Pressure Mapping Technology Research Articles

Comparative occipital pressure mapping in the operating room.

Hospital-acquired occipital pressure injuries are a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the perioperative setting. To find the occipital cushion/pillow with the lowest measured peak pressures and the highest measured surface area using pressure mapping technology. A quality improvement project involving 3 operating room staff volunteers was conducted using pressure mapping. Five different pillows were tested based on what the study location commonly used and had available. The pillows included: standard pillow with pillowcase, non-powered fluidized positioner, medium-sized (17 × 17 × 1.5 inches) static seat cushion placed under the shoulders and head, pediatric-sized (13 × 13 × 2 inches) static air cushion placed under the head, and foam donut. The non-powered fluidized positioner had the highest average pressure and peak pressure for all 3 volunteers. The medium static air seat cushion had the lowest average and peak pressures for 2 out of 3 volunteers. None of the head cushions consistently demonstrated a larger surface area of pressure distribution. The medium-sized static air seat cushion, placed under the shoulders and head, demonstrated the most favorable pressure redistribution properties. The non-powered fluidized positioner demonstrated the least favorable pressure redistribution properties.

Pressure Distribution Comparison among Standard Seating Surfaces and Strap Seating System

AIMS: Pressure injuries (PIs) are common issues that can be minimized through the use of pressure-redistributing support surfaces. Cushions that provide immersion and contour are considered the most effective for pressure relief; however, others are readily available on the market. The aim of this study is to determine how a wheelchair equipped with Comfort Tension Seating®(CTS) compares to standard sling seating, foam, and a high-end pressure redistributing contoured cushion. 
 
 MATERIALS & METHODS: Pressure redistribution qualities as measured through peak pressure index (PPI) using pressure mapping technology were gathered on four different seating surfaces -standard sling seat, CTS, and two cushion types flat cross-section foam, contoured-cushion, and CTS. Twenty non-disabled participants trialed each cushion for five minutes each. The methods of this study are described and outcomes analyzed by comparing the PPI and comfort of the four cushions.
 
 RESULTS: A Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and related samples Friedman’s two-way analysis of variance by ranks (ANOVA) was calculated. The results show that there is a significant difference between each of the cushions in comfort and pressure redistribution. There was a statistically significant difference in mean PPI between the three groups in which the CTS performed better than the sling and flat cross-section foam, but not quite as good as the high-end contoured cushion (p <.001). 
 
 CONCLUSION: While not as optimal as the contoured M2 foam cushion, the CTS seating surface appears to provide superior pressure-redistributing performance compared to sling and flat cross-section foam. This suggests that the CTS could be used as a support surface for many applications, except for individuals with high-level PI risk, without using tilt and recline features.

Design Analysis of a Mobile-Based Gait Analyzer

Considering a system capable of identifying abnormalities in people's walking conditions in real-time, simply by studying his/her walking profile over a short period of time is a phenomenal breakthrough in the field of biotechnology. Such abnormalities could be as a result of injury, old age, or disease termed gait which could be analyzed using the pressure mapping technology. Pressure points in the feet of an injured person as he/she walks is analyzed by sets of sensors (capacitive sensors) carefully design with a rectangular 5.1cm by 2cm parallel aluminium plate and placed on developed footwear with a uniform distance of 1cm across the dielectric material. The output of the pre-processing stage gives varying values which are calibrated and sent to the microcontroller. All placed on a portable sized Printed Circuit Board (PCB) making it moveable from one place to another (that is, mobile), is the pre-processing circuit that converts measured or evaluated result to the transmittable signal through a Mobile Communication System which can be received on a Personal Computer (PC) in form of a periodic chat and/ or report. The result of the analysis is shown both in simulation and hardware implementation of the system

Investigating ceramic breeder pebble beds thermomechanics evolution using novel pressure mapping technology

