Post by Delft University of Technology

In many low- and middle-income countries, the number of C-sections is strikingly high. One reason is that physicians often feel insufficiently trained to safely perform vacuum-assisted deliveries. Existing training models are expensive and not anatomically accurate. That’s why Merdan D., a master’s student in Biomedical Engineering, is developing an affordable, realistic, and durable simulator that allows healthcare providers to practice more effectively. "Our model helps practitioners learn to recognize the proper forces and master the correct techniques. The basis of the simulator has been developed by my predecessor Haochen Wang and consists of 3D printed bone structures and silicone muscles that move realistically. The bones are based on a CT scan of a woman’s pelvis and then 3D-printed. Two key pelvic floor muscles were recreated using silicone. I also designed the model to be modular, so the muscles can easily be clicked onto the bone structure. This way, if the silicone tears, you don’t have to replace the entire model but you can swap in new muscles within minutes. The silicone muscles need to feel realistic and provide sufficient resistance. But silicone can tear easily if damaged, so the material also needs to be robust. Finding the balance between realism and durability has been the toughest challenge. In our first prototype, the forces were too low, so we needed stiffer silicone. My goal was that the muscles should withstand at least 100 training deliveries before tearing. We tested several silicone formulations and achieved about 85 successful cycles before the first cracks appeared. So, the recipe and attachment method still need tweaking, but we’re getting close. The ultimate goal is to make the model open source, so it remains affordable and widely accessible. The idea is that it won’t end up on a shelf after I graduate, but that others will continue developing it and bring it to the places where it’s needed most.” Merdan is contributing his master’s thesis to the work of PhD candidate Dina Khalid Hassan AbuBakr, under the supervision of Roos Marieke Oosting and Jenny Dankelman, within the TU Delft Biomedical Engineering for Global Health Lab. His work builds on the contributions of previous students, notably 王昊辰, and incorporates valuable input from our partners at Layco Medical and Theo Wiggers and more. #university #technology #innovation #engineering #science #research