Early Detection of Pressure Injury Using Novel Wireless Epidermal Textile Sensors in Wheelchair users Living with Spinal Cord Injury
Pressure injury is commonly known as pressure sore, pressure ulcer, bed sore or decubitus ulcer. It is an ulcerated area of skin caused by continuous excessive pressure over the bony area (places where bones are close to the skin). This problem is very common in people living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Up to 85% of adults with SCI have a pressure sore at some point during their lifetime. Pressure sores are very painful, distress and can take a very long time to heal. It represents a major burden of sickness and reduced quality of life for patients and their carers. If a pressure sore is severe, it can be life-threatening. In the UK, treating a single pressure sore varies from £1,214 to £14,108. Pressure sore accounts for approximately a quarter of overall treatment costs for people with SCI. Therefore, prevention and early detection of pressure sore is vitally important for people with SCI.
The overall aim of this project is to develop a low-cost microwave sensing device, which is flexible and can be integrated with mattresses and cushions to detect real-time and unobstructive detection of early sign of pressure injury in people living with Spinal cord injury.
Specifically, the project is aimed to:
- design/development a novel microwave sensing device which can be used to measure tissue integrity;
- incorporate the device with low cost garment and flexible electronics for telecare data management;
- evaluate the feasibility and reliability.