Preventing Pressure Sores in Wheelchair Users with 'Smart' Textiles
From: Medical Design Briefs - 05/01/2015

The research project PUMA (Pressure Ulcer Measurement and Actuation), founded
by the European Commission, and coordinated by the Institute of Biomechanics
of Valencia (IBV) in Spain has developed an innovative portable, noninvasive
device for the prevention and early detection of the risk of pressure ulcer
formation and to reverse its appearance in tetraplegic spinal cord injured
patients who rely on wheelchairs.

The postural control system of the wheelchair, along with a cushion that uses
“smart” textiles that can measure pressures and short pants worn by the
patient also made of smart materials can be used to measure the state of the
skin and apply electro stimulation.

Both the seat pad and the pants broadcast information in real time to a
computer system built into the chair that can be controlled from an
application on a mobile phone. This app evaluates the data and can identify
postural risks in each situation, the researchers say.

For example, the application could detect the amount of time spent in the
same position and, depending on the context, propose various actions to
prevent the formation of an ulcer: changes in posture of the chair (back,
seat, and footrest), modifying the seating pad or directly applying electro
stimulation in risk areas. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/component/content/article/1105-mdb/features/22055