4 Cableless Monitoring
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Underwater Monitoring
Only the battery-operated CL transducers of the Avalon CL and Avalon CTS systems can be used to
monitor under water. You can use them to monitor patients in a bathtub or shower. This does not
apply to the IntelliVue CL SpO
2
, CL NBP, and the CL Wide Range Pod, do not immerse the CL Pods
into water.
The CL F&M Pod can be worn within the shower, if the Pod is securely placed on the electrode patch,
so that the contacts cannot get wet. Radio transmission range of the CL F&M Pod may be reduced
under a shower.
Cableless transmission distances are shorter when monitoring under water. A metal bathtub is likely to
further reduce the operating range.
WARNING
Never immerse the base station in liquid. You must protect it against water sprays or splashes. Place
the base station where there is no chance of contact with water, or falling into water or other liquids.
CAUTION
Avoid the use of pulsating water jets in the bath or shower while monitoring, as these can be
misinterpreted as an incorrect (or totally artificial) heart rate.
Toco Baseline drift: When using transducers under warm water, the temperature increase causes a
significant baseline change due to internal pressure increase. The depth under water at which the Toco
transducer is used also has an effect on the Toco baseline, as the water pressure increases with depth.
After immersion, allow one to two minutes for the pressure to stabilize, then adjust the Toco baseline
(between contractions), and check it frequently.
When using the transducers underwater, the radio transmission range is reduced, and signal loss may
occur.
Water-proof belts like M1562B are recommended for the cableless transducers when monitoring in
water.