Obstetrical Forceps With Passive Rotation and Sensor Feedback

An improved tool for operative vaginal delivery can reduce maternal and fetal trauma during the delivery and recovery processes. When a delivery cannot be completed naturally due to maternal exhaustion or fetal distress, physicians must perform an operative vaginal delivery (OVD), with forceps or a vacuum, or a Cesarean section (C-section). Although C-sections are more prevalent in the United States than OVDs, they require longer maternal hospital stays and recovery time and increase risk of maternal infection and fetal breathing problems [1]. In 2015, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology pushed to increase the number of OVDs to limit C-section associated delivery risks [2]. However, the current tools for OVD either have steep learning curves, are unable to be used for all fetal head presentations, or have associated maternal and fetal risks [3][4]. There is a need for an easy to use, safe, and reliable tool for operative vaginal delivery.