Design and evaluation of a device for measurement of interface pressure

An electropneumatic device has been designed to measure the interface pressure profile under compression bandages. The device uses commercially available pneumatic sensors (Talley Group Ltd, SJ235/3) and measures interface pressure at up to eight sites simultaneously along the lower limb, with an accuracy of +/- 3 mmHg. Measurements can be made in one of two modes: continuously at a rate of up to three samples per second with the results output to a suitable display device, or single measurements of interface pressure can be made and displayed on a digital display incorporated in the device. This enables the monitoring and recording of interface pressure under compression bandages during either ambulation or passive recumbency. The electropneumatic system is described together with its following characteristics: the hysteresis of the Talley pneumatic sensors, the accuracy of pressure measurement and the maximum achievable sample rate. Dynamic measurements in a single normal volunteer are shown.