Team Members and Role:

Abstract:

The objective of this project is to redesign and optimize an existing medical prototype intended to minimize the pain and pressure felt during labor contractions. Globally, over 100 million women give birth each year, with labor lasting between 12 and 24 hours on average. With the help of a doula or midwife, the double hip squeeze is a massaging method that is performed to relieve the pressure exerted on the pelvic area during contractions. Currently, the by-hand method requires high force exertion over a long period of time, making it a very taxing method for the midwife. The existing prototype failed to replicate the squeeze efficiently and exerts too much force on the patient’s back, instead of the hips. Our team’s addressed these issues by changing the cross-section of the tool arms, altering the points where the applied force and reaction forces are translated, and introducing handlebars and dowel pins for both comfort and stability.