Smart Sheet: A tactile sensor array for the prevention of pressure ulcers

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Pressure ulcers are a significant and growing health concern for Canada, with studies estimating the prevalence to be 26% across all Canadian healthcare institutions. This problem is mirrored around the world, for example in the US, where an estimated US$11 billion is spent each year on pressure ulcer treatment. Pressure ulcers are a localized injury caused by forces (e.g., compression) acting on the skin over time, which impairs blood circulation, leading to the formation of a chronic wound. The condition is most common among individuals who are immobile, including wheelchair users, bedridden patients and those in assisted living environments.**Pressure mapping technology, or PMT, is widely used to address this problem. This technology captures a user's weight distribution across a sensor array and visualizes the data to educate patients and give recommendations related to posture, positioning and movement schedules. However, state-of-the-art PMT is expensive, often exceeding $10K for a small seat-sized device. Furthermore, these devices are not fully shape-conforming, which makes them less accurate and robust. For this reason, PMT is never used to replace skin inspections and largely serves as an educational tool only.**A team at the University of British Columbia is developing a new product called the Smart Sheet: a low-cost, tactile sensor array that generates a pressure map and wirelessly transmits the data to a mobile device (e.g., a smartphone). Unlike other products, Smart Sheet is designed using soft, elastomeric materials, which makes the sheet flexible, stretchable and highly robust. It also makes the sheet fully shape-conforming, which gives an accurate representation of the contact between the patient and the surface, whether on a bed or wheelchair cushion. The accuracy, functionality and affordability of this device has significant potential to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers in Canada and around the world.************