INESC TEC Develops Microelectronic Device to Prevent Bedsores

Tomorrow Options, a company from INESC TEC has developed a device for the prevention of bedsores in patients who are bed ridden. The device called MovinSense is a microelectronic device which detects the movements of the patients and alerts nursing staff so that they can change the position of the patient.

The device is fitted to the chest of the patient who has no or very little mobility after which it records the position of the patient and conveys the same information through wireless to the nursing staff. The position of the patient is required to be changed by a minimum of two hours or otherwise as per the condition of the patient.

MovinSense is more cost effective than other bed sore prevention device, presently available in the market since this device monitors the patient and not the bed. Monitoring devices, which include mattresses to prevent bedsores and mattresses with pressure sensors come at a cost of €1,000 or more. They also take up a lot of storage space. MovinSense eliminates all these issues as it is very easy to use, does not take up any space and is much more cost effective. MovinSense also helps in reducing clinical errors as it can communicate orally with the nursing staff and also has the capability to maintain a separate file for each patient so that nursing staff across shifts can access the same reliable information. The device is in the final testing stage and will soon be made available for commercial usage. Tomorrow Options is also under negotiations with companies based in Netherlands, US and Sweden.