Monitoring in the intrauterine environment-a multisensor probe

The author´s research group has concentrated on fetal and labour monitoring techniques which are non-invasive to the fetus. To this end, they have designed a `probe´, made of polyurethane, which is approximately 4 mm thick, 14 mm wide, and 400 mm long. It is inserted in a similar manner to an intrauterine catheter. Its flatness gives it a lateral stability which makes it much easier to insert than the traditional round catheter, as it cannot curl round on itself while sandwiched between the fetal head and the lower segment of the uterus. It is otherwise soft and flexible, and during ten years of experimental use, has never been associated with any significant fetal or maternal trauma