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Design and development of a novel intra-vaginal pressure sensor

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

The influence of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) on prolapse development is poorly understood. Nonetheless, chronic cough, high BMI, or heavy lifting predisposes women to pelvic organ prolapse (POP). This study aims to develop and test a novel, wireless intra-vaginal pressure sensor (IVPS) to quantify intra-abdominal pressure changes across a range of well-defined activities.

Methods

The IVPS shape was based on silicone moulds of the vagina and was designed to sit in the proximal vagina. It is thin, compliant and negligibly distorts the surrounding tissues. Repeatability was assessed in 14 volunteers performing three sets of activities (cycles). Each cycle consisted of 18 activities. The IVPS was removed and reinserted after completing either the first or second of the three-cycle exercise routine (order). Participants independently inserted and removed the device. A nested split-plot, factorial ANOVA determined the effect of order using mean IAP increase (mean) and peak-to-peak fluctuations in IAP (amplitude) as dependent variables. Descriptive analysis examined the relative change in IAP across the activities. Cronbach’s alpha ®) determined repeatability.

Results

All women found the IVPS comfortable and easy to insert. There was excellent correlation between cycles across all variables, r > 0.935 (mean) and r > 0.964 (amplitude). The order was not statistically significant, demonstrating a highly repeatable measurement.

Conclusion

This is the first device to measure IAP at high frequency with the freedom of a wireless system. The IVPS aims to provide information to advise women better on suitable pre- and post-operative activities.

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Acknowledgements

Millar Instruments Ltd. Qi-Wern Lim constructed the silicone balloons and helped with data collection and analysis. Llewellyn Sims Johns constructed the mould and force loading rig. All the participants.

Funding

Supported by the Aoteoroa Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowship.

Conflicts of interest

Lynsey Hayward is the Treasurer of the Urogynaecological Society of Australasia (UGSA). None of the other authors had any conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Level 1, 70 Symonds Street, Auckland, New Zealand

    Jennifer Kruger

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Counties Manukau District Health, Auckland, New Zealand

    Lynsey Hayward

  3. Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Poul Nielsen, Denis Loiselle & Robert Kirton

Authors
  1. Jennifer Kruger
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  2. Lynsey Hayward
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  3. Poul Nielsen
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  4. Denis Loiselle
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  5. Robert Kirton
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Correspondence to Jennifer Kruger.

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Kruger, J., Hayward, L., Nielsen, P. et al. Design and development of a novel intra-vaginal pressure sensor. Int Urogynecol J 24, 1715–1721 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-013-2097-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-013-2097-8

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