An Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Innovative Product in Labor Follow-Up: The Electronic Touch and Partograph Device

Background: Vaginal examination is a practice that is one of the approaches to assessing women’s health and that women experience numerous times throughout their lives. This examination is considered to be the most important parameter that is highly preferred by health professionals during the labour process and is especially necessary in the monitoring of the childbirth process.

Aim: This study aimed to enable performing vaginal examination where labor follow-up (pelvic structure’s suitability for labor, cervical dilatation, presentation and position of the fetus, and the release of amniotic fluid) is made in obstetrics, and partograph, which is the map of the progress of pregnancy, on the electronic medium.

Methods: A new device was planned to improve the system, increase the comfort of the patient, develop a device for enhancing the privacy of pregnant women during labor and minimizing the risk of infection in terms of health professionals, and to increase the effectiveness of labor follow-up with an artificial intelligence-assisted innovative device. A literature review was performed and the electronic touch and partograph device, considered a new invention, were designed. The drawing and design processes of the device were car-ried out by the researcher. Then, patenting processes and prototyping processes were conducted (Patent Number: TR 2017 08739 B).

Results: Manual vaginal touch often performed in labor follow-up increases the risk of infection both for pregnant women and health professionals. In this study, which was conducted based on these requirements, the research and development processes of an artificial intelligence-assisted innovative product that has yet to be used in Türkiye and the world and that enables electronic conduct of labor follow-up in obstetrics.

Conclusion: Considering the results of the Research & Development (R&D) process, it was determined that an innovative product that is safe both for pregnant women and healthcare personnel, supports patient and employee safety, and maintains the effectiveness of labor follow-up was created.