Inflatable Wheelchair Cushion

Smart textiles system prevents the development of pressure ulcers in wheelchair users

The European research project PUMA (Pressure Ulcer Measurement and Actuation) technically coordinated by the Biomechanics Institute (IBV) has developed an innovative portable and non-invasive device to prevent and early detect the risk of Pressure Ulcer (PU) development and revert its onset for Tetraplegic Spinal Cord Injured (T-SCI) individuals relying on wheelchairs.

wheelchair cushion

Nowadays, PU treating costs €20 billion per year to the EU Public Health Care System. Although, PU prognosis is excellent at early stages being 95% preventable, current solutions are not being effective as they rely on pressure reduction instead of tissue viability, do not consider user state, characteristics and context, and do not optimally combine current strategies to prevent PU.

According to the IBV Innovation Director of Rehabilitation and Personal Autonomy, Ignacio Bermejo, "PUMA device has three independent systems that allow preventing PUs because it detects and eliminates the risk of PU development though proposing different strategies to the users."