Interface pressure monitoring for a secured instrumented childbirth.

Complications in forceps deliveries are rare but their consequences might be dramatics. This situation could be avoided if the obstetrician knows the information concerning symmetry of the obstetrical forceps position on the fetal head and the related interface pressure. Indeed, forceps delivery is an emergency gesture which is normally not expected. Our purpose is to determinate relevant parameters for a fast decision-making without any danger for the fetus. We have developed a new interface pressure measurement system in order to study pressure distribution of human body whatever its support (forceps, chair, bed...). This method has been adapted to measure the interface pressure between the fetal head and the forceps. This new system also provides information of forceps position symmetries. The aims of this system are: first, to prevent instrumented delivery accidents. Secondly, to provide a safe training of forceps technique. This paper presents results about experiments performed on phantoms of fetal head. Different forceps positions on phantom have been tested according to the classification of forceps application as per A.C.O.G 1981 (revised in 1991). These experiments have lead to the definition of relevant parameters in order to help the physician to validate the forceps positions before extraction.