publications:
- title: "A Dynamic Compliance Cervix Phantom Robot for Latent Labor Simulation"
  author:
  - name: "Michelle Luk"
    link: "https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleluk/"
  - name: "Derek Lobb"
    link: "https://fhs.mcmaster.ca/medsci/faculty/lobb_derek.html"
  - name: "James Andrew Smith"
    link: "https://www.eecs.yorku.ca/~drsmith/"
  year: "2018"
  abstract: "Physical simulation systems are commonly used in training of midwifery and obstetrics students, but none of these systems offers a dynamic compliance aspect that would make them more truly representative of cervix ripening. In this study, we introduce a unique soft robot phantom that simulates the cervix softening during the latent labor phase of birth. This proof-of-concept robotic phantom can be dilated by 1 cm and effaced by 35% through the application of a Foley catheter-like loading mechanism. Furthermore, psychophysics trials demonstrate how untrained subjects can identify hard and soft states of the phantom with specificities of 91% and 87%, respectively. Both results indicated the appropriateness for application of this soft robot technology to birth training simulators."
  researchr: "https://researchr.org/publication/luk2018dynamic"
  cites: 0
  citedby: 0
  journal: "Soft robotics"
  volume: "5"
  number: "3"
  pages: "330-338"
  kind: "article"
  key: "luk2018dynamic"