A wireless, skin-integrated system for continuous pressure distribution monitoring to prevent ulcers across various healthcare environments

Pressure ulcers remain a persistent challenge in healthcare, particularly for individuals with limited mobility or compromised sensation. Early detection is critical to prevent ischemic damage leading to necrosis, infections, and prolonged hospital stays. Conventional sensing technologies that integrate into the mattress, while effective in gathering data on pressure distributions, are restricted to stationary environments, and they can miss significant periods when patients leave their beds or shift positions. Furthermore, these systems do not offer consistent information on the specific spatial distribution of pressure across the body, because the sensors integrate with the mattress and not the body. Recent research establishes capabilities in soft, skin-interfaced wireless alternatives, but in designs that require specialized processes and materials that might not scale effectively for practical production and use. Here, we present a wireless, skin-integrated pressure monitoring system that mounts on the skin, in anatomically matched forms and with soft mechanical interfaces, for continuous data collection. This platform, built on manufacturable components and designs, features an array of soft, elastomer-encapsulated pressure sensors that minimize discomfort, with wireless communications and an independent power management system to enable operation across diverse healthcare settings, including homes, outpatient facilities, and operating rooms, all without physical tethers. Additionally, an external alarm satellite device delivers vibratory and visual alerts if predefined pressure thresholds are exceeded, guiding caregivers or patients to take timely action. Experimental and finite element analysis support the design principles, and deployments on patients in hospital settings illustrate modes for practical use.

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Publication Details

Journal
npj Flexible Electronics
Published
2025-12-03
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00501-9
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Management
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
5.77

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article

A wireless, skin-integrated system for continuous pressure distribution monitoring to prevent ulcers across various healthcare environments

John A. Rogers, Seonggwang Yoo, Yonggang Y. Huang, Hak‐Young Ahn et al.
1 citations
npj Flexible Electronics
Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Management
5.77
article

A wireless, skin-integrated system for continuous pressure distribution monitoring to prevent ulcers across various healthcare environments

John A. Rogers, Seonggwang Yoo, Yonggang Y. Huang, Hak‐Young Ahn, Kyeongha Kwon, Seyong Oh, Heung Cho Ko, Sung Soo Kwak, Tae Wan Park, Woo‐Youl Maeng, Donghwi Cho, Nicholas Fadell, Amanda M. Westman, Matthew R. MacEwan, Hanbing Wu, Yoonseok Park, Zengyao Lv, William R. Moritz, Jihun Park, Sangjun Kim, Jihun Cha, Chanho Park, Jaeyoung Yoo, Kyoungho Ha, Justin Saks
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Pressure ulcers remain a persistent challenge in healthcare, particularly for individuals with limited mobility or compromised sensation. Early detection is critical to prevent ischemic damage leading to necrosis, infections, and prolonged hospital stays. Conventional sensing technologies that integrate into the mattress, while effective in gathering data on pressure distributions, are restricted to stationary environments, and they can miss significant periods when patients leave their beds or shift positions. Furthermore, these systems do not offer consistent information on the specific spatial distribution of pressure across the body, because the sensors integrate with the mattress and not the body. Recent research establishes capabilities in soft, skin-interfaced wireless alternatives, but in designs that require specialized processes and materials that might not scale effectively for practical production and use. Here, we present a wireless, skin-integrated pressure monitoring system that mounts on the skin, in anatomically matched forms and with soft mechanical interfaces, for continuous data collection. This platform, built on manufacturable components and designs, features an array of soft, elastomer-encapsulated pressure sensors that minimize discomfort, with wireless communications and an independent power management system to enable operation across diverse healthcare settings, including homes, outpatient facilities, and operating rooms, all without physical tethers. Additionally, an external alarm satellite device delivers vibratory and visual alerts if predefined pressure thresholds are exceeded, guiding caregivers or patients to take timely action. Experimental and finite element analysis support the design principles, and deployments on patients in hospital settings illustrate modes for practical use.

npj Flexible ElectronicsVol. 10(1)
Inje University (KR), Northwestern University (US), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KR), Washington University in St. Louis (US), Kyung Hee University (KR), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (KR), Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KR), Neurological Surgery (US), Hanyang University (KR), Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KR), Sungkyunkwan University (KR), The University of Texas at Austin (US), Korea University of Science and Technology (KR)
Northwestern University, National Research Foundation, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Inje University, National Research Foundation of Korea, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea, Institute for Information and Communications Technology Promotion
Openalex Percentile: Top 3%
Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Management
5.77
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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