---

Fetal doppler

It has become a common practice in obstetrics to evaluate the well being of the fetus in utero. Fetal monitoring (i.e., monitoring of the fetal condition during gestation and at birth) usually comprises monitoring of the uterus activity (toco) and of the fetal beat-to-beat heart rate (FHR). The fetal heart rate is the more important of these parameters, as it provides an indication of whether the fetus is sufficiently supplied with oxygen. Electronic fetal monitoring can predict the absence of asphyxia with greater accuracy than other conventional techniques. Electronic fetal monitoring can improve prenatal outcome by reducing the risk of intrapartum stillbirth and low Apgar scores. It also facilities the physician's ability to diagnose potential abnormalities during labor and allows for early intervention, such as emergency cesarian sections. The method of detection of the fetal heart rate employed in the monitoring of a fetus is roughly classified into two types: one, an external measurement and the other, an internal measurement. The outer measurements include fetal phonocardiography, ultrasonic fetal Doppler method, and mother absomen induced fetal electrocardiography. The internal measurements include infant head induced fetal electrocardiography. A hand held ultrasonic Doppler fetal heart beat detection and monitoring system includes a probe for detecting the fetal heart beat and for providing an analog signal to a headset and/or to an auxiliary unit (hereinafter referred to as a calculation or Calc. unit). The probe includes one or more crystals that transmits and receives ultrasonic sound waves.

---