Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief03.11.24
Empa researchers are currently working on two projects to prevent tissue damage for those with sensitive or vulnerable skin. The first is a pressure-equalizing mattress for newborns in intensive care units and the other is a textile sensor system for paraplegics and bedridden people.
Empa researcher Simon Annaheim from the Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles laboratory in St. Gallen is collaborating with researchers from ETH Zurich, the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), and the University Children's Hospital Zurich on the mattress. Their goal is to identify an optimal lying surface for babies' delicate skin, as the mattress should be able to adapt individually to the body.
"Our pressure sensors showed that the head, shoulders and lower spine are the areas with the greatest risk of pressure sores," said Annaheim. With the help of pressure sensors and a microprocessor, the mattress’ three chambers can be filled precisely via an electronic pump so the pressure in the respective areas is minimized. Compared to a conventional foam mattress, the prototype reduced the pressure on the vulnerable parts of the body by up to 40%.
In the project seeking to prevent pressure ulcer tissue damage in adults, Empa researchers teamed with others from the University of Bern, the OST University of Applied Sciences, and Bischoff Textil AG in St. Gallen. The group has developed a sensor system made of smart textiles with associated data analysis in real time.
"The skin-compatible textile sensors contain two different functional polymer fibers," said Luciano Boesel from Empa's Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles laboratory in St. Gallen. He added, "As soon as the oxygen content in the skin drops, the highly sensitive sensor system signals an increasing risk of tissue damage."
Empa researcher Simon Annaheim from the Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles laboratory in St. Gallen is collaborating with researchers from ETH Zurich, the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), and the University Children's Hospital Zurich on the mattress. Their goal is to identify an optimal lying surface for babies' delicate skin, as the mattress should be able to adapt individually to the body.
"Our pressure sensors showed that the head, shoulders and lower spine are the areas with the greatest risk of pressure sores," said Annaheim. With the help of pressure sensors and a microprocessor, the mattress’ three chambers can be filled precisely via an electronic pump so the pressure in the respective areas is minimized. Compared to a conventional foam mattress, the prototype reduced the pressure on the vulnerable parts of the body by up to 40%.
In the project seeking to prevent pressure ulcer tissue damage in adults, Empa researchers teamed with others from the University of Bern, the OST University of Applied Sciences, and Bischoff Textil AG in St. Gallen. The group has developed a sensor system made of smart textiles with associated data analysis in real time.
"The skin-compatible textile sensors contain two different functional polymer fibers," said Luciano Boesel from Empa's Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles laboratory in St. Gallen. He added, "As soon as the oxygen content in the skin drops, the highly sensitive sensor system signals an increasing risk of tissue damage."