Vanderbilt University

Department of

Biomedical Engineering

Fetal Stabilizer Design

Mentor: Dr. Joseph Bruner, M.D.

By Pankaj Desai

Sandhya Mani

Also with Faizel Kassam & Thomas Hughes

What is Spinabifida ? ? ?

• Most frequently occurring permanently disabling birth defect in the U.S.

• Results from failure of spine to close during 1st month of pregnancy

• Results– bowel and bladder complications

– possible loss of muscle control beneath lesion

– obesity

– skin breakdown

– Hydrocephalus• shunt

Spinabifida Detection• Age: 16 - 18 weeks

• Tests: – MSAFP - maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein

• 2 - 2.5 times normal levels

• not very accurate

• other causes of high levels:

– Ultrasound• rule out other causes

• if no result then:

• AFAFP - amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein

• AFAChE - amniotic fluid acetlcholinesterase

– both used to provide confirmation of neural tube defect

Uteren Opening

Fetal Surgery

• Risks/”No Guarantees” of Procedure– premature delivery– possible damage

• Effect of Tool– 36 open fetal repairs completed (01/08/99)– reduce clutter in surgical field – sterile positioning of fetus

Tool Specifications

• Targeted Age Group

• Exact Dimensions– limited to 20cm in length– width of fetus at position: 9cm

• Physical Properties– light-weight– Flexible yet Sturdy– easy to clean

Actual Design & Implementation

• Johnsona & Johnson– Codman Engineering– why???

• AutoCad Drawing– 3-Dimensional Picture

• Extrapolation

• Piece by piece design

– Printing Problems– Exact Dimensions

Final Design

19.5 cm

10.5 cm

8.5 cm

5.4 cm

Other Views

• Side and Top Views

Future Goals

• Video Clip

• Working Prototype

• Additional Links