Vanderbilt University Department of Biomedical Engineering Fetal Stabilizer

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

Spinabifida ? ? ? • Most frequently occurring permanently disabling birth defect in the U. S. • affects 4000 pregnancies/year in the U. S. • What is it? – Results from failure of spine to close during 1 st month of pregnancy – most common neural tube defect • Results – – – bowel and bladder complications possible loss of muscle control beneath lesion obesity skin breakdown Hydrocephalus • shunt

Fetal Surgery

Fetal Surgery • Risks/”No Guarantees” of Procedure – premature delivery – possible damage • Effect of Tool – 29 open fetal repairs completed (01/08/99) – 18 states & British Columbia – reduce clutter in surgical field – sterile positioning of fetus

Tool Specifications • Targeted Age Group • Exact Dimensions – limited to 20 cm in length – width of fetus at position: 9 cm • Physical Properties – light-weight – Material Selection – Flexible yet Sturdy – easy to clean

Actual Design & Implementation • Codman Engineering – why? ? ? • Auto. Cad Drawing – 3 -Dimensional Picture • Extrapolation • Piece by piece design – Printing Problems – Exact Dimensions – Different View Points

Final Design

Other Views • Side and Top Views

Future Goals • Video Clip • Working Prototype • Additional Links