These devices detect, display, and print a record of FHR and UA. Numeric values and graphical trends should be provided.
Facilities should consider the unit's ability to interface with other patient monitors and/or hospital information systems/OB data management systems. They should also look into the capability to connect the unit with other patient monitors.
A digital display and recorder should indicate FHR over a minimum of 50 to 210 bpm. Alarm limits and status for each monitored parameter should also be displayed.
The ultrasound probe can be continuous wave/Doppler or pulsed with a frequency of 1-2.5 MHz.
Users should be able to adjust alarm limits for high and low FHR, and for any other monitored parameter. Audible and visual indicators should be present for all alarm conditions.
Some units have these capabilities as an integral part: monitoring maternal ECG, pulse oximetry, and NIBP. This may save costs if the facility does not already have the stand-alone maternal monitoring, often used with epidural administration.
Telemetric monitoring is optional and should be selected based on a clinician's needs. Some units have internal or external telemetry systems in which the FHR and UA signals are transmitted by radio waves to a receiver at the fetal monitor.
With telemetric systems, the supplier should specify the operating frequency band.
These units can usually be networked with central stations and/or archiving systems. If the fetal monitor is to be interfaced with a different manufacturer's system, buyers should ensure that all the capabilities of both devices will be accessible.
Some archival systems automatically record all patient data on optical disks; others will have the staff periodically download the patient data onto the disk.
Data collected from the cardiotocograph can be used with some units for research, remote display, or further processing using an RS232 connector; the fetal monitor acts as a slave monitor and operates by commands from the host computer.
For entering nursing notes, some units offer data-entry keyboards or bar coding.
Full-service contracts usually cost about 8% of the unit's purchase price. Facilities are encouraged to negotiate for additional service contract discounts for multiple-year agreements or for contracts bundled with contracts on other fetal monitors in the facility.

Read more valuable tips on the Medical Equipment Buying Guide by MedWOW >>