Georgia Tech Research Corporation

Other

Sundaresan Jayaraman

Sungmee Park

Rangaswamy Rajamanickam

Chandramohan Gopalsamy

Kyle W Motter

Described herein are devices, systems, and methods relating to making individuals comfortable when in contact with surfaces (e.g., seats and beds) including preventing pressure injuries on subjects. In embodiments, disclosed herein are pressure injury prevention systems comprising actuator assemblies that can simultaneously provide immersion and offloading of pressure while allowing a subject to retain balance. In other embodiments, moisture control devices and/or sensing networks can be used in conjunction with said actuator assemblies to prevent pressure injuries in a subject in need thereof. In embodiments, also described herein are computing devices and applications that alert a manual intervention or trigger an automated intervention between the individual and the intervention surface based on a risk determination. Such interventions can send instructions to the system to relieve pressure and/or moisture at one or more interface locations on the interface surface between the system and a subject according to a set of rules based on a predetermined profile, data collected continuously in real time, or both.

Systems and methods for enhancing comfort individuals in contact with surfaces

Disclosed are various embodiments for a pressure ulcer monitoring and prevention system. A fabric-based sensing component with a pressure sensing component and/or a moisture sensing component, and interconnections to route signals from one or more of the sensing components to a computing device is provided. An application causes the computing device to determine that an individual is at risk for developing a pressure ulcer. In response to determining that the individual is at risk for developing a pressure ulcer, the application can alert a manual intervention or trigger an automated intervention between the individual and the surface.

Pressure ulcer prevention system

Respiratory protection systems are provided containing a form-fitting facial frame and a removable filter media. The respiratory protection systems can alleviate the problems with fit and comfort of traditional respiratory protection systems. The form-fitting facial frame can intimately contact the face of a subject and can be configured to removably secure a filter media. The form-fitting facial frame can include an upper frame portion configured to intimately contact the dorsum nasi and cheekbone of a subject, and lower frame portion configured to intimately contact the jaw line of the subject. In some embodiments, the form-fitting facial frame is manufactured based upon a facial feature of a subject. The form-fitting facial frame can be manufactured by 3D printing. The respiratory system can be used with common mechanical filter media including N95 and N100 filter media.

Respiratory protection device

Respiratory protection systems are provided containing a form-fitting facial frame and a removable filter media. The respiratory protection systems can alleviate the problems with fit and comfort of traditional respiratory protection systems. The form-fitting facial frame can intimately contact face of a subject and can be configured to removably secure a filter media. The form-fitting facial frame can include an upper frame portion configured to intimately contact the dorsum nasi and cheekbone of a subject, and lower frame portion configured to intimately contact the jaw line of the subject. In some embodiments, the form-fitting facial frame is manufactured based upon a facial feature of a subject. The form-fitting facial frame can be manufactured by 3D printing. The respiratory system can be used with common mechanical filter media including N95 and N100 filter media.

Disclosed are various embodiments for a smart hub for a smart garment including a mate-able top housing and a bottom housing, the top housing configured for engagement with a controller, the controller comprising automated computing machinery for information processing functions for the smart garment; an engagement for mating the top housing and the bottom housing; wherein the top housing and the bottom housing form an interior cavity to house a baseboard and a PCB when mated; a baseboard within the interior cavity including a pattern of lead paths conforming at least to a portion of the pinout of the PCB; a plurality of electrical leads within the one or more of the lead paths providing electrical connectivity from a plurality of terminals of the PCB through the baseboard to the controller when installed and providing structural support to maintain the PCB to the baseboard.

