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

压疮是加拿大日益严重的健康问题，研究估计加拿大所有医疗机构的患病率为26%。这一问题在世界各地都有反映，例如在美国，每年用于压疮治疗的费用估计为110亿美元。压疮是一种局部损伤，是由于长期作用于皮肤的力（如压迫）造成的，它会损害血液循环，导致慢性伤口的形成。这种情况在行动不便的人群中最常见，包括轮椅使用者、卧床不起的病人和生活在辅助环境中的人。**压力映射技术，或PMT，被广泛用于解决这个问题。这项技术通过传感器阵列捕捉用户的体重分布，并将数据可视化，以教育患者，并给出与姿势、位置和运动计划相关的建议。然而，最先进的PMT是昂贵的，一个小型座椅大小的设备通常超过1万美元。此外，这些设备并不完全符合形状，这使得它们不那么精确和坚固。由于这个原因，PMT从未被用来取代皮肤检查，而主要是作为一种教育工具。**英属哥伦比亚大学的一个团队正在开发一种名为Smart Sheet的新产品：一种低成本的触觉传感器阵列，可以生成压力图并将数据无线传输到移动设备（例如智能手机）。与其他产品不同的是，Smart Sheet采用柔软的弹性体材料设计，这使得薄片具有柔韧性，可拉伸性和高度坚固性。它还使床单完全符合形状，从而准确地表示患者与表面之间的接触，无论是在床上还是在轮椅垫上。该设备的准确性、功能性和可负担性在减少加拿大和世界各地的压疮发生率方面具有重大潜力。************

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.************