Fetal cardiac assessments have also witnessed progress that supports high-fidelity hemodynamic and continuous physiologic monitoring, thus enabling early diagnosis and treatment.
Computer-Aided Decision Support Systems and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are also utilized in continuous cardiotocography (CTG) or fetal heart rate (FHR) auscultation during labor. The patient’s electronic health records (EHRs) are utilized along with computational methods, machine learning, and deep learning tools.
Research and technological advancements in fetal monitoring systems have increased focus on noninvasive monitoring procedures. Obstetrics has been introduced with noninvasive diagnosis technologies such as Doppler studies, cell-free fetal DNA assessment, electronic fetal monitoring (EFM), and fetal acid-base status. Fetal and neonatal assessments are carried out during antepartum via percutaneous umbilical cord blood sampling and during intrapartum with fetal scalp blood sampling immediately after birth.
Fetal phonocardiography has been integrated with advanced data acquisition systems and databases. Progressing data analytics, synthetic data generation by advanced mathematical models, and classifications & processing algorithms are under active research & development to increase fetal motoring data processing efficacy.
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The advanced technology integrated into fetal monitors comes at a heavy price. Sophisticated monitoring techniques such as Doppler ultrasound machines also incur hefty charges. The probes used in the Doppler technology (for example, the Philips Doppler transducer) range from USD 4,500 to USD 17,000.
The SonoScape system from GE Healthcare costs around USD 9,000. These machines also incur maintenance charges, which amount to 15% of the unit's purchasing cost. The high costs of fetal monitoring equipment can be challenging to low-income nations and low-resource hospitals, thus restraining this market's growth.
The key manufacturers in fetal monitoring market are expanding their product lines to include portable and wireless monitoring systems that are accurate, safe, and affordable. The key players in the market are also integrating telecommunication into these devices. For instance, Philips launched the handheld and tele-ultrasound solution, Lumify, in Japan and Avalon CL in the US in 2020.
Based on portability, the market is segmented into non-portable systems and portable systems. In 2020, non-portable systems accounted for the largest share of this market, owing to wide applications in hospitals and diagnostic centers to assess fetal and maternal health.
Based on the method, the market is segmented into invasive and noninvasive. In 2020, the noninvasive accounted for the largest share of this market. Noninvasive methods are widely accepted for their safer method of diagnosing and monitoring the fetus, especially in high-risk pregnancies. The rising approvals of various noninvasive monitoring devices and the incoming advanced technologies drive the growth of this segment.
The market is segmented into hospitals, obstetrics & gynecology clinics, and home care settings based on end users. In 2020, hospitals accounted for the largest share of this market. This segment's growth can be attributed to several factors, such as highly advanced facilities in hospitals and the increasing number of pregnancy procedures. Technological advancements, coupled with government funding, are also encouraging the installation of new tools and devices in hospitals, thus supporting market growth.
The major players operating in fetal monitoring market are Cardinal Health, Inc. (US), Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands), GE Healthcare (US), Siemens Healthineers (Germany), FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc. (US), Natus Medical Incorporated (US), Huntleigh Healthcare Limited (UK), The Cooper Companies Inc. (US), CONTEC Medical Systems Co., Ltd. (China), EDAN Diagnostics, Inc. (China), Neoventa Medical AB (Sweden), Bionet Co., Ltd. (South Korea), Progetti Srl (Italy), TRISMED Co., Ltd. (Republic of Korea), ShenZhen Luckcome Technology Inc. (China), MedGyn Products, Inc (US).
