We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Smart Textiles Prevent Pressure Sores in Wheelchair Users

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 31 Mar 2015
Print article
Image: The PUMA project wheelchair (Photo courtesy of Asociación RUVID).
Image: The PUMA project wheelchair (Photo courtesy of Asociación RUVID).
An innovative portable, noninvasive system helps prevent pressure ulcer (PU) development, and reverts it’s onset in tetraplegic spinal cord injured (T-SCI) individuals relying on wheelchairs.

The Pressure Ulcer Measurement and Actuation (PUMA) project, coordinated by the Biomechanics Institute of Valencia (IBV; Spain) is composed of three independent elements that work together: a postural control system, a dynamic cushion, and a smart textile embedded in a pair of shorts worn by the user that measures pressure and tissue viability, and which can also apply functional electro stimulation (FES) when needed to improve circulation and muscle tone.

The cushion and the shorts send information in real time to the postural control system embedded into the wheelchair, which is controlled by the user using a Smartphone app which evaluates the data and is able to identify postural risks in each situation. For example, the app could detect the limit time spent by the wheelchair user in the same position and propose various actions to prevent the PU form forming, such as changing the chair position (back, seat, and footrest), modifying the cushion, or directly applying FES in risk areas.

“PUMA solution is the result of a two-year research project. During the first stage, we gathered information about the needs and anthropometric and physiological characterization of T-SCI patients that adversely affect the occurrence of PU,” said technical project manager, José Laparra Hernández, MSc, of IBV. “Afterwards we studied and compared different tissue viability measuring systems in order to embed them in smart textiles.”

Pressure ulcers are lesions caused by factors such as unrelieved pressure; friction; humidity; shearing forces; temperature; age; continence and medication. They can occur in any part of the body, but especially over bony or cartilaginous areas such as sacrum, elbows, knees, and ankles. Although often prevented and treatable if found early, they can be very difficult to prevent in frail elderly patients, wheelchair users, and terminally ill patients.

Besides IBV, the project consortium, which is funded by the European Union, is composed of wheelchair manufacturer Qimova (Greve, Denmark), BerkelBike (Sint-Michielsgestel, The Netherlands), SensingTex smart textiles (Barcelona, Spain), the Estonian Innovation Institute (EII), and the Belgian Textile Research Centre Centexbel (Gent, Belgium).

Related Links:

Biomechanics Institute of Valencia
BerkelBike
Belgian Textile Research Centre Centexbel


Gold Member
POC Blood Gas Analyzer
Stat Profile Prime Plus
Gold Member
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Sample-To-Answer Test
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Cartridge (CE-IVD)
Silver Member
Compact 14-Day Uninterrupted Holter ECG
NR-314P
New
DR Flat Panel Detector
1500L

Print article

Channels

Critical Care

view channel
Image: Researchers have developed a novel risk score for cardiovascular complications after bone marrow transplant (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Novel Tool Predicts Cardiovascular Risks after Bone Marrow Transplantation

Every year, thousands of people undergo bone marrow transplants to potentially cure serious diseases like leukemia, lymphoma, and immune deficiency disorders. While these transplants can be lifesaving,... Read more

Surgical Techniques

view channel
Image: The Early Bird Bleed Monitoring System provides visual and audible indicators of the onset and progression of bleeding events (Photo courtesy of Saranas)

Novel Technology Monitors and Lowers Bleeding Complications in Patients Undergoing Heart Procedures

Bleeding complications at the femoral access site can significantly hamper recovery, affecting the success of procedures, patient satisfaction, and overall healthcare costs. It is crucial for surgeons... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The new eye-safe laser technology can diagnose traumatic brain injury (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Novel Diagnostic Hand-Held Device Detects Known Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury

The growing need for prompt and efficient diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI), a major cause of mortality globally, has spurred the development of innovative diagnostic technologies.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.