TY - JOUR
T1 - An operator-independent artificial finger can differentiate anterior vaginal wall indentation parameters between control and prolapse patients
AU - Wang, Connie N.
AU - Abraham, Michael R.
AU - Abrego, Christopher E.
AU - Shiakolas, Panos S.
AU - Christie, Alana
AU - Zimmern, Philippe E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2021/5/7
Y1 - 2021/5/7
N2 - In this study, the reproducibility and validity of an automated artificial finger for evaluating properties of vaginal wall tissue was assessed. The effect of angle and rate of indentation on displacing the anterior vaginal wall (AVW) was studied in control and prolapse patients. Following IRB approval, an automated artificial finger equipped with a calibrated piezoresistive sensor at its tip was used to induce 3-second AVW deformation sequences (10°, 15°, and 20° indentation). Measurements were taken in patients in supine position, either awake in clinic or under anesthesia in the operating room (OR). The real time voltage output of a sensor (linearly proportional to the reaction force) was recorded for each motion profile to calculate key parameters: baseline voltages, amplitude changes over indentation intervals, and slopes of indentation curves. 23 women (9 controls and 14 prolapse) were studied, 6 in clinic and 17 in OR. No differences in mean reproducibility was noted across groups. There was a significant difference in sensor output based on selected motion profile parameters between different degrees of indentation for all women (p < 0.001) and in baseline voltage between age-matched and non-age-matched controls (p < 0.02). From these findings, we can conclude that indentation reaction properties of prolapsed and non-prolapsed AVW can be objectively measured using an operator-independent artificial finger with significant differences between patient groups.
AB - In this study, the reproducibility and validity of an automated artificial finger for evaluating properties of vaginal wall tissue was assessed. The effect of angle and rate of indentation on displacing the anterior vaginal wall (AVW) was studied in control and prolapse patients. Following IRB approval, an automated artificial finger equipped with a calibrated piezoresistive sensor at its tip was used to induce 3-second AVW deformation sequences (10°, 15°, and 20° indentation). Measurements were taken in patients in supine position, either awake in clinic or under anesthesia in the operating room (OR). The real time voltage output of a sensor (linearly proportional to the reaction force) was recorded for each motion profile to calculate key parameters: baseline voltages, amplitude changes over indentation intervals, and slopes of indentation curves. 23 women (9 controls and 14 prolapse) were studied, 6 in clinic and 17 in OR. No differences in mean reproducibility was noted across groups. There was a significant difference in sensor output based on selected motion profile parameters between different degrees of indentation for all women (p < 0.001) and in baseline voltage between age-matched and non-age-matched controls (p < 0.02). From these findings, we can conclude that indentation reaction properties of prolapsed and non-prolapsed AVW can be objectively measured using an operator-independent artificial finger with significant differences between patient groups.
KW - Artificial finger
KW - Bioengineering
KW - Human anterior vaginal wall
KW - Vaginal prolapse
KW - Vaginal wall properties
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110378
DO - 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2021.110378
M3 - Article
C2 - 33761398
AN - SCOPUS:85102840359
SN - 0021-9290
VL - 120
JO - Journal of Biomechanics
JF - Journal of Biomechanics
M1 - 110378
ER -