• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.24 no.7 s.196
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• pp.126-132
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• 2007

Pressure-induced decubitus is a serious disease among the elderly people. Interface pressure occluding vascular perfusion is known to be a cause of decubitus. Therefore, it is essential to quantify the relationship between vascular perfusion and interface pressure among the elderly people to understand more about decubitus. Nine healthy elderly people (57.8$\pm$ 5.6 years, 63.3$\pm$ 7.0kg, 1.68$\pm$ 0.05m) were participated. Three healthy young people (31.7$\pm$ 3.2 years, 74.7$\pm$ 8.4kg, 1.75$\pm$ 0.04m) were also examined to be compared with the elderly group. Capillary vascular perfusion on the ischial tuberosity was recorded in the sitting posture as pressures were applied from 15mmHg to 135mmHg. The average interface pressure to occlude vascular perfusion (the average occlusion pressure) under the ischial tuberosity was 115.7mmHg in the elderly group. This value was not significantly different from the average occlusion pressure of the young group. Obesity effect on the occlusion pressure was investigated among the elderly group. The result was not significantly different between the obesity and the normal group in this study. This is a preliminary study to unveil the complicated cause of pressure-induced decubitus associated with occlusion of vascular perfusion. More subjects are required for the future study.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.713-718
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• 2003

Decubitus ulcer is a pressure-induced ulceration of the skin occurring in persons confined to bed for long periods of time. In order to prevent decubitus ulcer, the medical bed mechanism to minimize pressure, friction, and shear forces acting between bed and patient had been developed. Air mattress also can be effective for reducing pressure over bony prominence. In this study, motion analysis was performed to examine whether this bed mechanism functioned properly in case of using air mattress, which was much thicker than common hospital mattress. We found that the patient on the air mattress above the medical bed for preventing decubitus ulcer slipped upward and downward excessively as the general motored-bed. New bed mechanisms were synthesized kinematically using simple 4-bar and 6-bar linkages so as to reduce sliding between the bed and the patient on the air mattress for preventing decubitus ulcer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.645-646
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• 2006

Pressure-induced decubitus is a serious disease among the elderly people. Interface pressure occluding vascular perfusion is known to be a cause of decubitus. Therefore, it is essential to quantify the relationship between vascular perfusion and interface pressure among the elderly people. Nine elderly normal people ($57.8{\pm}5.6\;years,\;63.3{\pm}7.0kg,\;1.68{\pm}0.05m$) were participated. Pressure was applied on the ischial tuberosity in the sitting posture from 0mmHg to 135mmHg as capillary vascular perfusion was recorded. The average interface pressure to occlude vascular perfusion under the ischial tuberosity is 120mmHg. Vascular perfusion values at the capillary occlusion is often lower than 60% of the vascular perfusion at 15mmHg. Higher sampling number is required to have more accurate results.