Tocodynamometers are used to monitor uterine contractions of women in labor. These have been around for quite some time now, but they have remained pricey, require lots of gel and regular cleanings to remain operational, and can be difficult attach. A team of researchers from University of Arkansas developed the Koala Toco, a new tocodynamometer that is cheap enough to be disposable thanks to not having any electronics within.
The device is air powered, having a little chamber that compresses during a contraction. This additional pressure is detected within the “smart cable” that attaches to standard fetal heart rate monitors on which the contractions are displayed. The device costs roughly $15, making it disposable at such a low price and doesn’t require cleanings as with conventional electronic tocodynamometers.
The Koala Toco is now available from Clinical Innovations, a Murray, Utah medical device firm.
Product page: Koala Toco…
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