1.Medtexproject–Atextilebasede-healthsystemfortheprophylaxisofpressureulcers.docVIP

Smart Textile Session 1. Medtex project –A textile based e-health system for the prophylaxis of pressure ulcers Belino, N.J.R.1, Geraldes, M.J.O. 1, Figueiredo, M.N. 1, Ferreira, P.A.R.C.2, Pimenta, N. 2, Cardoso, F. 2 Matos, J. L. 3Mendes, C.M.F. 4 1University of Beira Interior, Textile Department Covilh?, PORTUGAL 2INOV – Instituto de Novas Tecnologias, Lisboa, PORTUGAL 3QSC – Quinta de S. Cosme, Lda. , Vila Nova de Tázém, PORTUGAL 4CHCB – Centro Hospitalar da Cova da Beira, Covilh?, PORTUGAL Corresponding author: Nuno Belino, belino@ubi.pt Abstract Pressure ulcers are skin lesions that seriously affect the patient’s quality of life. This pathology is caused by low pressure application during a long period of time over a bone prominence or also due to high pressure application for a short period. This paper describes the initial prototype of a textile based technological solution to perform real time control of the anatomical position of bedridden patients suffering from pressure ulcers. For this purpose, the authors developed an electrotextile system with an integrated sensing system that captures the anatomical position of the body along time and communicates with a PC to inform healthcare personnel about the necessity of changing and relieving pressure. Key words: Pressure ulcers, prophylaxis, Smart Textiles, Electrotextiles, Remote Sensing, Medical Textiles 1 - INTRODUCTION Pressure ulcers (Hereafter, PU) come from local tissue ischemia caused by pain reflex change in patients with medulla injuries (tetraplegics, paraplegics or hemiplegics) or debilitated patients, elderly or chronically ill. In patients with medulla trauma there is an injury of the afferent nociceptive fibers, responsible for pain stimulus for decubitus change and, on the second patient group, these signs are ignored (1). The pressure sores etiology is not yet completely enlightened, but it is well known that continuous pressure on the skin takes to ischemic phenomena associated to nu