UTARI’s biomedical technologies research scientist, Alexandra Jamieson, won top place at the Tech Transfer Office Showcase at BioNTX’s iC3 Life Science Summit on September 29, 2023. Jamieson presented on the Smart Pressure Adjusting Cushion for Pressure Injuries (SPACI). SPACI was created to prevent pressure ulcers for wheelchair users.
SPACI monitors and modulates seating interface pressure in real-time to reduce the risk of pressure ulcers among wheelchair users. The inadequacy of current preventive approaches is apparent by the occurrence and recurrence of pressure ulcers among wheelchair users. SPACI implements automated pressure redistribution. It is made with patented sensor-driven air-cell technology, enables active monitoring and creates pressure maps of a seated person in real-time. It will use the real-time pressure data to adjust the pressure of each cushion cell to offload and redistribute interface pressure to reduce both the magnitude and duration of mechanical loads on soft tissues.
Pressure ulcers are a significant health concern for people with mobility impairment. Those suffering from a pressure ulcer decreases quality of life. They are painful, expensive, and a barrier to work and social activity, as well as mental and physical burdens for individuals and their families. In the U.S. alone, 2.5 million pressure ulcers develop per year, where 60,000 cases result in death.
Unlike other seat cushions on the market, SPACI has all four capabilities to prevent pressure ulcers. It reduces high pressure, manages the duration of pressure, has built in pressure mapping, and automatically adapts to the user and environment.
The Tech Transfer Office Showcase (TTOS) highlights North Texas’s strength in innovation while building future leaders and entrepreneurs. The event gives universities an opportunity to pitch their best intellectual property to an audience of industry leaders and investors at the summit.
Interested in learning more about SPACI and licensing opportunities, please contact Lisa Miller.