SBIR-STTR Award

Prevention of Decubiti is a function of the patient's condition, the care given and the bedding on which the patient lies. To make a sound decision on the use of specific bedding, accurate information on contact pressure, shear, friction, and blood flow with that product is needed. To address this concern, the overall goals for the research are to: determine the most accurate and reproducible pressure-measuring instruments for each pressure site; develop instrumentation to accurately measure shear; and, mcorporate friction and blood flow measurement methods into the evaluation profile. The specific aims of this proposed Phase I research are to: (1) design calibration models and calibration test protocols for pressure-measuring instrumentation. This will be accomplished through feasibility analysis and design of calibration models and protocols; and, (2) determine the feasibility of instrumentation for shear measurement. This will be accomplished with feasibilitv screens, ranking and evaluations. The instruments and procedures developed in this program will be of significant commercial benefit in the design, development and qualification of effective bedding and covering materials. The innovative features of this program are true shear measurement, true pressure measurement for beds and an integrated system for completely characterizing devices used for the prevention of decubiti.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:The instruments and procedures developed in this program will be of significant commercial benefit in the design, development and qualification of effective bedding and covering materials. The innovative features of this program are true shear measurement, true pressure measurement for beds and an integrated system for completely characterizing devices used for the prevention of decubiti.National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

The specific aims of this proposed Phase II research program are: 1. To complete the development of the System for evaluating patient support systems fy measuring the distribution for critical regions of the body. 2. To clinically validate the "measuring system" and establish its performance int he evaluation and development of truly effective support systems to treat patients with pre-existing pressure ulcers and prevent pressure ulcer formation of patients at risk of their formation. This system is intended to provide a truly standard testing system for the evaluation of the pressure and shear properties of various mattresses, bed support systems, overlays and other constructions for the reduction of interface pressure and shear on patients at risk of developing pressure ulcers for the reduction of interface pressure and shear on patients at risk of developing pressure ulcers. The commercial availability of a clinically validated "measuring system" will provide a quantitative standard for the testing and development of patient support systems, which does not now exist, and which will lead to improved patient support systems. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The "measuring System" to be demonstrated in this Phase II program will provide a quantitative standard to rank patient support systems and develop better ones.

Thesaurus Terms:
biomechanics, biomedical equipment development, decubitus ulcer, disease /disorder prevention /control, evaluation /testing, mechanical pressure, skin circulation technology /technique development clinical research, human subject, volunteer