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Induction of labor (IOL) is a common obstetric procedure to initiate the childbirth if it does not naturally occur or risks to the mother or fetus have arisen. In 2022, there were 40,5 billion IOL globally. In the western countries, approx. every third childbirth is induced. However, IOL is a challenging process failing in 35% of the cases. Current tools for IOL do not offer features supported by the recent scientific evidence or provide real-time information on the baby’s wellbeing or the IOL progress. Induction failure leads to childbirth complications and increases health care costs. Failed IOL causes over 1,6 billion € cost in the U.S. alone annually, suggesting the global economic burden to be approx. 10 billion €.

We seek to address the challenges and limitations of current tools and techniques for IOL with the Inga project, a novel diagnostic device intended for effective and optimized IOL. The Inga concept enables continuous real-time monitoring of fetal wellbeing and uterine contractions and informed decision making about the IOL management. During the R2B project we intend to assess the functionality of a testing device in both laboratory and clinical environments, and to examine various aspects of the concept, including the most effective combination of IOL methods and fetal wellbeing. The Inga concept has the potential to revolutionize and modernize the field of IOL by providing a safer, more effective, and more convenient method for IOL, which will also lead to better maternal childbirth experience.

Aalto University's Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering will be responsible for the project  in cooperation with Helsinki University Hospital. During the research project, our main focus is to investigate the best commercialization route for Inga’s sensor and drug delivery system technologies. In 2022, Inga was selected to the SPARK Finland mentoring program demonstrating the high maturity and promise of the concept.