Background
Pressure ulcers (pressure sores, decubitus ulcers or bed sores) are areas
of localised damage to the skin and underlying tissue, generally understood
to be to be caused by pressure, shear or friction. These ulcers occur on
patients in hospitals as well as in the community. They are commonly found
in the elderly and in patients with reduced mobility (example, orthopaedic
patients) and/or neurological deficits.
The prevalence of pressure ulcers in hospitals within Canada and the United
States ranges from 5-33% and represent a significant burden on quality of
life as well as a financial burden on the health care system.
XSENSOR Technology
XSENSOR’s Pressure Imaging system is a thin flexible mattress overlay
that is designed to monitor, record, and analyze patient interface pressure
on a hospital bed. This technology can aid in the prevention of pressure
ulcers by providing decision support to clinical staff about when to move
or turn patients.
Major Achievements
This collaboration is one of the first of its kind for the Alberta Health Services
(AHS), laying the administrative pathways for future ventures. It was made
possible through the partnership between government, industry, academia,
and healthcare, namely the Government of Alberta’s Ministry of Advanced
Education and Technology (AAET), PRECARN, XSENSOR, and the W21C,
whose partners include the University of Calgary (U of C) and the AHS.
The W21C has assisted XSENSOR in refining its pressure imaging
technology for optimal use within a clinical environment by rigorously
collecting and analysing focus group feedback from physicians, nurses,
nursing assistants, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, the Foothills
Hospital wound care team, and pressure mapping experts.
Each phase of W21C research was followed by a design cycle at XSENSOR
that consisted of research on every aspect of the system including overall
architecture, transducer design, sensing electronics, software, mechanical
design, and packaging. Plans for the upcoming year are to conduct
additional usability testing on a mature prototype as well as to carry out a
pilot evaluation of the technology with at risk patients in a hospital setting.
Questions?