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Position transducer data aids birthing Solutions

Edited by the Manufacturingtalk editorial team Nov 8, 2006

At Johns Hopkins University's Department of Biomedical Engineering, SpaceAge Control position transducers are helping to save lives.

Position transducers have a wide variety of applications, but can they help doctors save lives? At Johns Hopkins University's Department of Biomedical Engineering, SpaceAge Control position transducers are doing just that.

Led by JHU's Dr Robert Allen, a team of biomedical engineers have designed and patented a simulator to help medical students and researchers study and practice on difficult situations that may arise during labor.

The birthing simulator has two parts: a female lower body complete with pelvis and legs with realistic joint movement and a fetal model with a moveable neck, shoulders, and arms.

While birth is a natural process, there are many instances where complications may arise.

These unique, and often dangerous, circumstances are difficult to prepare for; the birthing simulator provides a workable model for new techniques and emergency situations without ever putting a human life at risk.

Part of the process is keeping live data of how the different simulator components are positioned.

SpaceAge Control sensors provide a variety of measurements, including rotary (attached to the pelvic shaft for pelvic rotation) and angular/position sensors (attached to both the female model and the fetal model for different component position status and measurement).

Data from each sensor is sent out to a data acquisition unit and converted and stored into a data recording module.

This data provides valuable analysis on how doctors should handle different situations, including positioning the legs and adapting to different fetal head positions.

The birthing simulator is just another example of how critical measurement data can be in a critical medical situation.

Without accurate data that allows doctors to repeatedly test procedures, an emergency operation could be off by an inch - an inch that could mean the difference between life and death.