LaborPro: a novel and accurate system to monitor progress of labor

LaborPro introduces a novel and objective way to improve labor monitoring and to assess the position of the fetal head and the cervical dilatation by generating computerized data.

Miniature position sensors are used to touch anatomical landmarks of the maternal pelvis, the fetal head and margins of the cervix. Data gathered from the sensing of easily identifiable maternal bony landmarks enable the reconstruction of the maternal pelvis on a screen.

Using an ultrasound system fetal anatomical landmarks seen on ultrasound, such as BPD, are identified and marked. The derived data allow for the positioning of the fetal head relative to the previously mapped maternal pelvis.

Finally, cervical dilatation is determined by vaginal examination with a "computerized finger", also allowing for a vaginal assessment of fetal station.

The information is processed by a computer, and used to display the position, station, presentation and cervical dilatation, enabling the simultaneous collection of objective results. The labor record created by the system includes fetal heart rate and uterine contractions data. It is displayed on a computer display next to the delivery bed.

We present a case series of cephalic births, in which we evaluated accuracy, feasability, patient acceptance and overall acceptance of this system in the Charité University Hospitals, Berlin.