Smart hub for smart garment

Disclosed are systems or apparatuses and methods for forming a junction between conductive fibers that are incorporated into a fabric. Briefly, one method includes the steps of removing insulation from two intersecting individually insulated conductive fibers to expose the individually conductive fibers, bringing the exposed individually conductive fibers into contact with each other at a junction point, and forming a molecular bond between the conductive fibers at the junction point. Also disclosed are systems for forming a junction between conductive fibers that are incorporated into a fabric. In this regard, one embodiment of such a system can include a first apparatus that removes insulation from two intersecting individually insulated conductive fibers to expose the individually conductive fibers, a second apparatus that brings the exposed individually conductive fibers into contact with each other at a junction point, and a third apparatus that aids in formation of a molecular bond between the conductive fibers at the junction point.

Method and apparatus to create electrical junctions for information routing in textile structures

The present invention comprises a fabric-based sensor for monitoring vital signs or other electrical impulses of a subject. The sensor is woven or knitted from conductive fibers and, when in contact with the body, receives signals from the wearer and transmits them to a processing or monitoring device through a data-output terminal. The sensor may be integrated into the fabric of a garment or used independently as a conductive patch. Additionally, the sensor may provide bi-directional communication by both monitoring electrical impulses and sending them.

Fabric-based sensor for monitoring vital signs

The present invention is directed to a process for the production of a single-piece woven garment which can be converted into a full-body garment, similar to an overall or a hospital gown, using a minimum number of seams and a minimum amount of cutting. The garment is made a two-dimensional fabric, with the various parts produced as a single piece. Additionally, the garment can include an integrated infrastructure component for collecting, processing, transmitting and receiving information, giving it intelligence capability.

Full-fashioned garment in a fabric and optionally having intelligence capability

A fabric, in the form of a woven or knitted fabric or garment, including a flexible information infrastructure integrated within the fabric for collecting, processing, transmitting and receiving information concerning&mdash;but not limited to&mdash;a wearer of the fabric. The fabric allows a new way to customize information processing devices to &ldquo;fit&rdquo; the wearer by selecting and plugging in (or removing) chips/sensors from the fabric thus creating a wearable, mobile information infrastructure that can operate in a stand-alone or networked mode. The fabric can be provided with sensors for monitoring physical aspects of the wearer, for example body vital signs, such as heart rate, EKG, pulse, respiration rate, temperature, voice, and allergic reaction, as well as penetration of the fabric. The fabric consists of a base fabric (&ldquo;comfort component&rdquo;), and an information infrastructure component which can consist of a penetration detection component, or an electrical conductive component, or both. The preferred penetration detection component is a sheathed optical fiber. The information infrastructure component can include, in addition to an electrically conductive textile yarn, a sensor or a connector for a sensor. A process is provided for making an electrical interconnection between intersecting electrically conductive yarns. Furthermore, a process is established for sheathing the plastic optical fiber and protecting it.

Fabric or garment with integrated flexible information infrastructure

The invention comprises a full-fashioned weaving process for the production of a woven garment which can accommodate and include sleeves. The garment is made of only one, single integrated fabric and has no discontinuities or seams. Additionally, the garment can include intelligence capability, such as the ability to monitor one or more body vital signs, or garment penetration, or both, by including a selected sensing component or components in the weave of the garment.

Full-fashioned garment with sleeves having intelligence capability

The present invention relates to an air bag control system comprising a restraining apparatus adapted to be connected to an occupant side of an air bag, an extension/retraction device used to adjust the degree to which the restraining apparatus can be extended, and a control device for controlling extension and retraction of the extension/retraction device. In operation, the restraining apparatus can be retracted by the extension/retraction device in response to a signal sent by the control device to limit the physical extent to which the air bag can deploy to prevent injury of a vehicle occupant adjacent the air bag.

Method and apparatus for controlling air bag deployment

A full-fashioned weaving process for the production of a woven garment which can accommodate and include holes, such as armholes. The garment is made of only one single integrated fabric and has no discontinuities or seams. Additionally, the garment can include intelligence capability, such as the ability to monitor one or more body vital signs, or garment penetration, or both, by including a selected sensing component or components in the weave of the garment.

Growing community of inventors

Atlanta, GA, United States of America

Sundaresan Jayaraman