Biomechanical evaluation of intelligent fluid-solid coupling vaginal dilatation system: Experimental and numerical...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Devices
• Gynecological Instruments

Background:

• Cervical cancer poses a significant health risk with high mortality rates.
• Colposcopy is crucial for early cervical cancer detection.
• Traditional vaginal dilators cause patient discomfort and operational challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design an intelligent vaginal dilatation system for automated colposcopy.
• To enhance patient comfort during colposcopy procedures.
• To improve the safety and efficacy of vaginal dilation.

Main Methods:

• Development of an intelligent vaginal dilatation system integrating flexible and rigid techniques.
• Simulation of the dilation process using a fluid-solid coupled finite element method.
• In vitro experiments for dilatation displacement and pressure analysis on a prototype.

Main Results:

• Simulation predicted a maximum system expansion of 32.2 mm with average vaginal wall pressure of 605.91 kPa.
• In vitro experiments achieved an average maximum expansion of 30.49 mm, closely matching simulations.
• The intelligent system demonstrated more uniform pressure distribution and reduced local pressure compared to traditional dilators.

Conclusions:

• The intelligent vaginal dilatation system outperforms traditional dilators in performance, safety, and comfort.
• The study validates the design's feasibility and potential for clinical adoption in colposcopy.