Maternal Health - Vacuum assisted delivery simulation

Start date: 1 January 2015
End date: 1 January 2019
Primary investigator: Professor Peter Culmer
Co-investigators: Dr Ali Alazmani
Postgraduate students: Dushyant Goordyal

Dushyant Goordyall demonstrating VAD device

This project will investigate the development of safer Vacuum Assistive Delivery (VAD) Devices to be used during complicated delivery in the second stage of labour. The project will develop a robust engineering understanding of the mechanics of VAD devices and their associated failure modes (in particular their effect on maternal and neonatal morbidity during second stage of labour). This knowledge will inform an investigation into VAD design optimisation for reduced trauma and increased reliability.

It features a close collaboration between the University of Leeds (UoL) and PELICAN FEMININE HEALTHCARE LIMITED, a medical devices SME, for innovative and truly multidisciplinary research and training for the development of obstetric devices.

Funded by MRC CASE PhD Studentship and in partnership with Pelican Healthcare.