An Army-backed research project could lead to a revolutionary pressure ulcer prevention tool for wheelchair users: an automated seat cushion that can modulate pressure in response to built-in monitoring tools.
Engineers at the universities of Texas at Arlington and Pittsburgh are developing the cushion for patients whose impairments were caused by spinal cord injuries or other neurological complications.
“This type of active monitoring and pressure relief would improve pressure ulcer prevention strategies and reduce the workload of caregivers,” said principal research scientist Muthu Wijesundara, head of UTARI’s Biomedical Technology Division. “Most importantly, this method would impact both the healthcare cost and quality of life for wheelchair users and their caregivers.”
Mechanical loading forces associated with sitting in a wheelchair cause compression and shearing in tissues near bony regions. In the model being developed, a network of sensors generate a pressure profile map and identify vulnerable areas where pressure relief is needed. Automated pressure modulation will use the data to reconfigure the seat cushion surface and offload pressure from sensitive areas.
The model was developed through a $740,000 grant funded through the Medical Research Program Department of Defense and awarded by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity.
