Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Fabrication and Characterization of a Conformal Skin-like Electronic System for Quantitative, Cutaneous Wound Management
Published on: September 2, 2015
A method for determining the heat transfer and water vapour permeability of patient support systems
G P Nicholson1, J T Scales, R P Clark
1RAFT Institute of Plastic Surgery, Leopold Muller Building, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middlesex, UK. g.nicholson@ucl.ac.uk
Abstract:
The formation of pressure ulcers can be exacerbated by a breakdown in the integrity of the patient's skin caused by poor maintenance of the skin microclimate. Patient support systems (PSSs-specialised beds, mattresses, chairs, cushions and pads) play an important role in the dissipation of heat and moisture away from the skin/support interface which is necessary in order to maintain the physiological skin microclimate. This paper reports a laboratory method and theory for the simultaneous measurement of the heat and water vapour dissipating properties of PSSs. The results demonstrate that the method is extremely selective, exhibiting very significant differences between the PSSs tested. It also shows that assessing PSS covers independently does not necessarily indicate the overall performance of the complete PSS.
More Related Videos
10:33A Method for Determination and Simulation of Permeability and Diffusion in a 3D Tissue Model in a Membrane Insert System for Multi-well Plates
Published on: February 23, 2018
06:28Fabric Moisture Uniform Control to Study the Influence of Air Impingement Parameters on Fabric Drying Characteristics
Published on: August 19, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Mechanism of heat transfer
Mechanisms of Heat Transfer I
Mechanisms of Heat Transfer II
Conduction, Convection and Radiation: Problem Solving
In order to solve a problem related to heat transfer, first of all, the situation needs to be examined to determine the type of heat transfer involved. This could...
Mechanisms of Heat Transfer
Conduction, accounting for approximately 3% of body heat loss at rest, is the process of exchanging heat between molecules of two materials in direct contact. This can result in both heat loss and gain. For instance, when the body is submerged in water, which conducts heat 20 times more effectively than air, it can either lose or gain significant heat.