Innovation and knowledge transfer for monitoring, predicting and preventing ulcers: the Sensomatt Approach

Abstract

Pressure ulcers are skin injuries that develop mainly over bony areas as the result of prolonged pressure caused by the immo- bility of bedridden patients. They constitute not only a source of additional suffering for these patients but also contribute to the burnout of healthcare professionals who must maintain continuous monitoring of these patients. Data from countries such as the UK or the USA allows the cost of this problem to be estimated to be, respectively, near £2 billion and $80 billion. In this article, we describe the SensoMatt approach to pressure ulcer prevention and management, which is being developed as a research project that includes partners from industry, healthcare, and academia. The SensoMatt solution is centered on a pressure sheet that is placed under the patient’s mattress, complemented by an online management portal and a mobile app. These provide patients and healthcare providers with an unparalleled set of services that include personalized analysis, prevention warnings and recommendations.