Design and Implementation of a Measurement System for Determining Bedsores-related Shear Stresses at the Body-Bed Interface

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Bedsores are localized injuries to the skin and/or underlying tissue that develop primarily from pressure and shear. Bedsores are progressive in nature and most frequently found in bedridden, chair bound or immobile people. The effect of the shear stress may be more disastrous than the pressure or compression stress. Hence shear stresses between the system and the skin and within the tissues must be minimized. Mobility (5MM) has developed the Shear Reduction Technology (SRT) and designed an innovative mattress which directs shear forces onto two low friction surfaces at the bed's core. To validate SRT, shear force data during simulated adjustment/repositioning must be collected and analyzed. There are no known systems currently available in the market which can directly measure the maximum shear forces between the body and the mattress. Moreover, 5MM lacks the equipment and expertise to develop a system to collect and analyze shear data from SRT equipped mattresses. The general objective of this project is to design and develop a prototype computerized data collection system, which will enable 5MM to measure and analyze shear forces acting on a manikin placed on different mattresses. This also involves theoretical understanding of stress development via simulation and modeling. An innovative shear measurement system will be realized which can also be utilized by the relevant industries, such as those in cushioning sectors for healthcare facilities, ergonomic seat designs, etc. This will allow mattress companies to develop better designs that reduce shear forces. Development of mattresses such as the ones by 5MM, have the potential to prevent unnecessary deaths and reduction in the cost of patients care, especially at the acute stages. Potentially the system can also be implemented in any adjustable beds in order to monitor patients at risk of developing bedsores and allow healthcare professionals to provide much more personalized treatments based on the technical information generated by the system. Addressing the Bedsores issue will alleviate the burden on the Canadian healthcare systems socially and financially.