Alleviating Pressure Ulcers

Alleviating Pressure Ulcers Alleviating Pressure Ulcers Alleviating Pressure UlcersThere are many issues that have been brought into the public eye when it comes to paralysis. But one issue patients deal with that many may not be familiar with is pressure ulcers, which can lead to serious infection and, in the worst cases, death. Surgery can cost between $50,000-100,000 per episode, says Carmen DiGiovine. He is a clinical associate professor in occupational therapy, and the program director for the assistive technology center with The Ohio State Universitys Wexner Medical Center. For his team, the solution theyre working on is called Sit Smart. DiGiovine says it began when he welches approached five years ago about the pressure ulcer problem by someone in the medical community. The idea for the device didnt immediately take off but was then seen as a good project for a capstone. This is exactly the kind of project where a students enthusiasm can make the difference, he says. What are pressure ulcers? For individuals who dont have sensation in the lower half of their body they dont have that feedback system the rest of us have, explains DiGiovine. They cant detect pain and cant move around to react to that pain. Sitting for long periods of time in a wheelchair, the bone can push against muscle and push against their skin, which causes a pressure ulcer. He says the statistics say that 50%-85% of those with paralysis will suffer from ulcers. Professors Carmen DiGiovine (left) and Sandra Metzler are the driving force behind Sit Smart. Image Katrina Norris / Ohio State University According to DiGiovine, the Sit Smart invention is about helping with behavior adjustment as much as anything. You want less pressure on the parts prone to injury and pressure ulcers, so, if youre out of position, it will know, he says. Sit Smart gives those in the medical field data to look at to help the nutzer change their behavior. It also tells the user when theyre out of position. Peo ple in wheelchairs are told to switch positions every 15-30 minutes but dont always do it because they dont keep timers and its not easy to have a sense of how much time has gone by. Our way says that rather than time, look at the amount of pressure and provide that feedback to the user. The geistesbild right now is that consumers would see the areas that are under that potentially harmful pressure light up. Presently, Sit Smart is wired but the intent is for it to become wireless and utilize Bluetooth. Students involved stretched their minds to think about everything from a whole seat cushion system on down, he says, but over time, they realized sensors in a mat was the efficient and affordable way to take measurements and provide feedback to both consumer and clinician. A unique part is also that our students are graduating and going on to their own lives yet are still involved in the project, he says. They are still consultants and they did that because they really wanted to help people. We all meet every other week driven by recognizing that this is a significant problem, but, one that has a potential solution. Eric Butterman is an independent writer. Learn about the latest trends in bioengineering at ASMEs Global Congress onNanoEngineering for Medicine and Biology. For Further DiscussionSit Smart gives those in the medical field data to look at to help the user change their behavior.Prof. Carmen DiGiovine, The Ohio State University