Design and fabrication of novel vaginal ring pessaries with improved performances

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a severe gynaecological condition affecting around 50% of women over the age of 50 [1]. POP can occur due to weakening of the pelvic floor and vaginal tissue, leading to prolapse of the uterus, bladder or rectum. Pessaries are devices inserted into the vagina for treatment of POP by provision of mechanical support to the prolapsed organ, shown in Figure 1. A variety of pessaries exist, with each being suited to a particular type and stage of prolapse, one of the most common is the ring pessary [2]. Pessaries provide an alternative treatment to vaginal mesh, which has now been banned [3] following its link to multiple deaths [4].