Startup Idea : Smart Textiles Pressure Sensor

Innovation: A novel, single use Smart Textiles Pressure Sensor Underlay for continuous monitoring and alert for use in a clinical setting. Provides caregivers and patients visual, instant feedback thereby enhancing repositioning and offloading practices. Problem Statement: Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers is at the top of the list of preventable events occurring in hospitals. Despite prevention efforts, best practices, advocacy, education, and care coordination incidence of pressure ulcers remain stubbornly high. It has been estimated that worldwide over 7.4 million patients have pressure ulcers. Total expenditures for treating pressure ulcers in the US have been reported to exceed $15 billion each year. Solution: The Smart Textiles Pressure Sensor is a bed sheet laid down on beds. It is designed to continuously monitor pressures in real time so caregivers are shown the image from the system and allowed to make further adjustments to the patient position. Overall, the system enables caregivers to more effectively reposition patients, decreasing exposure to damaging high pressures.