Development of a novel intra-vaginal transducer with improved dynamic response

Limitations of standard clinical pressure transducers have hampered our ability to provide reliable measurements of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) during physical activities. To overcome these limitations, a novel intravaginal transducer (IVT) capable of accurate, reliable, and continuous IAP measurements during normal activity was developed. The design was validated through comparison with standard clinical pressure transducers in both bench top and clinical tests. The IVT demonstrated an improved dynamic response when compared to a standard rectal balloon catheter. Additionally, the radially symmetric design allows for accurate measurement within non-fluid-filled tissue cavities and simple placement within the vaginal canal. This is an advantage over sensor-tipped transducers which are only reliable in fluid-filled compartments. The IVT design presented here is preliminary to a wireless version that will allow for IAP measurement during activities outside the clinic.