fetal heart with ease. The easy-to-see and large LCD display and the technically advanced software of these dopplers allow the physician to view the vital information during fetal heart monitoring including the heart rate easily.

Interchangeable and comfortable probes make these units quite convenient for the monitoring of fetal heartbeats. All these units have interchangeable two or three probes that are designed to be comfortable for both the physicians as well as the patient.

The superior sound quality of the LifeDop 250 Dopplers offers the benefits of small, home theatre-quality speakers with improved audio processing that allows the users to feel as if they can actually see the heart valves opening and closing. The speakers are more robust than most typical doppler speakers. 

The special grill pattern of these dopplers helps to reduce the collection of small objects like dust and dirt that can cause damage to the device and reduce its durability.

Optional rechargeable battery and battery life to spare are the 2 key features of these LifeDop 250 dopplers that further add to the convenience they provide to users. The improved battery management design included in these dopplers means that the standard alkaline AA batteries used for their operation can provide more than 1250 examinations of one-minute duration for monitoring the fetal heart rate. 

It can allow you to reduce the frequency of changing the batteries and help you save on the battery costs. It should be noted that most older fetal dopplers give only 250 minutes or less of examinations between battery changes. This means if a user performs one-minute examinations of the fetal heart monitoring 100 times a week, he would have to change the batteries nearly 20 times a year causing him to spend about 44 USD more every year just on batteries. 

Instead, if you get a LifeDop fetal doppler with rechargeable batteries, you will not have to worry about draining or overcharging the batteries between charges. This is what makes these LifeDop 250 dopplers convenient for professionals who need to check a large number of pregnant women on a daily basis. 

This fetal heart LifeDop 250 Doppler also features an in-built audio recorder. It is an optional feature. LifeDop is the 1st doppler to feature the in-built solid-state recorder. It can record the doppler sounds for up to 32 seconds and replay the recordings as often as you need for the patient or even for others in the clinic. The LifeDop dopplers can save you the time and effort in the re-examination as you do not have to assess the heart activities of the baby again.

Key features of the LifeDop 250:

• Large display for the indication of heart rate 
• The superior sound quality of the high-fidelity speaker
• Enhanced probe sensitivity
• Battery status indicated on the display 
• Extended battery life
• User-replaceable cable
• Interchangeable probe capability
• Each main unit comes with the choice of 1 probe
• Powered by 3 AA batteries

Lifedop 350

The LifeDop 350 dopplers offer a convenient way to monitor fetal heartbeats in the clinician's office. It is a pocket fetal doppler system that has been designed to detect and monitor the fetal heartbeats effectively. It also includes features that allow for the monitoring of blood flow through the fetal heart. 

It has a large display that shows heart rate. The unit also includes rechargeable batteries and features that make it compatible with all of the non-directional probes from LifeDop.

The sound output of the LifeDop 350 is of excellent quality. The high-fidelity speaker with louder output, the improved ergonomics, and the overall appearance of the dopplers add to the convenience of users. This baby heartbeat monitor also comes with two probe holders to support multiple applications. 

Key features of the LifeDop 350:

• Comes with a convenient roll stand having a storage basket 
• Features a 2 MHz waterproof probe
• Wall mount option available for added security and convenience 
• Excellent high-fidelity sound speaker with loud output
• Improved overall appearance and ergonomics 
• Two probe holders that allow for multiple applications

Can’t find the fetal doppler, fetal monitor or accessory you need?

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