Comprehensive Device for Labor, Birthing, and Postpartum Monitoring: A Way Forward in Maternal-Fetal Care.

Abstract

Background: Despite the presence of early warning systems and scoring systems, the basic vital parameter monitoring of laboring woman can become burdensome, owing to low doctor-patient ratio and skillset gap among healthcare providers, a solution to which is to have systems which can perform simultaneous maternal and fetal monitoring.

The innovation: The device is intelligent and AI-powered clinical decision support system for clinicians to care for mothers during the course of pregnancy. This combines the digital, wireless, and connected fetal Doppler, the tocodynamometer, a multipara monitor - (Blood pressure, heart rate, SPO2, temperature, and ECG), and an interfacing screen for clinician interactions. The unique feature of the device is that it can trigger alarm systems when any of these parameters vary beyond the limits of normal or even in correlation. The clinician can interpret such information and make appropriate decisions. The provision of a single composite device measuring maternal and fetal monitoring is an apt technological support for optimal partogram monitoring. By giving a snapshot summary of the data points, the healthcare provider can seamlessly take informed decisions, rather than engage in time consuming data collection. Remote monitoring capability is an added advantage.

Conclusion: The device has the potential to ably assist obstetricians and midwives in their day-to-day monitoring of pregnant woman and save time and make informed decisions.