BME 273BME 273Fetal Stabilizer for Fetal Stabilizer for

Intrauterine SurgeryIntrauterine Surgery

Michael DinhMichael Dinh

Advisor: Dr. Joseph BrunerAdvisor: Dr. Joseph Bruner

Spina BifidaSpina Bifida

Spina Bifida affects approximately 1 Spina Bifida affects approximately 1 out of every 1,000 newborns in the out of every 1,000 newborns in the U.SU.S

Each year in the US about 4,000 Each year in the US about 4,000 pregnancies are affected by spina pregnancies are affected by spina bifida and anencephaly, an average bifida and anencephaly, an average of 11 pregnancies per day of 11 pregnancies per day

Vanderbilt UniversityVanderbilt University

165 cases of spina 165 cases of spina bifida repairbifida repair• Age range of infants Age range of infants

19-30 weeks19-30 weeks

Mean operating Mean operating time is about 87 time is about 87 minmin• Ranges from 62-Ranges from 62-

131 min131 min

Dr. Bruner Vanderbilt University

MyelomeningoceleMyelomeningocele

Defect in the spinal Defect in the spinal columncolumn

Protrusion of spinal Protrusion of spinal cord membrane, cord membrane, spinal cord, and nerve spinal cord, and nerve rootsroots

Bathing of developing Bathing of developing spinal cord with spinal cord with amniotic fluid results amniotic fluid results in progressive in progressive neurological injuryneurological injury

Design ObjectiveDesign Objective

Design a fetal Design a fetal stabilizer to assist stabilizer to assist in surgeryin surgery• Hold fetus steady Hold fetus steady

while providing an while providing an opening for opening for operationoperation

Dr. Bruner Vanderbilt University

Device SpecificationDevice Specification

LightweightLightweight• Material: light weight polymer or Material: light weight polymer or

stainless steelstainless steel Length of device < 20 cmLength of device < 20 cm

• Large size involve stability problemsLarge size involve stability problems Flanged opening at top curved to Flanged opening at top curved to

keep opening sealedkeep opening sealed

Fetal DataFetal Data

19 week old fetus19 week old fetus• 6 inches head to end6 inches head to end• Weight about 8.5 ouncesWeight about 8.5 ounces

http://www.babycenter.com/mybabycenter/119.html

Current and Future OutlookCurrent and Future Outlook

No known device that serves such No known device that serves such functionfunction

Design which leads to a prototypeDesign which leads to a prototype• Feasible in size and not cumbersome in Feasible in size and not cumbersome in

useuse