Evaluation of an active seating system for pressure relief

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Materials Science

Background:

• Pressure injuries are a significant concern for individuals with limited mobility.
• Effective pressure redistribution is crucial for preventing tissue damage.
• Active cushion systems offer potential advantages over passive designs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the pressure profiles of the Talley active air bellows cushion.
• To quantitatively assess the pressure-relieving characteristics of the active cushion.
• To compare the active cushion's performance against passive Roho and polyurethane foam cushions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a dynamic pressure monitor to record inflation and interface pressures during a working cycle.
• Employed an Oxford pressure monitor to measure interface pressures on eight non-disabled subjects.
• Tested the active cushion at 30 mmHg and 60 mmHg inflation pressures, alongside two passive cushion types.

Main Results:

• A clear relationship between inflation and interface pressure was observed over the air bellows.
• The active cushion's pressure-relieving ability improved with higher inflation pressure.
• The active cushion's pressure relief was generally less effective than that of the tested passive cushions.

Conclusions:

• The Talley active air bellows cushion demonstrated variable pressure relief, influenced by ischial tuberosity positioning relative to air bellows.
• Passive cushions exhibited superior pressure-relieving characteristics compared to the active cushion.
• Further research may be needed to optimize active cushion design for enhanced pressure injury prevention.