Anchored in work that began at Stanford University’s Biodesign program, and continues as part of the Fogarty Institute for Innovation in Silicon Valley, Materna Medical is a clinical stage medical device company with the goal of improving pelvic health in women. Materna has so far developed products, one to prevent vaginal tearing and pelvic floor damage during childbirth and a second to treat chronic pelvic pain. In 2018/19, the firm launched Milli, the first expanding vaginal dilator to address pelvic pain in the general population. In addition, clinical trials are underway for a device to be used during the first stage of labor to expedite delivery and reduce the incidence of internal damage to the mother's pelvic region
