Advancing PELVITRACK’s Mission to Improve Childbirth Outcomes - By Professor Emmanuelle Jacquet
The Soft Tissue Biomechanics team of the Department of Applied Mechanics at FEMTO-ST, Besançon, France, is a leading research group in the field of biological tissues mechanical behaviour. They have extensive expertise in in-vivo analysis of tissues mechanical properties and the development of bespoke experimental methods to measure tissue performance. The team plays a central role in advancing PELVITRACK’s vision of a safer childbirth for all.
The past:
For several years, our research focuses on the global understanding of the pelvic floor’s functional properties with its complex network of muscles, connective tissue, and the deformatory forces exerted on it, particularly at the final stages of vaginal birth. Such deformations can sometimes result in perineal tears and long-term negative consequences that are estimated to affect up to 1 in 3 women in Europe.
In collaboration with the Besançon and Lille University Hospitals, we have led groundbreaking studies and doctoral work (including those by Marine Lallemant and Tiguida Kadiaké) to better understand the pathophysiology of perineal trauma, and hence, devise potential interventions for their prevention. Among the key achievements of this work were:
Identification of the hyperelastic behaviour of individual perineal tissue layers.
Integration of biometrics, shear wave elastography (SWE), and stereophotogrammetry to measure perineal deformation during childbirth.
Development of an innovative patient-friendly non-invasive imaging method that tracks perineal skin deformation without requiring skin preparation, minimising patient discomfort.
The present:
Building on this strong foundation, we are pleased to have Eva Sala as a new member of our team. Eva joined the FEMTO-ST Institute in November 2025 as a PhD student whose work will be a significant contribution to PELVITRACK. Her PhD, entitled “Strain Fields Under Extreme Loadings”, focuses on developing a new method to monitor perineal deformation during childbirth by combining stereophotogrammetry (a high-precision 3D imaging technique) with numerical simulation.
Eva’s research will tackle the key clinical challenge of reconstructing missing imaging data that often occur in the delivery room, by fusing multi-angle camera tracking with digital twin simulations. This approach will generate a more comprehensive and accurate picture of how the perineum stretches and reacts under stress, helping researchers and clinicians better identify risk factors for tissue rupture.
The future:
Our collaboration with the PELVITRACK team will further FEMTO-ST’s biomechanical expertise in the field and enable us help in achieving PELVITRACK’s ultimate aim of developing real-time, predictive tools for intrapartum maternity care. By integrating our collective expertise in advanced imaging, modeling, simulation and clinical trials, our work represents a significant step forward in transforming childbirth safety through science and technology to improve outcomes for women worldwide.
This blog, by Professor Emmanuelle Jacquet, highlights the contribution of her team at the FEMTO-ST Institute to the PELVITRACK project.
Professor Emmanuelle Jacquet is a full Professor in Biomechanics of Soft Tissues at the Université Marie et Louis Pasteur. Professor Jacquet has dedicated her career to understanding the mechanical behaviour of soft tissues such as skin, arteries, and the perineum.
Her team’s recognised expertise in experimental biomechanics and in vivo tissue analysis provides essential insights supporting PELVITRACK’s mission to improve childbirth safety through advanced biomechanical modelling and real-time monitoring technologies.