Smart Wheelchair Cushion

It has been estimated that approximately 17,730 people suffer from life altering Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) in USA. These patients are forced to remain seated in a wheelchair for unhealthy periods of time, leading to pressure ulcers. The treatment of pressure ulcers can cost up to $70,000. In severe c

Project Title

Smart Wheelchair Cushion

Project Area of Specialization

Mechanical Engineering

Project Summary

It has been estimated that approximately 17,730 people suffer from life altering Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) in USA. These patients are forced to remain seated in a wheelchair for unhealthy periods of time, leading to pressure ulcers. The treatment of pressure ulcers can cost up to $70,000. In severe cases, amputation may be required.

Through this project we aim to resolve this highly unaddressed issue in Pakistan. This smart cushion, consisting of multiple compartments, takes feedback from pressure sensors and uses a microcontroller connected to an actuating mechanism to generate a response in the required compartments to relieve pressure from high pressure zones. This economical solution involves the knowledge of fluid mechanics, mechanics of materials, control systems and parts of machine design. This smart cushion is designed with the intent of being used with any standard wheelchair or bed, hence removing the complications of custom designed wheelchairs or beds.

Project Objectives

People suffering from medical conditions or injuries that require them to stay seated or bedridden for long duration of time run the risk of damaging their skin and develop pressure sores or pressure ulcers. In order to alleviate this risk, our first objective is to devise a solution in the from of a smart wheel chair cushion. This air inflated cushion will detect the pressure produced because of a person seated on it and make intelligent decision by deflating and inflating the regions of damage inducing pressure.

During the market survey conducted by us, it was revealed that many similar products are available for sale online but most of them offer limited functionality i.e., they only work by alternating inflation and deflation at preset time intervals to relieve pressure. Additionally, the price tag of these products was quite hefty. Another important detail we observed was that all of these products were unavailable locally. They have to be imported from abroad and the shipping costs, along with the enormous price tag pushes them out of reach of general public. Thus, we arrive at our second objective. We intend to design a smart cushion that works on both preset values as well as carry out live intelligent decision making, while also being able to be manufactured locally. This ability will aid greatly in lowering the price point of this product so that it becomes an easy and widespread solution to prevent pressure sores.

Project Implementation Method

With pressure ulcers being a common skin condition amongst the increasing number of wheel chair and bed-ridden patients, the smart cushion can be implemented in various different areas. Some of the ways this cushion can be used include placing it on any normal chair or bed connected to the main power supply as well as attaching it to a wheel chair and using a portable battery. These uses allow the cushion to be implemented into the daily life of a user, being available to him at all times either around the house or even outside.

Furthermore, the fact that it is affordable by the general public gives it a wider range of use, one being it can be easily be purchased by hospitals, both government and private run to be used for their long term patients. The data obtained from this can also help doctors to obtain pressure values that can help in analyzing the patient better. Along with that, with the COVID-19 situation going on, people are now forced to sit inside and work from home. These people can also take advantage of this cushion to make sure they stay healthy.

The automated plug and play type feature of this cushion means that anyone can operate it with ease without requiring any technical or operational knowledge. Once plugged in, the smart cushion will automatically read the pressure values and change the compartment pressure accordingly using a smart feedback loop.

Benefits of the Project

The treatment of pressure ulcers in the US can cost up to 70,000$ and it may require amputation in severe cases which can be highly painful for the patient, both financially and physically. Through this project we aim to prevent formation and spread of Pressure Ulcers by keeping the human contact pressure under safe levels and permissible time intervals acquired through thorough research experimentation. This Smart Cushion can be used with any standard wheelchair, chair and the model could be used to produce beds for paralyzed patients. There are thousands of patients in Pakistan that suffer through these horrifying circumstances and unfortunately no such system or product is available in Pakistan to prevent this ailment. Which leaves them with the choice of importing it, that raises the cost above a hundred thousand dollars, and those products offer way less functionality and comfort for the patients compared to our project, not only this, the price makes it impossible for most patients to buy it and importing it also puts a strain on our economy as well. Our project not only provides the real time human skin pressure at selected points but also varies the pressure in the cushion to keep that pressure under safe limits. With the data that will be stored on a Micro SD, the doctors can have a better understanding of the pressure experienced by different parts of that patient’s body and hence their advice and decision will be more well informed. If this prototyped is manufactured at industrial scale, it will further decrease its cost and this could be exported as well, once approved by relevant authorities because in this price range, not a single product that’s offers the same functions as ours, is available in the online market survey. To sum this up, it is not only beneficial for the patients but could also be helpful for our economy if could manufacture and export it.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

Our final deliverables inlcude:

1. Software based Stress Analysis
   1. Cushion material Stress analysis
   2. Human skin stress analysis
2. Market survey
   1. local markets
   2. online availble products
3. Design of Actuation system
   1. Inflation and deflation of compartments using air pump.
   2. Air Distribution systen design
4. Integration of feedback control:
   1. Arduino based programme
   2. preset safe limits for time and pressure
5. Storing of Pressure data on an Micro SD card for Doctor's analysis.
6. integration of portable power system
   1. a DC battery for portable use
   2. an AC supply for fixed use.
7. Ecnomoic feasibility and cost analysis
8. Protoype

Hence, the prototype will be ready for installation on any chair, wheel chair and will include two modes availble for users comfort, the preset mode will change pressures according to values specified in the code, based on the research and the feedback mode will include real time feedback monitering and actuation based on that feedback.

Final Deliverable of the Project

Software System

Core Industry

Health

Other Industries

Medical , Manufacturing

Core Technology

Wearables and Implantables

Other Technologies

Artificial Intelligence(AI), Robotics

Sustainable Development Goals

Good Health and Well-Being for People, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Required Resources

If you need this project, please contact me on contact@adikhanofficial.com