A transcutaneous PO2 electrode for continuous monitoring of fetal state during delivery.

A transcutaneous PO2 electrode has been designed and constructed for the continuous measurement of fetal oxygen tension during labor and delivery. The electrode, tested in vitro, has a low oxygen consumption, a short response time, 10 sec, and a sufficient stability, 5% over 3 hr. The in vivo performance of the electrode, tested in neonates, shows a good correlation between transcutaneous PO2 and PO2 measured in samples of arterial blood. The continous registration of fetal tcPO2 during labor and delivery is exemplified.