In obstetric examinations, pregnant women are highly cautious about radiation, so ultrasound scanners have become the preferred equipment for obstetricians. And with the development of community follow-up and family doctor models, the demand for wireless handheld ultrasound devices for prenatal screening and continuous follow-up is growing.
This blog will focus on the application of wireless handheld ultrasound scanners in obstetric examinations such as gestational age assessment, fetal growth assessment, and fetal anomaly screening, helping primary medical institutions improve the quality and efficiency of obstetric examinations.
Key Benefits of Using Wireless Obstetrics Ultrasound
Fast Diagnosis: In emergencies, Obstetric handheld ultrasound helps medical staff quickly get information about the fetus and mother.It can timely evaluate placental abruption, fetal position and other conditions, saving precious time for treatment.
Easy Operation: Even healthcare workers experienced with desktop ultrasound can quickly learn to use a portable obstetric ultrasound scanner. With brief training, they can perform basic obstetric assessments effectively.
Reduced Transport Risk: Doctors can use point-of-care obstetric ultrasound to perform scans at the patient’s location. This avoids unnecessary movement and lowers the risk of the condition worsening during transport.
Obstetricians usually do ultrasounds during the following cycles:
Early Pregnancy (6-12 weeks)
Mainly use transvaginal ultrasound examination to observe the position of the embryo in the uterine cavity early, confirm the number of embryos, and accurately calculate the gestational age and due date.
Mid-Pregnancy (11-14 weeks)
Transabdominal ultrasound combined with a blood test (PAPP-A) is commonly used for nuchal translucency test to assess the risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome.
Mid-to-late Pregnancy (18-20 weeks)
Mainly use transabdominal ultrasound to examine the fetus’ brain, heart, kidneys and other organs in detail, and evaluate the size of the placenta and the amount of amniotic fluid. If the parents wish, the baby’s sex can also be identified.
Late Pregnancy (after 30 weeks)
Continue to use transabdominal ultrasound to monitor fetal growth, confirm whether the placental position is normal, and rule out risks such as placenta previa.
How to Perform a Transvaginal Ultrasound?
Device and Preparation
Probe: Use a 5-9 MHz transvaginal probe, as they have a higher frequency and clear images, suitable for observing delicate structures such as the endometrium and ovaries.
Sterility: Use a sterile disposable condom to cover the wireless transvaginal ultrasound probe for hygiene, and apply a sufficient amount of sterile gel.
Adjustment
Gently insert the probe into the vagina, keeping the probe in the longitudinal plane, tilted back about 45 degrees, toward the sacrum. Adjust the image direction accordingly, such as “up” or “down”. Next, optimize the ultrasound settings by adjusting the depth, gain, and focus area to obtain a clear image. Then, perform a systematic examination starting from the vaginal introitus, inspecting the bladder, uterus, cervix, endometrium, ovaries, and pouch of Douglas, checking for free fluid and sliding signs.
In narrow or difficult-to-access angles, using a wireless handheld ultrasound scanner allows more freedom of operation and reduces the inconvenience caused by cable entanglement or pulling, thereby extending the life of the equipment.
Steps
- Gently insert the probe into the vaginal introitus and advance it to the apex of the vagina with the probe tip facing the sacrum.
- Scan longitudinally and transversely along the urethra to visualize the bladder. Identify the uterus and cervix behind the bladder.
- Slowly scan the myometrium in the longitudinal plane from one uterine horn to the other. Repeat this maneuver to visualize the endometrium.
- Move the probe tip posteriorly through the posterior sacrum to examine the cervix in the longitudinal plane.
- In this longitudinal view, visualize the pouch of Douglas.
- Finally, rotate the probe 90 degrees counterclockwise to obtain a transverse view. Scan transversely from the uterine fundus, moving the probe horizontally along a horizontal line and then tilting it slightly downward to visualize the ovaries.
How to Perform a Transabdominal Ultrasound for Fetal Examination in Mid-to-Late Pregnancy?
Device and Preparation
Probe: Use a 2 -9 MHz convex probe to balance resolution and penetration.
Device: An ergonomically designed handheld prenatal ultrasound is preferred to provide operator comfort during long scans.
Gel: Apply warm ultrasound gel to the pregnant woman’s abdomen before scanning.
Procedure
1. Determine Fetal Position
Place the probe in the abdomen just above the pubic symphysis.
Gently move the probe up and down and left and right to determine the fetal position.
2. Complete Fetal Scan
Scan the fetal head, neck, spine, chest and abdomen in sequence.
Use transverse, coronal and sagittal planes for detailed observation.
