Prototype of a medical device for measuring intravaginal forces

Abstract

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a disease that progressively affects women, creating a growing demand for the development of new devices and materials capable of diagnosing and treating the problem more quickly and effectively. The device currently undergoing validation is composed of a speculum equipped with multiple sensors, accoupled into the outer faces of the speculum blades, with the purpose to gauge the strength or muscular tension of the vaginal walls. The values measured by the device were of the same order of magnitude between ex vivo and in vivo study, values that vary between 0,15 and 1,33 N and tend to increase with the increment of the speculum opening. The device that has been developed has the capability to assess variations in the distribution of force in different spatial locations. The device has consistently provided reliable measurements, motivating us to continue improving and validating it.