Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42390767›Full record

ArticlePediatric surgery international2026

Finite element-guided optimization of personalized vacuum bell devices for pectus excavatum: an exploratory retrospective clinical study.

Shaolan Jiang, Xin Ye, Fen Zhang, Hongda Chen, Yuanqi Liu, Libin Liu, Wei Shen, Ming Yan, Zhen Liu

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Article in Pediatric surgery international, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Shaolan Jiang *Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Xin Ye *Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Fen ZhangDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Hongda ChenDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Yuanqi LiuDepartment of Zhuhai Keyu Biological Engneering, Guangzhou, China.
Libin LiuDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Wei ShenDepartment of Ameba Engineering Structure Optimization Research Institute, Nanjing, China.
Ming YanDepartment of Gynecology, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China. yanmingdragon@163.com.
Zhen LiuDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China. lzym3798@163.com.

Funding

2023 Basic Research Plan Project (2023 Guangzhou School [Institute] Enterprise funding topic Grant No. 557Foshan Digital Intelligent Manufacturing Rehabilitation Aids Innovation Engineering Technology Research Centre Grant No. 011102Guangzhou Clinical Characteristic Technology Project Grant No. 2023C-TS16Science and Technology Project in Key Areas of Foshan Grant No. 2020001005717
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundVacuum bell (VB) therapy is a noninvasive option for pectus excavatum (PE), but the clinical value of device optimization remains unclear. This study used finite element analysis (FEA) to guide VB design optimization and retrospectively evaluated the outcomes of the final customized devices in pediatric PE.

methodsTwo finite element models (VB1 and VB2) were constructed from three-dimensional chest wall point-cloud data. Their deformation and stress distributions were compared to derive structural optimization principles. The final clinical devices were customized accordingly. We retrospectively analyzed 69 pediatric patients with PE treated at a single center between January 2024 and December 2025. Three-dimensional scanning was used to assess thoracic dimensions and sternal depression depth.

resultsFEA showed that deformation was concentrated at the center of the polycarbonate observation window, whereas peak stress occurred at the junction between the window and the silicone ring, identifying this region as a key target for optimization. In the clinical cohort, 68/69 patients (98.55%) showed measurable correction of anterior chest wall depression, and 29/69 (42.03%) achieved excellent or good outcomes. Thoracic transverse diameter, longitudinal diameter, and sternal depression depth were all significantly reduced after treatment (all P < 0.05).

conclusionsFEA-guided optimization may improve VB structural stability and negative-pressure regulation. The optimized customized devices showed favorable objective morphological outcomes in pediatric PE.

Indexed as

Finite Element AnalysisFunnel ChestAdolescentChildFemaleHumansImaging, Three-DimensionalMaleRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeVacuumClinical evaluationFinite element analysisPectus excavatumVacuum Bell

Identifiers

PMID42390767

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