Tuesday, February 6, 2007

CLM (Computerized Labor Monitoring) System: Keeps Your Digits to Yourself

Filed under: Ob/Gyn

Globes [online] is reporting that an Israeli company Barnev Ltd. has obtained US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its computerized labor monitoring system.

The company's CLM (Computerized Labor Monitoring) system is based on a very interesting ultrasound technology, that allows computerized antepartum monitoring without frequent gloved digital intrusions into the vaginal canal. Hence it is a digital anti-digital system:

Barnev's CLM (Computerized Labor Monitoring) system uses proprietary ultrasound technology to provide safe, continuous and accurate measurement of cervix dilatation and fetal head descent.

Signals from disposable sensors located on the maternal cervix and fetal head provide objective, continuous and accurate cervical dilatation and fetal head descent data, reducing the need for frequent vaginal examinations. The CLM automates and objectifies the examination process, giving labor teams the accurate real-time information they need to make truly informed decisions.

The underlying concept behind CLM is the use of ultrasound technology to calculate the distance between sensors. The CLM system monitors cervical dilatation by transmitting ultrasonic waves from transducers (placed on the abdomen) to receivers affixed safely and painlessly to the mother's cervix. Thus cervical dilatation is monitored continuously and automatically with a high degree of accuracy, reducing the need for manual examinations.

Similarly, sensors affixed to the fetal crown and at external anatomical locations enable accurate monitoring of fetal head descent. In most hospitals, the attachment of an ECG electrode to the crown of the baby's head (as soon as it is accessible) is a standard practice. The CLM sensors are incorporated within the standard ECG electrode.

Product page...

email this article to a friend      print this!           comments and peer reviews (1)






replies: 1 comments
Open comments are not moderated, although abusive and vulgar remarks may be deleted. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of Medgadget.com. Please consult our disclaimer.

What concerns me is the monitoring that affixes to the baby's head (or "fetal crown" to keep it more scientific and less personal). Electronic Fetal Monitoring, or EFM (with an ECG electrode), should not be standard practice in any hospital. What it is is a metal coil about a 1/4" in diameter that gets screwed into the baby's scalp. Babies experience stress and pain, sometimes for years afterwards. Doctors and/or midwives should only be doing this if they are not getting accurate readings of possible heart decelerations to avoid a c-section. Seeing as the c-section rate in this country is hovering about 31%, TWICE what is recommended by the World Health Organization, EFM isn't doing a whole lot of good either. Any intervention that inhibits free movement is detrimental to a laboring mother. This is just another potentially inhibiting and painful-for-baby gadget that takes away from allowing a woman's body to do its job, free of cords, wires, and monitors entangling her body and mind.


Posted by: Noa Alonigreen
on August 5, 2008 05:47 PM GMT

add a comment
html tags: <b>, <i>, and <a>
examples: <b>Bold</b> <i>Italic</i>









Remember personal info?
(anonymous comments allowed)



click to make your selection boldclick to make your selection italicclick to add a link


Verification (needed to reduce spam):




Click the "Post" button only once!