The Go Medical Amnicot is a single-use fingercot with a plastic hook attached to the fingertip, designed for performing amniotomies (artificial rupture of amniotic membrane). It can be placed over the index or middle finger of a gloved left or right hand. Membrane rupture can be performed utilizing just one finger, without the need for other instruments to be inserted through the cervix.

Advantages of the Amnicot include:

• Reduced cervical dilation resulting in less pain, discomfort and anxiety compared with other more obtuse amniotic perforation instruments
• Increased accuracy as the clinician has greater tactile feedback and can more precisely apply the hook for membrane incision
• Eliminates the need for an assistant as the user’s other hand is free to stabilize the presenting part
• Eliminates the need for patient to assume the lithotomy position when the cervix is posterior.
• Sterile, disposable
• Low Cost

When compared with other amniotic membrane perforators available in the market, rupturing the membrane with the Amnicot becomes an easier and safer procedure for the obstetrician, midwife, patient and foetus/neonate.

Product History

Dr. George O’Neil set out to develop a new amniotomy instrument that would address the inherent concerns and limitations of the forceps and Amnihook^®. What emerged from his endeavours was the development of a disposable fingercot with a small plastic hook at the tip which would allow amniotomies to be performed with greater accuracy and less patient anxiety and trauma to both mother and child.

Indications

The following conditions may give rise to the requirement for amniotomy to be performed using the Amnicot:

• Pre-eclampsia
• Prolonged pregnancy
• Elective amniotomy
• Foetal growth retardation / placental insufficiency
• Poor weight gain / weight loss
• Hypertension
• Spurious labour
• Antepartum haemorrhage
• Diabetes
• Rhesus Isoimmunisation

Contraindications

In the context of elective amniotomy, there are no known contraindications that would preclude the use of the Amnicot in favour of any other amniotic membrane perforator currently available in the market. The following clinical contraindications exist for all amniotic membrane perforators – including the Amnicot – in which labour induction through artificial amniotic membrane perforation would not be advisable:

• Placenta praevia
• Classical uterine incision
• Abnormal foetal positioning (risk of cord prolapse)
• Cord presentation
• Vasa praevia
• Invasive carcinoma of the cervix
• Active genital herpes
• Cephalopelvic disproportion
• Unreliable foetal condition
• Known allergy to latex proteins

Device Variants

Reference Material

1. Harris M, Cooper EV. Amnihook versus amnicot for amniotomy in labour. Midwifery [Internet]. 1993 [cited 1993 Dec];9(4):220-4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8283954