After having children, about 10-20% of women suffer from a clinical pelvic organ prolapse that negatively affects their quality of life.
The first treatment option is to use a pessary, a flexible device inserted into the vagina for support. Unfortunately, this treatment is successful only 60% of the time, failing in the rest of the cases for usually unknown reasons.
Hence a device that can also act as a sensor would be beneficial. Visualizing the position accurately, orientation and deformation of the pessary might provide insight into the problem and improve the pessary treatment. In addition, the option to 3D print the pessaries allows for custom ones that better fit the patient, and that can be more effective.
Research question:
What are the possible alternatives for sensing mechanical loads and deformations (materials, dimensions, type) for pessary rings?
What are the best (biocompatible) material choices and fabrication processes for such rings? How to design the sensorised rings in order to have successful fabrication?
How do measurements using such rings depend on location and orientation?