Technology Overview
Pressure sensing pad application fields.
ITRI uses flexible thin piezoresistive materials and fabric electrodes for array layout and structural design to achieve pressure detection and integration into fabric applications.
With the aging population growth and the need to rehabilitate or stay in bed for a long time, the long-term aged caring business opportunities are growing. It is estimated that between 2017 and 2026, the number of long-term caring needs in Taiwan will increase from more than 570,000 to more than 770,000. Since most medical institutions need to prevent patients from falling off the bed to avoid accidents and serious shortage of nursing staff, applying pressure-sensitive technology to the medical a field to help judging the patient's condition will greatly reduce injuries and improve medical staff quality of service.
At present, most of the medical bed sensing technologies use infrared blocking, face photographic positioning identification or fiber reflection to perform pressure sensing, but they often face problems such as complicated device setting, privacy violation of patient dignity, low service life or high cost. In order to solve these problems, ITRI uses a tough, flexible matrix as a soft piezoresistive pressure-sensitive material, which not only increases the service life, but also makes the price more competitive. The soft and sexy pressure pad is light and thin, and does not affect the privacy of the patient. This product can be used with pressure map information and machine learning data database to accurately determine the subject's prone position and bed sensing. When the medical staff or home care is provided, the patient gets out of bed and prevents prolonged (sitting) lying hemorrhoids or infant activities warning to slow down the accident.
Applications & Benefits
At present, this technology can be applied to the rehabilitation posture of the rehabilitation department, the warning of preventing the sedentary patients in the wheelchair, the correct seat cushion for the office, the seat cushion, the bed selection system, the anti-acne back reminder, the bed sensing and other functional beds. This technology can also be applied to detecting the range of activities of the demented elderly and providing functional floor mats for sports entertainment systems (such as yoga, dance machines), or other wider functions. In the future, it will integrate the Internet of Things, link home activities and care network.