Development of a Measurement System of the Transferred Pressure from Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Device

Abstract

A pressure measurement system was developed to verify magnitude and position of transferred pressure on the body surface during the intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) which is one of the most well-known methods for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Eighty force sensing resistors (FSR) were arranged on a mannequin leg and a hardware controller sensed, digitized, and transferred pressure data every second while IPC was being applied. Finally, sensed pressure data were color coded and visualized on the 3D model with lab-developed software. The pressure data were also saved to files for further analysis. Using this measurement system, the changing pattern of pressure was measured on the mannequin leg by changing both chamber pressure and cuff tightness. As a result, net pressure transferred onto the body surface is dependent on chamber pressure and cuff tightness. Under the same chamber pressure, the tighter a cuff was worn, the wider compressed area was and the shorter compression cycle was. Also transferred pressure was proportional to both chamber pressure and cuff tightness.