Suction Cup Phonocardiography Microphone for Fetal Monitoring Without Abdominal Belt

摘要

Although prone for environmental acoustic noise and maternal restlessness, fetal phono-cardiography yet have an essential advantage in signaling for fetal monitoring, in terms of its safety, non-invasiveness and simplicity in hardware as well as in application. Here in this study we successfully devised a self-sticking suction cup type fetal phono microphone, to eliminate traditional abdominal strapping belt or adhesive tape to mount the microphone to abdominal wall of gravida. A deformable silicone rubber cup includes a microphone unit inside the cup, to make an air chamber type phono microphone. When pressed to target position of body surface, the chamber keeps slightly negative pressure supported by its forming back force while sucking-sticking in situ. Our microphone will be suitable, for example, 15 to 30 minutes home or in-hospital non-stress test for quiscent gravida, avoiding inconvenient and unpleasant mounting belt or adhesive tape.