Evaluation report: Cardiotocographs

Abstract

As part of the continuing comparative evaluation programme of electromedical equipment sponsored by the UK Health Departments, the evaluation of cardiotocographs is being carried out for the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) by the Bio-Medical Technology Group in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, London W2.

The following report is based on extracts from ‘Health Equipment Information’ Number 156, published in July 1986 which contains evaluation reports on three further cardiotocographs. These are the Hewlett-Packard 8040A, the Huntleigh M2000 Mkll and the Kontron Fetasonde 5. The basis for inclusion in this evaluation was that each cardiotocograph has both internal and external modes of detecting foetal heart rate and uterine activity, and can be used for both intrapartum and antenatal monitoring.