Introduction

Monica Healthcare has developed the world's first 'Holter' fetal/ maternal monitor.

The new monitor offers a radical alternative to conventional fetal monitoring. The technique is based on the acquisition and advanced processing of tiny electrical signals present on the maternal abdomen. Signals can be detected from 20 weeks to term and during labour and delivery.

The system uses five electrodes placed around the mother's abdomen connected to a miniature wearable monitor.

Safely monitoring maternal and fetal well being during pregnancy to predict and manage both fetal and maternal compromise has been the focus for technology development over the past 30 years. Unexplained still births, premature labour and identifying maternal/fetal complications such as Intra-Uterine-Growth-Retardation (IUGR) are significant concerns. How to manage these, and a number of other medical problems including diabetic pregnancies, and the legal-medical issues associated with today's obstetric practice, without resorting to hospitalisation and over zealous management is a significant and important global challenge. Monica Healthcare offers a unique solution to meet this challenge, allowing both the mother and fetus to be unobtrusively and continuously monitored for long periods both at home or in the Hospital. Two key aspects of the technology are:

• Entirely passive
• Can be operated by the mother at home with little or no training