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Scientists have developed a smart seat cushion to prevent painful ulcers caused by long periods of wheelchair seating, using changes in atmospheric pressure to redistribute body weight.
The technology, developed by researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) in the United States, can also be used to create prosthetic coatings that adjust their shape to volume changes during the day and maintain a comfortable fit for the body. prosthesis.
A poor prosthetic fit can damage the skin and create sores in the wearer's residual limb.
"Pressure ulcers caused by long periods of rest without relieving pressure in bone areas such as the tailbone often occur in people who spend a lot of time in a wheelchair." In the case of prosthesis users, a poor fit of the prosthesis amputees who can seriously affect their daily lives, "said Muthu Wijesundara, chief researcher at the UTA Research Institute.
"Our technology enhances existing solutions by including real-time pressure monitoring and automated pressure modulation capabilities to help combat the formation of pressure ulcers or wounds," said Wijesundara.
When a person is sitting on the cushion, a network of sensors generates a pressure map and identifies vulnerable areas where pressure reduction is needed.
Automated pressure modulation uses this data to reconfigure the seating surface to unload and redistribute sensitive areas. In addition, the seat cushion periodically changes the pressure profile to eliminate pressure buildup over time.
The researchers demonstrated the effectiveness of the technology by using healthy volunteers with different weights and taking different positions: leaning forward, backward, left or right.
In any case, the seat cushion measured the pressure immediately and automatically performed an effective redistribution of pressure to relieve pressure from the sensitive areas.
(This article has not been modified by Business Standard staff and is generated automatically from a syndicated feed).
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