The Journal of mHealth Vol 1 Issue 1 (Feb 2014) | Page 50
Product Profiles
Product Profiles
SensiMAT for Wheelchairs
Canadian company SensiMAT Systems have
recently begun taking pre-orders for their
SensiMAT for wheelchairs product. A unique
mobile enabled system that allows wheelchair
users to monitor and track the pressure being
exerted by them, as they use the chair, and to
identify when high levels of pressure build up.
The SensiMAT for Wheelchairs is a thin mat
containing pressure sensors that is inserted underneath the gel, air, or foam cushion.
These sensors send pressure data to a mobile
device, where SensiMAT System’s proprietary
PressureRisk™ algorithm alerts the user when
there is a high amount of built up pressure,
it then facilitates and tracks pressure relieving
exercises. The system uses Bluetooth Low-
Energy, to consistently monitor pressure, using a mobile device, completely wirelessly, and
without draining the battery. The mat itself is
simply charged once a week, making it easily
integrated into everyday life.
This unique product has great potential to enable wheelchair users to limit pressure related
sores and problems commonly associated with
the use of a chair. At the same time the system
actively encourages people to manage their
condition and prevent further complications.
In the long-term this is likely to have significant appeal to healthcare organisations seeking
to reduce admissions of wheelchair users with
common pressure related problems.
Nextremity Solutions adopts GOOGLE
Glass for product and surgeon training
Recently,
North
Carolina
based orthopaedic surgeon Selene G. Parekh,
M.D. utilised Google Glass during a successful
foot and ankle surgery in Jaipur, India.
Dr. Parekh commented, “This technology
opens up a whole new world for surgery. Not
only are we able to obtain a different view of
the surgery, we are also able to communicate
live with fellow surgeons at the same time.
Simply amazing technology.”
Dr. Parekh conducted surgery while wearing
the technology and broadcast live streaming
video via the Internet. The technology allowed for hands-free recording video without
the operating room disruption of a video crew
and related risk of infection. Additionally, it
provided viewers the surgeon’s unique vantage
point during the surgery.
Nextremity Solutions, an orthopaedic medical
device company which specialises in forefoot
surgery implants, recently obtained Google
Glass and will be evaluating its applications in
its surgeon training initiatives. The company
will work closely with Dr. Parekh to ensure the
technology is used in a manner most beneficial
to surgeons.
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February 2014