PELVITRACK

Project title
PELVITRACK – PELVIc Floor Evaluation live TRACKing – Real-time prediction of perineal trauma

Identification code
101186212

Funding provider
European Innovation Council (EIC)

Programme
Horizon Europe -EIC Pathfinder | HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDEROPEN-01-01

Coordinator
IMT (IMT Mines Alès et Mines Saint-Etienne)

Partners
Ecole Nationale Superieure Des Mines De Paris (Centre des Matériaux de MINES Paris) ; CHU Nîmes Carremeau (Service de Gynécologie Obstétrique) ; CNRS (FEMTO – ST, LMGC, LMA), CHU Lille (Department of gynecologic surgery) ; Centrale Lille (Laboratoire de Mécanique, Multiphysique, Multiéchelle) ; Centre Hospitalier Régional De Marseille Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux Marseille (Service d’obstétrique – Hôpital de la Conception) ; UNIVERSIDAD DE ZARAGOZA (Aragon Institute for Engineering Research (I3A)) ; POLITECNICO DI TORINO (Electronics and Télécommunications) ; University of West Bohemia (New Technologies – Research Centre) ; INEGI – Instituto De Ciencia E Inovacao Em Engenharia Mecanica E Engenharia Industrial (Biomechanics and Health Unit) ; VIRTUALCARE, LDA (Département R&D) ; Superviseme LTD ; Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne (Signal Processing Laboratory (LTS5))

Project start
04/2025

Project end
03/2029

Project goals

Pelvic tissues, supporting the pelvic floor, can change in physical properties during lifetime, leading to dysfunctions commonly known as Pelvic Floor Disorders (PFDs). These disorders, encompassing pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapses, urinary or anal incontinence or dyspareunia, affect 32% females and 16% males worldwide, making it a major health concern. Various factors such as older age, menopause, obesity or intense physical activity are significant contributors. However, the occurrence of PFDs is mainly due to traumatic events. Indeed, perineal tears, taking place in 90% of vaginal deliveries (VDs), have been identified to be a high-risk factor of PFDs. As an answer, PELVITRACK’s ambition is to enable the systematic prevention of PFDs, ensuring earlier diagnosis, more reliable prognosis, and more efficient care. More specifically, the project will design a real-time turnkey lab-scale solution to monitor perineal tearing during VD and minimize pelvic traumas. This revolution in the monitoring of the pelvic floor will be achieved through a hybrid experimental and numerical approach, leveraging ex vivo data and computational modelling on pig perineum to select IDEVs (Investigated DEVices) that will be adapted and validated in vivo on animals (preclinical study) and women (clinical studies). To achieve its ambitious goal, PELVITRACK gathers a unique interdisciplinary consortium of 11 partners including renowned research institutions, universities, hospitals and SMEs to cover all the required scientific expertise and knowledge in mechanics, computer science, electrical and thermal engineering, acoustics, optics and obstetric physics. Exploring new technologies to predict perineal trauma in real time, PELVITRACK delineates a high-risk/high-gain proposal that will significantly contribute to the health and wellbeing of females in Europe and beyond.

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