Ceramic breeder pebble beds undergo complex thermomechanical interactions during blanket operation due to stress build-up and relaxation under the effects of confined thermal expansion, thermal cycling, and creep. Understanding the evolution of such processes can aid in guiding blanket design/assembly, breeder materials developments, predicting performance and possible failure modes. This study introduces experimental techniques that enable us to create an environment in which the pebble bed stresses are organically generated as a result of relevant temperature gradients and magnitudes that allows us to observe the combined thermomechanical interaction effects. A novel non-intrusive in-situ tactile pressure sensing technology is used to generate real-time contact pressure maps revealing the spatial and temporal stress evolution with emphasis on understanding the roles that each of the thermo-mechanical forces play in dictating the pebble bed’s equilibrium conditions. Two types of bed-wall contact pressure drop were recorded: (1) within the subsequent cycles due to pebbles irreversible rearrangements, and (2) within the cycle itself as a result of creep/stress-relaxation. Consequently, by the fourth cycle, the contact pressure drops to negligible values and remains stable. This stability is attributed to two modes of self-regulation: (1) stress self-regulation as a result of pressure rise and fall due to thermal expansion and creep/thermal cycling, respectively, and (2) temperature self-regulation due to the locally enhanced thermal conductivity in the core region of the bed accompanied by deteriorated interface conductance. These two mechanisms are desirable as they lower the probability of the events of pebbles crushing and thermal runaways under high temperatures/stresses and poor heat extraction.

Personal Pressure Mapping Technology for Ulcer Prevention

To determine the repeatability of seating pressure measurements in the free-living environment and to pilot test whether having access to a personal pressure mapping technology can change the volume of trunk movement in adults with a spinal cord injury.

Duration of Type 2 Diabetes is a Predictor of Elevated Plantar Foot Pressure.

Elevated plantar pressure is considered a significant risk factor for ulceration in diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to determine whether duration of diabetes could affect plantar pressure in patients with no known significant comorbidity or foot pathology. Participants with type 2 diabetes, but without known confounding factors that could alter peak pressure, were matched for age, weight, and gender and categorized into 3 groups of diabetes duration: group 1 (1-5 yr), group 2 (6-10 yr), and group 3 (11-15 yr). Plantar pressures were recorded utilizing a two-step protocol at a self-selected speed. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences in mean peak plantar pressures between the three groups under the 2nd - 4th metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ) region of interest (ROI) (p = 0.012 and p = 0.022, respectively) and left heel (p = 0.049). Also, a significant difference in mean pressure-time integral under the left 2nd - 4th MPJ ROI (p = 0.021) and right heel (p = 0.048) was observed. Regression analysis confirmed that mean peak plantar pressures in the first group (but not in the second group) were significantly lower than in the third group (p = 0.005). As the duration of diabetes increased, peak plantar pressure increased significantly under the 2nd - 4th MPJ ROIs. These findings suggest that clinicians should make more use of pressure mapping technology as part of their clinical management plan in patients with diabetes >10 yr, even if they have no complications or deformities, to preserve functional limbs in this high-risk population.

A Novel Floor Sensor Network Technology Based on Dielectric Electro-Active Polymers

This study describes a novel floor sensor network being developed to provide a competitive and universal pressure mapping technology for a wide range of medical, research and security applications. The presented sensor network consists of 16 sensor elements distributed in a 4x4 sensor matrix. The sensor elements are made of a special dielectric electro-active polymer film being capable of capacitive sensing of the surface pressure. Each sensor unit is 200x160 mm resulting in an overall sensor matrix size of 800x740 mm. A high precision and high speed sensor interface was realized to provide a differential capacitance measurement method fulfilling the specific measuring requirements of the sensor matrix. Based on the measurement results, the developed sensor network is capable of measuring the distributed weight on their surface with an accuracy of 5 kg, however, this initial measuring accuracy can be significantly increased by improving the manufacturing technology of the sensor elements.

Characterizing female pelvic floor conditions by tactile imaging.

Introduction and hypothesisTactile imaging (TI) is the high-definition pressure mapping technology which allows recording pressure patterns from vaginal walls under applied load and during pelvic floor muscle contraction. The objective of this study was to identify new tactile imaging and muscle contraction markers to characterize female pelvic floor conditions.MethodsThe study subjects included 22 women with normal and prolapse conditions. They were examined by a new vaginal tactile imaging probe that images the entire vagina, the pelvic floor support structures, and pelvic floor muscle contractions.ResultsWe identified 11 parameters as potential markers to characterize the female pelvic floor conditions. These parameters correlate with prolapse conditions, patient age, and parity.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the tactile imaging markers such as pressure, pressure gradient, and dynamic pressure response during muscle contraction may be used for further quantitative characterization of female pelvic floor conditions.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00192-014-2549-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. This video is also available to watch on http://videos.springer.com/. Please search for the video by the article title.

