The film “2001: A Space Odyssey” concludes with an old man sitting in bed, about to transform into a star child.
While not quite as dramatic, a new sensor for bedridden seniors has been derived from technology initially used to help build and repair the International Space Station.
The bed sensor, named Smart Bed Occupant Sensor or BOSFAL, is built into an innovative, flexible mat that is intended to go on top of a mattress and can detect deformations in the material caused by the bed user’s movements. The goal is to address comfort and positioning in the bed to reduce the incidence of bed sores.
Bedsores and pressure injuries are a common concern with seniors. Around 11% of nursing home residents develop pressure ulcers, which often demand further treatment, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
These sores most commonly develop due to seniors’ mobility issues or recent weight loss; other variables, such as medication, also could play a role. Residents with diabetes or any condition that affects blood flow are also at risk to get sores, the Mayo Clinic notes.
The tech is a collaboration between German digital software company BLACKPIN, the European and Canadian space agencies, and sensor manufacturer Kinotex. The Kinotex foam sensor was originally part of a robotic arm on the ISS, which was designed to be ultra-sensitive due to the extreme conditions in space.
In addition, BLACKPIN is developing a mobile software app that will collect the data on patients’ movements and allow caregivers to use it to determine care and treatment options.
A pilot study was conducted in Germany involving 16 nursing homes and 430 assisted living apartments to demonstrate the bed sensor’s capabilities.
“This impressive model shows how space technologies can sustainably support and improve the wellbeing and health of people on Earth,” the European Space Agency noted loftily in a statement on the sensor.
