Low Cost, High Resolution, Pressue Mapping System for the Prevention of Pressure Ulcers

Pressure ulcers are a serious medical problem with annual treatment costs over $1 billion dollars. While the exact etiology involves a complex combination of factors, it is generally accepted that prolonged pressure to soft tissues results in discrete areas of acute ischemia. If the pressure is not relieved and the blood supply restored in a critical length of time, endothelial cell damage will result and eventually necrosis will occur. While it is a common and serious condition for individuals who are confined to beds or wheelchairs the occurrence of pressure sores can be drastically reduced by frequent changes in one's body position. As a result, a number of companies have developed pressure-mapping systems to provide caregivers, patients and researchers important feedback regarding physical position history. In this Phase H effort, we intend to build upon our successful Phase I work to develop a novel optically based pressure mapping system and compare its performance to existing systems in clinical settings. Our design, based on mature optical technology, will have the physical characteristics of a thin sheet of flexible plastic. Given its sensitivity to pressure we are confident that this technology can be adapted for medical device applications. If successful, these disposable sensor sheets can be inexpensively produced in large areas, unobtrusively conform to any surface with minimal alteration of the tissue interface, and provide high resolution pressure maps.