Scientists at University College London have developed a sensory glove to determine the position of the fetus and the force exerted on the fetal head during birth. This will help prevent complications during childbirth. Research results published Frontiers in Global Women’s Health.
The technology can provide real-time data during transvaginal exams. When labor isn’t going as it should, doctors use a wide variety of medical technologies to determine what the problem is. However, these technologies and skilled personnel who can use them are not always available in poor countries.
Basically, the researchers used a conventional surgical glove with flexible pressure sensors attached to the fingertips. These sensors are made of metal oxide nanocomposites that can generate electric current when they touch objects.
The researchers made sure the sensors were thin enough not to interfere with the doctor’s sense of touch. Scientists have also developed a smartphone app that allows doctors to view sensor data in real time. Each sensory glove costs less than $1.
The glove has already been successfully tested using a baby head model – the glove has successfully helped the obstetrician to determine the orientation of the fetus. In the future, scientists hope to test the technology on humans to determine whether the glove can provide the same information in real-world conditions.
Source: Gazeta
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