Investigating Biomechanics of Different Materials and Angles of Blades of Forceps for Operative Delivery by Finite Element Analysis

Abstract

Using of forceps during labors and vaginal delivery accomplished operative deliveries in some circumstances. Forceps may induce fractures in the neonatal skull if excessive force is applied to it during an operative delivery. Therefore, newborns may be affected by forceps. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different curve angles and materials of the blades of forceps on neonates during labor or delivery for gynecologists and obstetricians using a finite element analysis (FEA). Computer models of the forceps, neonate’s scalp, and skull, were generated for the FEA. Moreover, the use of different materials (stainless steel and titanium alloy) and three different angles of the blades of forceps (20[Formula: see text], 40[Formula: see text], and 60[Formula: see text]) on a newborn’s head were simulated in a biomechanical analysis. The results indicate that a larger curve angle of the blades of forceps can decrease the stress and pressure on the neck of the newborn but may lead to rotation toward the posterior side. Moreover, forceps made of a lower Young’s modulus material can also reduce the stress and pressure on the neck of the newborn. It is hoped that this research can provide a more reasonable reference for manufacturers to design better medical equipment such as forceps in the future for obstetricians and gynecologists to use to attenuate the stress and pressure on the neck of a newborn.

Investigating the Vacuum Extractors of Biomedical Devices of Different Materials and Pressures on the Fetal Head during Delivery

“…In addition, because the effect of vacuum extractor on the fetal head was to be evaluated, a fetal head model was established. The fetal head model was a computer model established mainly based on previous research [11,13]. The fetal head computer model was mainly established by referring to the fetal head anatomical model based on the following parameters of a full-term fetus: the fetal head circumference is about 35 cm, the biparietal diameter is about 9.5 cm, the occipitofrontal diameter is about 12 cm, and the occipitomental diameter is approximately 13.5 cm in size.…”

“…Therefore, some scholars used a finite element analysis to evaluate the influences on the fetal head during delivery in the past [8]. For example, observation of the distribution of pressure on the fetal head at the first stage of labor and analysis of the biomechanical effects of placing the vacuum extractor in different positions were all performed by way of finite element analysis, and even the finite element analysis could be used to evaluate the effects of using forceps with different angles on the fetal head [9][10][11]. Therefore, although exploring the influences of external force on the fetal head during operative delivery with vacuum extractor in clinical practice is not easy to implement, the method of finite element analysis could be executed to simulate the real clinical obstetrical situation exactly and to investigate the biomechanical impacts of the attractive force projected to the fetal head in the delivery process efficiently.…”

Biomechanical Analysis of the Forces Exerted during Different Occlusion Conditions following Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy Treatment for Mandibular Deficiency

“…The software used for mesh in this study was ANSYS Workbench 19.0. After the meshes passed the convergence test, all models reached the 5% stop criteria of the convergence test [18, 19]. The numbers of nodes and meshes were 144,969 and 74,878, respectively.…”

Effects of Attraction of Vacuum Extractors of Different Materials and Pressures on the Fetal Head During Delivery

“…In addition, because the effect of vacuum extractor on the fetal head was to be evaluated, a fetal head model was established. The fetal head model was a computer model established mainly based on previous research [11]. The fetal head computer model was mainly established by referring to the fetal head anatomical model.…”

“…Therefore, some scholars used nite element analysis to evaluate the in uences on the fetal head during delivery in the past [8]. For example, observation of the distribution of pressure on the fetal head at the rst stage of labor and analysis of the biomechanical effects of placing the vacuum extractor in different positions were all performed by way of nite element analysis and even the nite element analysis could be used to evaluate the effects of using forceps with different angles on the fetal head [9][10][11]. Therefore, although exploring the in uences of external force on the fetal head during operative delivery with vacuum extractor in clinical practice is not easy to implement, the method of nite element analysis can be made use of simulating the real clinical situation and exploring the in uences of attractive force on the fetal head in the delivery process.…”