Recent Advances in the Fetal Monitoring Industry

Fetal monitoring is just as important as other tests performed by physicians during pregnancy such as blood and urine tests, genetic screening, etc. It is done during labor or delivery to ensure the well-being of an unborn baby and to help prevent complications or treatments that are unnecessary. It helps monitor the baby’s heart rate, the pattern of movement, and overall growth. In case changes are detected via the use of fetal monitoring technology, steps can be taken to treat the problem. Fetal monitoring can be done via two methods namely, intermittent auscultation or monitoring and continuous electronic fetal monitoring (CEFM). The former involves listening to a baby’s heartbeat at regular intervals with a Doppler stethoscope while the latter involves continuous heart monitoring using a cardiotocograph (CTG) machine.

The fetal monitoring market is seeing rapid growth in recent years, owing to several factors including the growing number of preterm births, post-term pregnancy, multiple pregnancies, the perpetual need of fetal monitoring, active government and non-government initiatives, and technological advancements in the space. Several companies are launching new products or adopting other business strategies to cater to the growing demand for fetal monitoring systems. For instance, Billings Clinic, a U.S.-based healthcare company, introduced a wireless fetal monitor which is capable of identifying changes in the mother and her baby during the process of labor. Imec, a nanoelectronics research and innovation hub based in Belgium, and its spinoff Bloomlife recently introduced a prototype of the world’s first wearable 5-channel ECG chip to monitor fetal heart rate and mobility on a continuous basis. Henry Schein Medical, the U.S. Medical business of Henry Schein, Inc., and MindChild Medical, Inc., a medical clinic in the U.S., announced a distribution and supply agreement for the MERIDIAN M110 fetal monitoring system.

Billings Clinic Launches Wireless Fetal Monitor

The new wireless fetal monitor is meant to make life easier for some pregnant mothers undergoing delivery. The lightweight patch can be attached to the mother’s stomach to help track parameters such as fetal heart rate, maternal heart rate, and uterine activity. As it needs no wires, the mom can walk around throughout labor, thus providing a more comfortable experience. Haily Fisher, a nurse at the Billings Clinic Family Birth Center said that the system requires less maintenance than other traditional fetal monitors used in hospitals. In case the mother alters positions or the baby moves, the monitor needs to be re-positioned to capture activity.

Imec and Bloomlife Unveils Prototype of ECG Chip

The ECG chip prototype introduced by Imec and Bloomlife helps to properly and constantly track a fetal’s wellbeing indicators. The BeatleIC chip features Imec’s unique integrated circuit (IC) technology and all the necessary elements to accurately monitor a fetus’ heart rate and mobility, which are vital parameters of a baby’s wellbeing during the second half of a woman’s pregnancy. The chip comes with a 5-channel ECG sensor to allow recording of all perinatal health-related signals, low power consumption to allow long and continuous use, and high accuracy to receive fetal ECG data at very low amplitude levels.

Henry Schein Medical and MindChild Medical, Inc. Form Distribution and Supply Agreement

Henry Schein Medical recently formed an agreement with MindChild Medical, Inc. for the distribution and supply of MERIDIAN M110 fetal monitoring system with the aim of providing care to millions of women and newborns. The intrapartum fetal monitor monitors accurate fetal heart rate (FHR), maternal heart rate (MHR), and uterine contractions (UA) and then displays them on existing primary fetal monitors. The MERIDIAN M110 is meant to be used on women who are at or more than 37 weeks into their pregnancy, in labor, and must be used by only health care professionals in a clinical setting. According to the deal, Henry Schein distributes the product to its obstetricians and pediatric cardiologist customers in the U.S. William Edelman, CEO at MindChild said, “We are thrilled to enter into this agreement with Henry Schein Medical, one of the preeminent distributors of medical devices and leading solutions companies for health care professionals in the U.S. We look forward to supporting Henry Schein, as they bring the MERIDIAN Fetal Monitoring System to the labor and delivery market.” MindChild also plans to develop the technology further to enhance the safety of obstetrics and offer a novel diagnostic device to obstetricians and pediatric cardiologists.

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