3. Fetal Biometry
During the scan, measure important fetal biometric parameters:
Biparietal diameter (BPD)
Femur length (FL)
Abdominal circumference (AC)
Head circumference (HC)
These measurements help to comprehensively assess fetal growth and provide important references for pregnancy management and clinical decision-making.
Steps
1. Head and Neck
- Freeze the standard transverse image of the fetal head and thalamus.
- Measure the biparietal diameter (BPD) and head circumference (HC).
- Rotate the probe 90° to obtain the sagittal plane of the cervical spine.
- Use color Doppler to check for umbilical cord around the neck.
2. Spine Examination
- Along the sagittal plane of the spine, swing the probe left and right to examine the cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, and sacral and coccygeal spine in turn.
- When examining the lumbar spine, swing the probe left and right to observe the longitudinal sections of both kidneys and the diaphragmatic line.
3. Chest and Abdomen
- Rotate the probe 90° on the sagittal plane of the spine to scan the chest and abdomen in a transverse section.
- Measure abdominal circumference (AC).
- Check the visibility of the gallbladder and gastric bubble.
- Perform color Doppler blood flow imaging at the bladder and observe the umbilical arteries on both sides.
4. Humerus Measurement
- Move the probe along the side of the fetal calf toward the buttocks to observe the cross section of the femur.
- Rotate the probe 90° in situ and measure the femur length (FL).
- Repeat this operation for the other femur.
- Pull the probe along the fetal head to the shoulder and observe the cross section of the humerus.
- Rotate the probe 90° in situ and measure the long diameter of the humerus.
Wireless handheld transvaginal ultrasound places the probe directly into the vagina, closer to the uterus and ovaries, avoids the interference of the thick abdominal fat layer, and bypasses the abdominal and intestinal gas. The image is clearer, and the ovaries, uterus and cervix can be observed more accurately, and smaller lesions can be detected earlier. It is more suitable for patients with obesity and more intestinal gas.
Wireless handheld transabdominal ultrasound has a wide scanning range, is suitable for detecting larger space-occupying lesions, and helps to fully observe the uterine appendages and fetal conditions.
How to Choose a Pocket-Sized Obstetric Ultrasound Device?
Handheld Transvaginal Ultrasound
This transvaginal portable ultrasound provides high-definition fetal imaging for accurate ring pregnancy testing, continuous monitoring of fetal development and heart rate, and visual guidance for abortion procedures requiring dilation and curettage with a cardiac probe.This ultrasound probe is ideal if you value superior image clarity.
Equipped with color Doppler technology, this wireless transvaginal ultrasound offers detailed blood flow information, helping clinicians accurately assess lesion characteristics and extent. It also supports in-plane and out-of-plane puncture guidance and automatic blood vessel measurement, making it an excellent choice if Doppler function and advanced procedural guidance are needed.
Medtribs Select
If you need excellent image clarity and comprehensive monitoring, the 192 Elements Convex + transvaginal +Cardiac Probe Handheld Ultrasound Scanner will be your ideal choice.
In addition, if you need Doppler imaging and advanced puncture guidance functions, you can consider the 128 Elements Convex/Transvaginal Dual-Head Color Doppler Ultrasound Scanner.
Handheld Transabdominal Ultrasound
With a frequency range of 3.2–5 MHz and 7.5–10 MHz, this 3 In 1 probe supports detailed imaging for early pregnancy, as well as deep anatomical scanning in late pregnancy. It is well-suited for emergency obstetrics and gynecology environments requiring rapid, comprehensive multi-organ assessment.
With a frequency range of 3.2–5 MHz, this convex probe is well suited for abdominal, obstetric, gynecological, and pelvic imaging, and is particularly useful for visualization of deep fetal structures in late pregnancy.
Medtribs Select
If you need to clearly visualize larger fetal structures through the thick maternal abdominal and uterine walls during the late pregnancy and want excellent image clarity, then the 128 Elements 3.2/5.0MHz Convex Probe Wireless Color Doppler Ultrasound is your ideal choice.
Additionally, if you require flexible full-course transabdominal ultrasound examinations during both early and late pregnancy, especially in complex clinical environments, the 96 Elements Linear/Convex/Phased Array 3 In 1 Wireless Ultrasound Probe is more suitable.
Concluding Thoughts
Whether in the clinic or at home, it is affordable to have a pregnancy ultrasound scanner, and it does not take up a whole corner of the room. Wireless handheld ultrasound scanners are very simple to use and have many functions. If you want to know more about other products, you can check out our other pages.Enjoy excellent customer service, an 18-month warranty, and a limited time offer: Order now and get a free ultrasound storage case!
