OdonAssistTM was first tested on mothers who needed assistance during labour by a pioneering research team led by clinicians from Southmead Hospital, which is part of Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. Dr Joanna Crofts, Consultant Obstetrician, told Tech Now how the team developed extraordinary trust with mothers in Bristol to allow them to test the device in frontline clinical practice.
Southmead Hospital made history in 2018 when it became the site of the first assisted vaginal birth in Europe using OdonAssist™, during the ASSIST trials. Southmead was chosen to lead this innovation in childbirth thanks to its international reputation for safety, multiprofessional training and excellence in maternity care.
Dr Joanna Crofts, Consultant Obstetrician, Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, said:
"The launch of OdonAssist™ into clinical practice marks the culmination of more than a decade of collaboration and innovation, driven by a shared commitment to improving outcomes and experiences for women, babies and families.
“This achievement has been made possible through the expertise and partnership of a multidisciplinary team, bringing together clinicians from Southmead Hospital with academics, industry partners, and colleagues from the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England.
“Southmead Hospital has established a worldwide reputation for excellence in maternity innovation, and we are proud to see this pioneering work translated into clinical practice.
“Throughout this journey, women and families have remained at the heart of everything we do, and the BBC documentary celebrates their contribution, the dedication of our teams, and the power of collaboration to bring meaningful innovation into maternity care."
Before OdonAssist™, assisted vaginal births involved either the forceps or ventouse. Forceps have been in use since the 1600s, with the ventouse entering use in the 1850s. Both instruments often cause tissue damage to newborns, so OdonAssist™ offers a gentler alternative, distributing pressure around the baby’s head more evenly and so preventing injury.
The OdonAssistTM device works by using a soft, inflatable air cuff to surround the baby’s head, which allows the doctors to assist with birth during contractions. This technology represents the first assisted vaginal birth breakthrough innovation in more than 170 years.
Tech Now showcases breakthrough medical technologies addressing urgent global healthcare challenges. Presenter Shiona McCullum spent a day filming with patients, clinicians and device manufacturer Maternal Newborn Health Innovations (MNHI) staff.
The programme will be repeated on the BBC World Service and the BBC News Channel throughout the autumn, as well as featuring on BBC Breakfast News in the UK.
Tech Now is available on iPlayer.
Charlie Fuller, MNHI VP, for Europe said:
“I’m really proud to see OdonAssistTM getting this recognition from the BBC.
“After so many years of hard work, it’s incredibly rewarding to see the technology making a real difference to women and families and to hear such positive feedback from mothers and clinicians.
“A brilliant milestone for everyone who has helped get OdonAssistTM to this point. And hopefully, just the beginning!”