A wireless biomedical handheld instrument for evidence-based detection of pressure ulcers

Abstract

Pressure Ulcer (PU) incidence leads to considerable risk, in particular for the frail elderly, and a large national healthcare treatment cost. Evidence-based methods for assuring the health and safety of patients are urgently needed. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) present in tissue may be measured by interrogation of tissue dielectric properties and are associated with the presence of erythema and development of early stage PU conditions. A novel wireless handheld device has been developed and will be demonstrated that introduces a series of advances including automated measurement, automated measurement method assurance including application of proper measurement applied pressure, and wireless energy recharge capability. This advances previous successful prototype development to now include a complete point-of-care usage product. This device, termed the SEM Scanner, was successfully verified in trials with 30 subjects and is currently deployed in large clinical trials in nursing homes in Los Angeles. This manuscript and the planned demonstration describe a set of significant technology advances over previous technology based on both new Wireless Health hardware and software system solutions. In addition to the demonstration to be provided of a novel end-to-end system including data acquisition, data archiving, reporting, and compliance verification, data from trials will also be presented.