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| Typical Number in Hospital: 8 | Cost Bands: 1 | References: 9 |
Usually a crude form of applanation tonometer used for monitoring the contractions of the uterus during labour. It consists of a ring about 5 cm in diameter surrounding a springloaded plunger connected to a force or displacement transducer. The whole device is held on to the abdomen with an elastic strap so that pressure variations in the uterus are transmitted to the plunger. These devices are usually met as the 'contractions transducer' with a foetal cardiotocograph.
Although these devices are sometimes used to provide quantitative information about uterine contractions they are very much prone to error or operational difficulties which make them more suited to non-quantitative applications. The alternative is the use of internal uterine pressure measurement via a fluid- filled catheter, balloon catheter or micro-transducer. However, each of these has its own problems. Use of quantitative information about uterine contractions to control the delivery of labour-inducing drugs has been restricted, partly due to these shortcomings.
Content and Design Copyright 2000 Dr. Malcolm C Brown. See Title Page for more details