Suction Cup Transducers for Fetal Monitoring Without Abdominal Belt

概要

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External fetal monitoring by phono or Doppler uses a cumbersome strapping belt around the torso of gravida, in order to apply the transducer at an appropriate position on her abdomen. The belt causes bother and stress to her. Here in this study we successfully devised a self-sticking suction cup type fetal phono microphone and fetal Doppler transducer, to eliminate the strapping belt or to mount the transducer to abdominal wall. A deformable silicone rubber cup is used as housing for the transducer assembly, to make either an air chamber type phono microphone or coupling chamber type Doppler transducer. When the deformable cup is flipped and pressed to target position of body surface and again flipped back, the chamber keeps air-tight coupling to abdominal wall having slightly negative pressure supported by its forming-back force while sucking-sticking in situ. Prototype phono transducer has a general purpose condenser microphone unit, while prototype Doppler transducer has 1MHz unbacked 10mm dia PZT element with diverging lens. The prototypes yielded diagnostic quality of fetal heart trace for minimum 30 minutes continuity at as-attached state without interruption.
一般社団法人日本生体医工学会の論文