Scientists' project "predicting risk in the womb at birth" has been patented
The project "Development of a Non-Invasive Meconium and Blood Screening Device in Amniotic Fluid During Birth" prepared by Prof. Dr. Kanbur and Prof. Dr. Serap Ejder Apay from the same department, and Prof. Dr. Bülent Çavuşoğlu, Dr. Faculty Member Dilruba Geyikoğlu and Dr. Faculty Member Ömer Çoban from the Faculty of Engineering, was registered in the "invention" category by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
Academicians working on a device that detects color change and bleeding in the amniotic fluid (the membrane in which the baby is located) when the birth process begins, without the membrane surrounding the fluid tearing, have tested the amniotic fluid samples they collected in a computer environment for a long time and achieved successful results.
Scientists, who have also applied for an international patent within the scope of the project, plan to start clinical trials soon.
BABIES WHO SWALLOW THEIR FEELS IN THE WOMB ARE SUFFERING SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMSProf. Dr. Kanbur said that they are working on issues that may negatively affect the health of mothers and babies.
Kanbur, who explained that sometimes babies pass stool (feces) into the amniotic fluid they are in during labor and that bleeding in the placenta (the baby's partner) causes problems for the baby and the mother, said, "We do not have the chance to see the amniotic fluid unless the membrane surrounding it ruptures. Babies swallow this fluid while they are in the womb, and if babies pass stool into this fluid, it starts to stick to the lungs as the fluid is swallowed. After the baby is born, it causes lung function to deteriorate, serious respiratory distress and, if there is a large amount of contamination, serious brain and kidney damage, and long-term intensive care after birth. In order to prevent this and protect the health of the mother and the baby, we started looking for a device that will detect this at an early stage."
Kanbur, who stated that they will produce the device prototype through TÜBİTAK within the scope of the study they have patented, obtain the necessary permits and conduct clinical studies, and then aim to use it in Türkiye, said, "We designed a device that will be similar to a vaginal ultrasound probe and will be able to detect color changes in the amniotic fluid with a color sensor on its tip after labor has started and the cervix has opened to a certain extent. We collected amniotic fluid samples and conducted preliminary tests in a computer environment with the instructors at the engineering faculty, and we obtained positive results accordingly."
Kanbur, pointing out the importance of the study, noted the following: "There is no device in the world that detects this situation (stool contamination of the baby) before the membranes rupture and the amniotic fluid is discharged. Our device can be applied very easily during the vaginal examination during labor and will be able to detect the color change in this amniotic fluid. Midwives and gynecologists working in the delivery room will use this. In the literature, the rate of the baby defecating in the amniotic fluid during labor while in the womb is seen as between 5 and 30 percent, and bleeding from the baby's placenta is considered one of the most important causes of maternal and infant deaths."
Prof. Dr. Serap Ejder Apay also said that the project was very valuable in terms of saving the lives of the mother and the baby.
Referring to the experimental results, Apay said, "The results of the laboratory experiments made us happy and gave us hope. When we pass the clinical trials, both our country and the health community in the world, as well as medical device manufacturers, will be interested in this."
Habertürk
