Heartstrings for fetal heart tones

Target Regions

Worldwide

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$12.50

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Community, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Maternova

Manufacturing/Building Method

Produced-to-order in Uruguay (Per Interview with representative)

User Provision Model

The Fetascope is available for purchase in the Heartstrings set from Maternova.

Distributions to Date Status

Several thousands (Per Interview with representative)

Design Specifications

The Fetascope is made from plastic and has a cone-shaped opening on one end, which is placed on the pregnant abdomen. On the other is a flat surface, which is held to the ear. Sound is conducted from one end to the other through a hollow tube, which amplifies the sound of the heartbeat. Use of this instrument requires practice to locate and correctly assess fetal heart rate, which can sometimes be obscured by ambient sounds or the position of the fetus. To determine the position of the fetus the Fetascope must be pressed to a location very close to the fetal heart, providing a relatively accurate indication. This Fetascope includes reminders for dangerous warning signs in a pregnancy and is available in Haitian Kreyol, Spanish, English, and French.

Product Schematics

Technical Support

N/A

Replacement Components

None

Lifecycle

Unknown

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Portable and durable device. The sound is best heard over the fetus’ back beginning at 18-20 weeks of pregnancy.

Vetted Performance Status

The Pinard Horn is a proven technology in use since the 19th century. Overviews and studies of effectiveness of the Fetascope are limited. Maternova lists field reports from Malawi and from Uganda.

Safety

N/A

Complementary Technical Systems

Mother Health International's HeartStrings and Sand Timer improve the performance of the Fetascope by allowing users to determine the health of the fetus.

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

N/A

Other Information

The Fetascope may more precise than a Doppler device for determining fetal positioning as a Doppler device detects a heart tone farther away from the location of origin.