UTA patented a smart seat cushion that uses changes in air pressure to redistribute body weight and help prevent the painful ulcers that can form from sitting in a wheelchair for long periods of time. The technology can also be used to create liners for prosthetics that adapt their shape to accommodate changes in body volume during the day while maintaining a comfortable fit."
Pressure ulcers caused by long periods of sitting without relieving pressure at bony regions such as the tailbone frequently occur in people who spend a significant amount of time in wheelchairs," says Muthu Wijesundara, co-inventor of the technology and chief research scientist at the UTA Research Institute. "In the case of prosthesis users, poor fitting of the prosthesis leads to pressure injuries for amputees that can severely affect their daily lives."
