Introduction - Post Partum Heamorrhage (PPH) is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide, necessitating immediate and effective intervention. Manual external aortic compression is a recognized technique for temporarily managing PPH, but it poses challenges such as physical strain on healthcare providers and difficulty maintaining compression during patient transport. This graduation project aimed to develop a device capable of managing PPH through external aortic compression, providing continuous and adjustable pressure on the abdominal wall.

Method - Through the mechanical engineering design process, including problem definition, requirement analysis, conceptualization, and selection, CAD designs were developed for two device modules. When combined, these modules form one cohesive device. Subsequently, two functional prototypes were made for each device module and subjected to three studies: an evaluation on healthy volunteers, a user study with healthcare personnel, and mechanical testing to assess structural integrity under load.

Results - The comfort and fit study with healthy volunteers indicated positive assessments for both belt prototypes. The user study revealed that the Semi-Rigid Belt combined with a Tooth-lock module, outperformed the Vacuum Belt with a Scissor Press module, in achieving successful aortic compression on a manikin. Mechanical testing demonstrated that all prototypes maintained structural integrity under the maximum expected operational loads, although some design enhancements were identified as necessary.

Conclusion - This study successfully developed and evaluated prototypes for an external aortic compression device aimed at managing PPH. While initial results are promising, further research and development are required to enhance the mechanical design and improve and indicate the device’s stability and effectiveness.