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

压力性溃疡是加拿大一个重要且不断增长的健康问题，研究估计加拿大所有医疗机构的患病率为26%。这个问题在世界各地都有反映，例如在美国，每年估计有110亿美元用于治疗压疮。压力性溃疡是由力引起的局部损伤（例如，压缩）随着时间的推移作用在皮肤上，这损害血液循环，导致慢性伤口的形成。这种情况在不能移动的人中最常见，包括轮椅使用者，卧床不起的病人和那些在辅助生活环境中的人。压力映射技术（PMT）被广泛用于解决这个问题。该技术通过传感器阵列捕获用户的体重分布，并将数据可视化，以教育患者并提供与姿势，定位和运动计划相关的建议。然而，最先进的PMT是昂贵的，通常超过1万美元的小型座椅大小的设备。此外，这些装置不完全符合形状，这使得它们不太准确和稳健。因此，PMT从未被用来取代皮肤检查，主要是作为一种教育工具。不列颠哥伦比亚省大学的一个研究小组正在开发一种名为“智能表”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终端（例如，智能手机）。与其他产品不同，Smart Sheet采用柔软的弹性材料设计，使其具有灵活性，可拉伸性和高度耐用性。它还使床单完全符合形状，这给出了患者和表面之间的接触的准确表示，无论是在床上还是在轮椅垫上。该设备的准确性，功能性和可负担性具有显著的潜力，可以减少加拿大和世界各地的压疮发病率。*

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