Visual Feedback of Continuous Bedside Pressure Mapping to Optimize Effective Patient Repositioning.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a new bedside pressure mapping technology for patient repositioning in a long-term acute care hospital. Approach: Bedside caregivers repositioned patients to the best of their abilities, using pillows and positioning aids without the visual feedback from a continuous bedside pressure mapping (CBPM) system. Once positioned, caregivers were shown the image from the CBPM system and allowed to make further adjustments to the patient position. Data from the CBPM device, in the form of visual screenshots and peak pressure values, were obtained after each repositioning phase. Caregivers provided feedback on repositioning with and without the CBPM system. Results: Screenshots displayed lower pressures when the visual feedback from the CBPM systems was utilized by caregivers. Lower peak pressure measurements were also evident when caregivers utilized the image from the CBPM systems. Overall, caregivers felt the system enabled more effective patient positioning and increased the quality of care they provided their patients. Innovation: This is the first bedside pressure mapping device to be continuously used in a clinical setting to provide caregivers and patients visual, instant feedback of pressure, thereby enhancing repositioning and offloading practices. Conclusion: With the visual feedback from the pressure mapping systems, caregivers were able to more effectively reposition patients, decreasing exposure to damaging high pressures.

Real‐time pressure mapping system

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to review an innovative approach to pressure mapping.Design/methodology/approachThe paper takes the form of a detailed dialog with developer and supplier, Sensor Products, and review of numerous applications of the technology.FindingsReal‐time pressure mapping adds an entirely new solution to applications where single‐point pressure measurement does not provide the information required.Practical implicationsResearchers and product developers now have available a technology which provides information not previously available in real time. Point pressure measurement is a well‐established technology. Sensor Products moves pressure measurement light years ahead by bringing real‐time pressure mapping technology to the market with its Tactilis® system. The system offers an “electronic skin” which captures records and interprets both pressure distribution and magnitude over the sensor field.Originality/valueResearchers will learn of an innovative sensor technology, which may solve problems they have had no answer for in the past.

Measuring the effect of incremental angles of wheelchair tilt on interface pressure among individuals with spinal cord injury

This study was a repeated measures study. The objective was to systematically measure the relative reduction in interface pressure (IP) at the ischial tuberosities (IT) and sacrum through 10° increments of tilt in a manual wheelchair among individuals with motor complete spinal cord injury (SCI). This study was carried out in Manitoba, Canada. A total of 18 adults with ASIA A or B level of injury were recruited through an out-patient SCI clinic. Using a standardized protocol, participants were tilted in 10° increments between 0° and 50°, and IP readings were obtained at the IT and sacrum using pressure mapping technology. Relative pressure reduction from baseline was calculated and compared between tilt angles. Tilt angle had a highly significant effect on pressure reduction at the IT (P=0.000) and the cosine relationship between these variables was expressed as quadratic. Reduction in sacral pressure did not occur until 30° tilt, with increased loading at smaller tilt angles. Pressure reduction at the IT and sacrum was not significantly different for tetraplegic and paraplegic participants. Small tilt angles are more suitable for postural control than pressure management. A minimum tilt of 30° is required to initiate unloading the sacrum and to achieve a clinically important reduction in pressure at the IT. Larger tilt angles resulted in more substantial pressure reduction than previously reported. Tilt-in-space appears to have similar benefits for individuals with paraplegia and tetraplegia.

An investigation of the impact of the Force Sensing Array pressure mapping system on the clinical judgement of occupational therapists

To examine the impact of pressure mapping technology on the clinical decisions of occupational therapists and to examine the role of the Braden Scale in assisting with the selection of pressure-reducing cushions. Case studies. Community. Forty clients. Clients were pressure mapped on their current seating surface and on four pre-selected cushions by the principal researcher. An occupational therapist completed the Braden Scale and a decision tree to assist in recommending a suitable pressure-reducing cushion. Interface pressure maps, Braden Scale, and the cushion recommended, using a decision tree to guide clinical judgement. Thirty per cent (12) of the 40 cushions recommended were changed when the pressure maps from the Force Sensing Array (FSA) system were viewed. In 70% (26) of cases, the maps supported the cushion recommended. In 25% (10) of the cases, the maps showed that the client's current seating surface was unsuitable. After viewing the pressure maps, a surface other than the client's current surface was recommended in 47% (19) of the cases. There was a lack of agreement between the risk level of the clients as identified by the Braden Scale score, and the risk level of the clients as identified by the occupational therapist using a decision tree and the FSA maps. Pressure mapping technology has a positive impact on clinical decisions regarding the provision of pressure-reducing cushions. Future research should examine the predictive validity of this technology. The Braden Scale may underpredict the risk level of the clients.