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Evaluation of cushion performance of healthcare chairs

Research Associate: Dr Vinu Palissery
Supervisory team: Dr Rajshree Mootanah, Ms Beverley Wharton
Funding body: The Department of Trade and Industry through the Knowledge Transfer East of England Development Agency - £26,000.

With the increasing percentage of population at risk of pressure ulcers, the use of pressure mapping of seating surfaces is becoming increasingly important. Kirton healthcare ltd provides specialized health care chairs for specific purposes. Chairs are available in various designs and of different materials suiting a range of the requirements. Some of these chairs come up with controlled dynamic movements, which allow change of pressure points with time. Special pressure relieving cushions are used in some chairs.
The aim of this project is to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of these designs and materials in providing interface pressure redistribution by analysing the interface pressure data distribution

Pressure mapping was used to understand the pressure distribution at the seat body interface, to locate areas of high pressure and localised pressure, and the changes in pressure distribution with factors like time, various,sitting posture and cushion materials. Pressure mapping system by Xsensor was used for data collection.
Cushions placed on a chair was tested for its pressure distribution by a subject sitting on the cushion for a fixed time period and continuous recording of data. Average pressure, peak pressure and contact area, and percentage of pressure in various pressure ranges were recorded and analysed. Design recommendations were then made to Kirton Healthcare Group Ltd.

Publications:
  • Palissery, V. & Mootanah, R. 2005, "Evaluation of Interface Pressure Redistribution for Improved Seat Cushion Design", IFMBE Proceedings ICBME, XII International Congress in Biological and Medical Engineering, Singapore.
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