A wireless, skin-integrated system for continuous pressure distribution monitoring to prevent ulcers across various healthcare environments

Abstract

Pressure ulcers remain a persistent challenge in healthcare, particularly for individuals with limited mobility or compromised sensation. Early detection is critical to prevent ischemic damage leading to necrosis, infections, and prolonged hospital stays. Conventional sensing technologies that integrate into the mattress, while effective in gathering data on pressure distributions, are restricted to stationary environments, and they can miss significant periods when patients leave their beds or shift positions. Furthermore, these systems do not offer consistent information on the specific spatial distribution of pressure across the body, because the sensors integrate with the mattress and not the body. Recent research establishes capabilities in soft, skin-interfaced wireless alternatives, but in designs that require specialized processes and materials that might not scale effectively for practical production and use. Here, we present a wireless, skin-integrated pressure monitoring system that mounts on the skin, in anatomically matched forms and with soft mechanical interfaces, for continuous data collection. This platform, built on manufacturable components and designs, features an array of soft, elastomer-encapsulated pressure sensors that minimize discomfort, with wireless communications and an independent power management system to enable operation across diverse healthcare settings, including homes, outpatient facilities, and operating rooms, all without physical tethers. Additionally, an external alarm satellite device delivers vibratory and visual alerts if predefined pressure thresholds are exceeded, guiding caregivers or patients to take timely action. Experimental and finite element analysis support the design principles, and deployments on patients in hospital settings illustrate modes for practical use.