A Computer-Based Simulation of Obstetric Forceps Placement

Rudy Lapeer (Lead Author), Vilius Audinis, Zelimkhan Gerikhanov, Olivier Dupuis

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

4 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Obstetric forceps are commonly used when the expulsion of the baby during childbirth fails to progress. When the two forceps blades are applied correctly, i.e. symmetrically, the inner surface of each blade maximises the area in contact with the fetal head. On the contrary, when the blades are applied asymmetrically, the contact areas between the inner surface of the blades and the fetal head are minimal and at distinct locations at the left and right sides of the fetal head. It is therefore assumed in the field of obstetrics that asymmetric application is bound to cause intra-cranial damage due to significantly higher shear forces and significant deformation of the fetal cranial bones as compared to symmetric application. In this paper we present the first of a series of studies to analyse the mechanical contact between head and forceps under different conditions using finite element analysis. We used high fidelity mesh models of a fetal skull and obstetric forceps. The fetal cranial material properties are known from previous studies. We observed significantly higher deformations and stresses for the asymmetric application of the blades as compared to symmetric placement.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMedical Image Computing and Computer-Assisted Intervention – MICCAI 2014
Subtitle of host publication17th International Conference, Boston, MA, USA, September 14-18, 2014, Proceedings, Part II
EditorsPollina Golland, Nobuhiko Hata, Christian Barillot, Joachim Hornegger, Robert Howe
PublisherSpringer
Pages57-64
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-319-10470-6
ISBN (Print)978-3-319-10469-0
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014
EventMICCAI 2014 - MIT, Cambridge, United States
Duration: 14 Sept 201418 Sept 2014

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science
Volume8674

Conference

ConferenceMICCAI 2014
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityCambridge
Period14/09/1418/09/14

Keywords

  • Computer Simulation
  • Finite Element Analysis

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