Royal Philips (NYSE:PHG) announced today that it launched an addition to its remote patient monitoring platform for at-risk populations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amsterdam-based Philips added the Avalon CL fetal and maternal pod and patch for reducing unnecessary physical interactions between clinicians and patients to prevent transmission of the coronavirus. The patch makes up part of a high-risk pregnancy platform that includes Philips perinatal analytics and visualization, along with a portable, battery-operated fetal monitor.
The single-use, 48-hour disposable electrode patch placed on the mother’s abdomen allows for continuous, non-invasive monitoring for maternal heart rate, fetal heart rate and uterine activity. It only requires placement once, unlike traditional belts and sensors that require frequent repositioning, according to a news release.
Philips’ Avalon CL won CE Mark approval in 2019 and is commercially available in several European countries, as well as in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.
“Remote monitoring during labor has always provided multiple benefits to expectant mothers, including comfort, mobility, and flexibility. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for mobile solutions during pregnancy is greater than ever,” Philips GM of monitoring & analytics Peter Ziese said in the release. “Philips has been dedicated to providing the best quality care for expectant mothers for more than fifty years. This new solution builds on our commitment to provide integrated continuous monitoring capabilities for high risk pregnancies.
“With this new patch, clinicians now have access to an innovative tool to help monitor pregnant women during COVID-19, helping to deliver comfort to these mothers during a particularly stressful time.”