A wireless lingual feedback device to reduce overpressures in seated posture: a feasibility study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pressure sores are localized injuries to the skin and underlying tissues and are mainly resulting from overpressure. Paraplegic peoples are particularly subjects to pressure sores because of long-time seated postures and sensory deprivation at the lower limbs. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we report outcomes of a feasibility trial involving a biofeedback system aimed at reducing buttock overpressure whilst an individual is seated. The system consists of (1) pressure sensors, (2) a laptop coupling sensors and actuator (3) a wireless Tongue Display Unit (TDU) consisting of a circuit embedded in a dental retainer with electrodes put in contact with the tongue. The principle consists in (1) detecting overpressures in people who are seated over long periods of time, (2) estimating a postural change that could reduce these overpressures and (3) communicating this change through directional information transmitted by the TDU. Twenty-four healthy subjects voluntarily participated in this study. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The findings suggest that, in this trial, subjects were able to use a tongue tactile feedback system to reduce buttock overpressure while seated. Further evaluation of this system on paraplegic subjects remains to be done.

References in corpus (3)

• Sensory supplementation system based on electrotactile tongue biofeedback of head position for balance control
• Guiding the surgical gesture using an electro-tactile stimulus array on the tongue: A feasibility study
• A New Health Strategy to Prevent Pressure Ulcer Formation in Paraplegics using Computer and Sensory Substitution via the Tongue

Cited by in corpus (3)

• Reduction of Prolonged Excessive Pressure in Seated Persons With Paraplegia Using Wireless Lingual Tactile Feedback: A Randomized Controlled Trial
• Electrotactile vision substitution for 3D trajectory following
• Effect of saccades in tongue electrotactile stimulation for vision substitution applications