Design and operation verification of an automated pressure mapping and modulating seat cushion for pressure ulcer prevention

• Published in: Medical engineering & physics Vol. 69; pp. 17 - 27
• Main Authors: Carrigan, Wei, Nuthi, Pavan, Pande, Charu, Wijesundara, Muthu B.J., Chung, Cheng-Shiu, Grindle, Garrett G., Brown, Joshua D., Gebrosky, Benjamin, Cooper, Rory A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2019
• Subjects: Automated pressure modulation; Automation; Biomechanical Phenomena; Closed-loop control; Equipment Design; Pressure; Pressure Ulcer - physiopathology; Pressure Ulcer - prevention & control; Pressure ulcer prevention; Real-time pressure mapping; Seat cushion; Sensorized air cell; Weight-Bearing; Automated pressure modulation; Seat cushion; Pressure ulcer prevention; Real-time pressure mapping; Sensorized air cell; Closed-loop control
• ISSN: 1350-4533; 1873-4030; 1873-4030
• DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2019.06.006

•A sensorized air cell-based seat cushion was developed for PU prevention.•Real-time seating pressure was mapped using sensorized air cells.•Closed-loop control algorithm was used for interface pressure modulation.•Testing verified automated pressure offloading and redistribution. A sensorized air cell-based seat cushion system was developed to address the issues of loading magnitude and duration at a sitting interface to aid in reducing risk of sitting acquired pressure ulcers. This system is capable of pressure mapping, redistribution, and offloading which were verified using an anthropomorphic model and a human subject. The system is comprised of an air cell array cushion, a pneumatic control unit, and a graphical user interface. ISO load deflection testing confirmed that the cushion's loading response is comparable to commercial air cell-based seat cushions. Testing demonstrated that the internal pressure of the air cells are indicative of interface pressure and can be used as input to pressure modulating algorithms. Uniform pressure distribution was achieved through automated pressure redistribution algorithm implementation where the immersion of a subject into the seat cushion increased and interface pressure decreased. High pressure point identification and automatic offloading were performed in which newly created high pressure points were addressed using subsequent redistribution. Pressure mapping enabled offloading and redistribution can objectively manage the effects of loading magnitude and duration at the sitting interface.