Composite sensor for prevention of medical device-related pressure injuries

Here, model composite sensors for prevention of medical device-related pressure injuries (MDRPI) are proposed and demonstrated. These are, essentially, visualization pressure sensors that make any skin overpressure or overstretching observable, which allows effective prevention of MDRPIs. In particular, the pressure/strain level is indicated by colorization (white color) of the composite sensor material. The present sensors are fabricated from elastomeric films with sandwiched transparent silica nanoparticles. The sensors are attachable to medical devices and/or skin and multi-usable. When these composite sensors are compressed, the colorization stems from rearrangement of silica nanoparticles sandwiched in a soft elastomer into a denser light-scattering patch. The composite of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and Ecoflex gel is used to form these sensors. The present work demonstrates an inexpensive fabrication method, as well as links the appearance of white color on the originally transparent composite films to the pressure they experience. Specifically, white colorification corresponds to the pressure in the 67–240 mmHg range, which is therapeutically significant, because a pressure injury can develop over a period of ∼2 h under such a pressure. Accordingly, a healthcare provider can easily detect an impending injury and take action to prevent MDRPIs.