Intelligent Bionic Sensing Textile for Pressure Ulcer Prevention: A Self-Powered, Multi-Modal Monitoring System with Real-Time Risk Assessment

Abstract

Pressure injuries (PIs) present a formidable challenge in healthcare, inflicting significant suffering on patients with limited mobility and imposing a heavy economic toll on medical systems. Conventional preventative measures, which hinge on manual repositioning and specialized surfaces, are often insufficient as they lack the continuous, personalized data needed for preemptive action. This reactive paradigm frequently falls short in averting the development of these debilitating wounds. To bridge this critical divide, we present an innovative, self-powered intelligent bionic sensing textile, engineered for the concurrent and uninterrupted monitoring of three pivotal etiological factors in PI development: pressure, moisture, and temperature. Our design comprises a flexible, breathable, multi-layer fabric architecture that synergistically merges a triboelectric-piezoelectric hybrid sensing mechanism. This is realized through a composite structure of a piezoelectric polymer (PVDF-TrFE) film and a functionalized triboelectric layer, integrated with a patterned array of soft, conductive fabric electrodes. The system is augmented by a miniaturized wireless data acquisition module and a custom real-time risk assessment algorithm running on a smartphone. The smart textile exhibits high pressure sensitivity, a swift response to moisture, and remarkable mechanical durability and comfort. Through rigorous evaluations on a human mannequin and pilot trials with human subjects, the system has demonstrated successful real-time pressure distribution mapping in high-risk zones, rapid detection of simulated incontinence, and the ability to harvest energy from subtle body movements for autonomous operation. This research charts a new course for next-generation smart medical textiles, aiming to shift the pressure injury prevention paradigm from reactive, intermittent interventions to a proactive, precise, and personalized standard of care. This innovation carries the profound potential to elevate the quality of life for vulnerable patient populations while substantially mitigating associated healthcare expenditures.