New Sensor System Aims to Prevent Pressure Injuries in Hospitalized Patients
Hospital stays, while necessary for recovery, can unfortunately lead to serious complications. One such complication is the development of pressure injuries (PIs), also known as pressure ulcers or bedsores. These painful sores can form when a person remains in one position for too long, disrupting blood flow and damaging the skin. PIs can lead to infection and, in severe cases, even death. Now, a new sensor-filled fabric developed by researchers at Georgia Tech is being tested at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Arthur M. Blank Hospital, offering a potential solution to proactively prevent these injuries.
The Problem of Pressure Injuries
Pressure injuries affect a wide range of patients, from veterans using wheelchairs to premature infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). An estimated 2.5 million patients are affected annually, resulting in approximately 60,000 deaths each year . Currently, prevention relies on manually turning bedridden or critically ill patients every few hours. Missing even one turning can increase the risk of complications. The financial burden of treating PIs is substantial, costing the U.S. Healthcare system nearly $27 billion annually . With a growing nursing shortage, automated monitoring methods are increasingly crucial.
Georgia Tech’s Innovative Solution
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology, led by Sundaresan Jayaraman, a professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering, have created a flexible, sensor-embedded fabric designed to monitor areas at risk of PIs. The fabric acts like a bedsheet, collecting data on pressure and moisture without being intrusive. This data is then used to predict when a PI is likely to occur and determine how long it takes to form . The technology is currently being piloted on four cribs in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Arthur M. Blank Hospital, with plans to expand to 50 beds .
Testing at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
The system is being tested in collaboration with pediatric critical care physicians at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Jana Stockwell, M.D., a pediatric critical care physician at Children’s, explains that PICU patients are at a higher risk of developing PIs due to their critical condition, sedation, and the apply of medical devices. Even minor factors, such as a folded sheet or misplaced IV tubing, can contribute to pressure injury development in children .
Design and Functionality
Creating a flexible, washable sensor that is non-intrusive, especially for fragile premature babies, presented significant challenges. Earlier prototypes required numerous connecting cables, making deployment time-consuming. The current device utilizes just one cable, simplifying implementation and making it more comfortable for patients and less alarming for families .
Machine Learning and Future Applications
Machine learning plays a vital role in the device’s ongoing development. Researchers are using predictive analytics to study data patterns and automate care recommendations. The system adapts to the patient’s weight and condition, monitoring pressure and moisture levels to customize responses . Healthcare workers will have access to an app that alerts them when to reposition a patient, and the data will eventually be integrated into electronic medical records for streamlined documentation.
Commercialization and Impact
The researchers are working with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Georgia Tech’s Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership to navigate regulatory requirements and prepare for commercialization. They envision a future where this sensor fabric becomes universally adopted, potentially making pressure injuries a preventable relic of the past, much like penicillin revolutionized the treatment of infections .
About Arthur M. Blank Hospital
Arthur M. Blank Hospital, located at 2220 North Druid Hills Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329 , is a 19-story, 2-million-square-foot facility that opened on September 29, 2024. It consolidated clinical services from Egleston Hospital and the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center .