Fetal Doppler Monitor Purpose and Use

Used to detect and measure the heartbeat of an unborn baby, fetal Dopplers come in many varieties, but all provide the same basic function. The Doppler effect, a change in wavelength or frequency for someone in a position relative to a source, is used to provide audible feedback. In this case, it is the sound of a fetal heartbeat.
An ultrasound transducer is placed on the mother’s abdomen. Often you only need to apply gel and turn the device on to begin taking readings. There are also models that display the fetal heart rate on a screen, so it can be measured in beats per minute. The information received is similar to that of a stethoscope, but the electronic audio output is what makes a Doppler monitor unique. The fetal Doppler monitor was invented by Dr. Edward H. Hon in 1958 specifically for healthcare professionals.

Using Fetal Dopplers

First, the patient lies on a bed or table. An ultrasound gel is then applied to the skin. As the user glides a probe over a pregnant woman’s belly, the baby’s heartbeat can be heard. It’s an important device. The system enables a mother-to-be to have more input on the health of her fetus. It can also help a doctor find problems and treat them to avoid more serious complications. Mothers can also be calmed by the fact their baby is okay, so they experience less anxiety.



Steps to using a Doppler monitor depend on the model. Follow each unit’s user manual for exact details. The Natus Nicolet™ Elite™ 100 Non-Display Doppler is compact, yet offers clear static-free signals. It can detect the fetal heartbeat and the peripheral arterial and venous blood flow.


A more sophisticated, technologically advanced device, the Fetal2EMR features a color screen with three display modes. These include trace numeric, trace, or numeric mode. On this system:
Transducers/event markers are stored on the side of the device.
A thermal printer enables readings to be seen on paper.
A USB cable enables connection to a laptop or for disk data transfer.
Software allows data management and storage, as well as laptop viewing.
NST traces can be transferred to Electronic Medical Record databases.

Finding the Right Fetal Doppler Monitor

Fetal heart rate monitors are easily found on medical device supply websites and in industry catalogs. The best models are those that give you the most complete readings possible. More advanced units provide a wide range of heart health parameters on a color screen. Many can even detect twin fetus heart rates. Clinical models capable of high-speed printing and data storage are even more versatile and come in complete packages with the main unit, probe, power cord, ultrasound gel, and other essentials and accessories.
There’s no better place to look for fetal Dopplers than Medical Device Depot, where we offer the latest, most advanced monitoring equipment for healthcare professionals. Browse or search our catalog, shop securely online, and call us anytime for assistance at 877-646-3300.