Finding Comfort with fitted Prosthetics
The healthcare sector faces a myriad of challenges in 2024. An ageing population, persistent workforce shortage, and escalating costs are leading many to consider whether technology may hold the key to addressing how the medical sector will need to evolve for the future.
Pressure mapping technology has historically only been available in limited applications because of the expense and limitations of the available hardware. Medical devices need to be accurate, reliable and durable, and sealed from water and dust so they don’t pose an infection risk. They need to be comfortable, easy to use, and adjust to a patient’s body and movements.
When this is done well, pressure mapping can be incredibly useful in a medical setting, allowing clinicians to develop a deeper understanding of a patient’s condition and optimise their care. The increasing prevalence of chronic conditions such as Alzheimer’s paralysis, diabetes and multiple sclerosis, alongside a need to invest in preventative treatments, is expected to drive the demand for such systems.
TG0 believes that incorporating this technology could be as easy as converting everyday objects already being used within a medical setting into accurate pressure and force sensors. Healthcare workers will be empowered to provide better care, patients will be able to look after their own conditions, with the support of remote monitoring, and the overall pressure currently being felt in the system can be significantly reduced.
Here’s how:
Fitting prosthetics
In many medical scenarios, pressure mapping tech provides insights and objective data that would not be available via visual inspection or by asking patients for their feedback. That’s particularly important when it comes to fitting prosthetics and robotics. If this isn’t done well, pressure sores can form, which is particularly dangerous where a patient has reduced sensation. In the case of children who are growing fast, prosthetics need to be monitored for fit regularly to prevent any issues. By monitoring the fit remotely with smart technology, healthcare professionals and their patients can be assured a prosthetic’s alignment and fit is perfect for the long term.
