Tufts looks to help develop fetal heart monitor

Tufts Medical Center said it has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with the start-up MindChild Medical Inc. for the development of a new non-invasive device for the monitoring of fetal heart rate.

"The device, a belt embedded with sensitive electrodes, externally monitors fetal ECG when placed around the mother’s abdomen," Tufts said in a press release.

Tufts Medical Center is the principal teaching hospital for Tufts University School of Medicine.

The technology for the device is the result of a collaboration among Dr. Adam Wolfberg, a Tufts Medical Center Fellow; Gari Clifford of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Jay Ward of E-TROLZ, a North Andover company that provides real-time measurement and control products for electrophysiological medical devices.

"In 2008, MindChild Medical, Inc. was launched to further develop the device and technology," the press release said. "MindChild, conceived by Tufts Medical Center, MIT, and E-TROLZ, is led by Jim Robertson, a veteran of the medical device industry. The company launched with the support of E-TROLZ and is currently pursuing outside investment."
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)