Chicago scientists at Northwestern University and Lurie Children's have rolled out a new soft robotic probe that is about as thin as a strand of hair and designed to slip into the uterus during minimally invasive fetal surgery. In preclinical testing, the filament-like device continuously tracked a fetus's heart rate, heart-rate variability, blood-oxygen levels and temperature with clinical-grade accuracy, even while the uterus and fetus were in motion.
What the probe measures
The research team says the filamentary probe can pick up fetal heart rate, heart-rate variability, blood-oxygen saturation and temperature all at once. It is narrow enough to pass through the same tiny tube surgeons already use for fetoscopic procedures, so they can get continuous readings throughout an operation without creating a new incision or obvious risk, according to Northwestern University.
How the device works
Soft robotic actuators allow surgeons to steer and position the hair-like filament inside the uterus, and tiny inflatable cushions help the probe make gentle contact with fetal tissue so the sensors can lock onto stable signals. Miniaturized, multimodal sensors along the filament collect both electrical and optical data, which are then transmitted wirelessly to a monitor outside the body to give surgical teams real-time feedback. Those technical details are described by EurekAlert.
Preclinical results and publication
In a large-animal model, the probe delivered accurate, precise, clinical-grade measurements even as the uterus and fetus moved, suggesting the sensor can tolerate the motion and noise typical of real surgeries. The work was co-led by John A. Rogers and fetal surgeon Dr. Aimen Shaaban. It is outlined in reporting by Crain's Chicago Business and published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
Why it matters for fetal surgery
Fetal surgery is typically reserved for rare but serious conditions, including spina bifida and severe diaphragmatic hernia. Surgeons have increasingly turned to minimally invasive fetoscopic techniques that lower risk for the pregnant patient but make it tougher to keep close tabs on the fetus. Continuous, multimodal monitoring during those procedures could give surgical teams earlier warning of distress and more time to respond, which may improve outcomes for babies and ease anxiety for families, as noted by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
