1. A Smart Pressure Relief Alarm System for Wheel Chairs
National Conference on Physics-2017, organized by Bangladesh Physical Society
05-07 January, 2017 at the Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka.
Poster No. PP-72
A Smart Pressure Relief Alarm System for Wheel Chairs
M Moniruzzaman, Krishno Sen1, M Al-Amin, M Mahmudul Hasan and K Siddique-e Rabbani
Department of Biomedical Physics & Technology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
1 Centre for Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP), Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
What is a Pressure sore ?
If blood supply is interrupted for a prolonged period due to pressure at a point on the skin, sores or ulcers develop – these are ‘Pressure Sores’.
There are 4 stages:
Pressure sore points for patient on a wheelchair
Several points on the body are susceptible. Most sores occur below the hip bone (ischium).
Occurrence
: About paralysed patients admitted to CRP
Number dead due to Pressure sores: about 800 (30%)
A Solution
The patients have to lift the body on their hands for 20 seconds after every 20 minutes of sitting period (to restore blood flow).
Problem
Patients often forget or are lazy to do this exercise.
Solution: Smart pressure relief alarm system
Design Considerations:
Should give alarm after every 20 minutes of sitting period.
Alarm should continue until relieving the seat.
Should give a different melody tone indicating the time to sit down (after 20 seconds of relief period).
Our designed system
Improvised pressure switch using metal sheets and 3D printed plastic parts.
Circuit based on Arduino board (microcontroller: ATMega328P)
Program Control
Debounce effect of pressure switch cancelled using program
Indication light for patient sitting
Alarm given if person sits before the relief period (20 sec)
Reduced timings in ‘test’ mode
10AH Rechargeable Battery (Power Bank)
Battery charge level indicator
Material cost ~ Tk. 2,500
Conclusion
It is hoped that this device will provide benefit to disabled people in Bangladesh and all over the world, reducing sufferings due to pressure sores and death
Similar device may be fitted in beds as well
Performance
Gives alarm and melody tune as desired
Intelligent program so that patient can’t fool the system
Robust mounting to survive movement through rough roads
Usable battery time : 3 weeks (suitable for villages, charging at a market every fortnight feasible)