Imperial College London
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DrMarcMasen

Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Reader in Tribology and Mechanical Engineering Design
 
 
 
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Contact

 

+44 (0)20 7594 7066m.masen

 
 
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Assistant

 

Mrs Chrissy Stevens +44 (0)20 7594 7064

 
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Location

 

668City and Guilds BuildingSouth Kensington Campus

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Summary

 

Publications

Citation

BibTex format

@unpublished{Boyle:2019:10.1101/592477,
author = {Boyle, CJ and Carpanen, D and Pandelani, T and Higgins, CA and Masen, MA and Masouros, SD},
doi = {10.1101/592477},
title = {Lateral pressure equalisation as a principle for designing support surfaces to prevent deep tissue pressure ulcers},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/592477},
year = {2019}
}
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RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - UNPB
AB  - <jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>When immobile or neuropathic patients are supported by beds or chairs, their soft tissues undergo deformations that can cause pressure ulcers. Current support surfaces that redistribute under-body pressures at vulnerable body sites have not succeeded in reducing pressure ulcer prevalence. Here we show that adding a supporting lateral pressure can counter-act the deformations induced by under-body pressure, and that this ‘pressure equalisation’ approach is a more effective way to reduce ulcer-inducing deformations than current approaches based on redistributing under-body pressure.</jats:p><jats:p>A finite element model of the seated pelvis predicts that applying a lateral pressure to the soft tissue reduces peak von Mises stress in the deep tissue by a factor of 2.4 relative to a standard cushion — a greater effect than that achieved by using a more conformable cushion. The ratio of peak lateral pressure to peak under-body pressure was shown to regulate deep tissue stress better than under-body pressure alone. By optimising the magnitude and position of lateral pressure, tissue deformations can be reduced to that induced when suspended in a fluid.</jats:p><jats:p>Our results explain the lack of efficacy in current support surfaces, and suggest a new approach to designing and evaluating support surfaces: ensuring sufficient lateral pressure is applied to counter-act under-body pressure.</jats:p>
AU  - Boyle,CJ
AU  - Carpanen,D
AU  - Pandelani,T
AU  - Higgins,CA
AU  - Masen,MA
AU  - Masouros,SD
DO  - 10.1101/592477
PY  - 2019///
TI  - Lateral pressure equalisation as a principle for designing support surfaces to prevent deep tissue pressure ulcers
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/592477
ER  -
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