EBME Forums Forums Maintenance Technical Assistance Fetal Monitor simulator

Dear Friends,

We would like to buy a good quality , compact , less price Fetal Monitor Simulator .
Can anybody suggest some models ?

Thanks,

Jerry

Hi Jerry,

We currently use a Viamed V1000 fetal heart simulator and it does just as it says on the tin and can be used to check any of the FFHR transducers used within our trust,

Hope this helps

Hi,

I made one myself (many moons ago) with a loudspeaker and a 555 timer. Can't get any cheaper than that!

Hi Bill,
can you send to me the circuit diagram or the complete data by e-mail your fetal monitor invention.
thanks and best regards.

i forgot,my email is: arielbiomed@gmail.com

I'll have to dig it out Ariel, it was a long time ago. From what I recall it consisted of a 555 timer i.c. a CMOS quad switch and a CMOS counter chip 4020/40 or 60. The 555 was set up as an oscillator and fed a small loudspeaker via a volume pot. the time constant (foetal heartrate) was set using 4 trim pots and were switched-in at regular intervals depending on the counter setup. I think i set it up to change frequencies at approx. 1 minute intervals. The speaker was fastened to the inside of a plastic case with a hole to let the sound out (obviously). I covered the hole with a couple of the protective covers used for the conractions sensor, I'm not sure if they still use them today. but any flexible waterproof cover will do. To test the monitor all you have to do is apply a bit of gel to the transducer and hold it over the hole in the case, i used a rubber band (in keeping with the cheap and cheerful approach). I seem to recall putting a small bag of water between the transducer and the tester, can't remember why. maybe the movement of the loudspeaker was too much and had to be attenuated. the bag may also have served to reduce feedback and external noise.

The Viamed V-1000 looks OK as a foetal heart simulator. But what about the toco (contractions) side of things?

From what I recall a series of small weights will do the trick, 50g, 100g etc.

Yes, I remember that approach as well. But I was wondering if things might have moved on a bit since the late 1970's and early 1980's.

We don't use any simulator for testing the rate or the Toco. If you look at the manuals no simulator is actually required for routine testing!