SBIR Phase I: Pressure-mapping surfaces made with nano-composite foam material

小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是开发一种柔软、耐用且完全灵活的压力映射表面，应用于预防压疮和溃疡的长期护理床上用品。该项目将推进将目前的泡沫材料和符合要求的部件转化为高精度变形传感器的过程。在美国，治疗压疮的费用接近100亿美元，每年还会提起数千起相关诉讼。对于患者来说，压疮可能会增加4万美元的医院账单。该项目将开发一种医用传感技术，将传感复合泡沫的特性与高效的电容层析成像(ECT)算法相结合。该系统将导致如下应用：监测舒适度的假肢、糖尿病鞋垫/中底监测压力热点、自我监测的工业垫圈和密封件、可以监测压力的轮椅垫，以及自动调节以实现最大舒适性的汽车/飞机座椅。这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目将开发一种系统，以防止与长期护理相关的压疮，治疗导致每年花费100亿美元，目标有几个：1)开发基于电容层析成像(ECT)的形状重建算法。2)开发和制作复合泡沫表面的原型，提供与当前使用的材料相似的手感，但在压缩时会产生适当的电容变化。3)使复合泡沫技术适用于床上用品中常见的低密度泡沫。4)构建全尺寸样机，以测试整个表面压力的精确测量能力，优化传感分辨率，并研究ECT电极的安装方法。5)对产品在材料制造和电气组装方面的可扩展性进行大规模可制造性审查。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to develop a soft, durable, and completely flexible pressure mapping surface with application in long-term care bedding for the prevention of pressure sores and ulcers. The project will advance a process to transform current foam materials and compliant components into high-accuracy deformation sensors. Treating pressure sores costs nearly $10 B in the US, and thousands of related lawsuits are filed every year. For patients, pressure sores can add up to an additional $40 k in hospital bills. This project will develop a medical sensing technology by combining the properties of sensing composite foam with efficient algorithms for electrical capacitive tomography (ECT). This system will lead to applications such as prosthetics monitoring comfort levels, diabetic insoles/midsoles monitor pressure hotspots, industrial gaskets and seals that self-monitor, wheelchair pads that can monitor pressure, and automotive/airplane seats that automatically adjust to maximize comfort. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Project will develop a system to prevent pressure ulcers associated with long-term care, the treatment of which results in a cost of $10 B annually with several objectives: 1) Develop a shape-reconstruction algorithm based on electrical capacitive tomography (ECT). 2) Develop and prototype a composite foam surface providing a similar feel to currently used materials but generating an appropriate change in capacitance when compressed. 3) Adapt the composite foam technology to lower-density foams typically found in bedding products. 4) Construct a full-scale prototype to test the ability to accurately measure pressure across the entire surface, optimize sensing resolution, and investigate attachment methods for the ECT electrodes. 5) Conduct a large-scale manufacturability review for scalability of the product in both materials manufacturing and electrical assembly.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.