L-C Gerhardt1, N Mattle, G U Schrade, N D Spencer, S Derler. 1. EMPA, Laboratory for Protection and Physiology, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, St Gallen, Switzerland. Lutz-Christian.Gerhardt@empa.ch
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: Prolonged pressure as well as friction and shear forces at the skin-textile interface are decisive physical parameters in the development of decubitus. The present article describes the contact phenomena at the skin-textile interface and the development of a purpose-built textile friction analyser (TFA) for the tribological assessment of skin-fabric interactions, in connection with decubitus prevention. METHODS: Interface pressure distributions were recorded in the pelvic and femoral regions between supine persons and a foam mattress. Fabrics made of various natural and synthetic yarns were investigated using the TFA. A vertical load of 7.7 kPa was applied to the swatches, simulating high interface pressures at the skin-fabric interface and clinical conditions of bedridden persons. Fabrics were rubbed in reciprocating motions against a validated skin-simulating material to determine static as well as dynamic friction coefficients (COFs). RESULTS: Maximum contact pressures ranged from 5.2 to 7.7 kPa (39-58 mmHg) and exceeded the capillary closure pressure (32 mmHg) in all investigated bedding positions. For both COFs, a factor of 2.5 was found between the samples with the lowest and highest values. Our results were in a similar range to COFs found in measurements on human skin in vivo. The results showed that our test method can detect differences of 0.01 in friction coefficients. CONCLUSION: TFA measurements allow the objective and reliable study of the tribology of the skin-textile biointerface and will be used to develop medical textiles with improved performance and greater efficacy for decubitus prevention.
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: Prolonged pressure as well as friction and shear forces at the skin-textile interface are decisive physical parameters in the development of decubitus. The present article describes the contact phenomena at the skin-textile interface and the development of a purpose-built textile friction analyser (TFA) for the tribological assessment of skin-fabric interactions, in connection with decubitus prevention. METHODS: Interface pressure distributions were recorded in the pelvic and femoral regions between supine persons and a foam mattress. Fabrics made of various natural and synthetic yarns were investigated using the TFA. A vertical load of 7.7 kPa was applied to the swatches, simulating high interface pressures at the skin-fabric interface and clinical conditions of bedridden persons. Fabrics were rubbed in reciprocating motions against a validated skin-simulating material to determine static as well as dynamic friction coefficients (COFs). RESULTS: Maximum contact pressures ranged from 5.2 to 7.7 kPa (39-58 mmHg) and exceeded the capillary closure pressure (32 mmHg) in all investigated bedding positions. For both COFs, a factor of 2.5 was found between the samples with the lowest and highest values. Our results were in a similar range to COFs found in measurements on human skin in vivo. The results showed that our test method can detect differences of 0.01 in friction coefficients. CONCLUSION:TFA measurements allow the objective and reliable study of the tribology of the skin-textile biointerface and will be used to develop medical textiles with improved performance and greater efficacy for decubitus prevention.
Authors: Stéphanie F Bernatchez; Golie E Mengistu; Bruce P Ekholm; Shilpi Sanghi; Steven D Theiss Journal: Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle) Date: 2015-12-01 Impact factor: 4.730
Authors: Michael Easson; Judson Vincent Edwards; Ningtao Mao; Chris Carr; David Marshall; Jianguo Qu; Elena Graves; Michael Reynolds; Andres Villalpando; Brian Condon Journal: Materials (Basel) Date: 2018-10-24 Impact factor: 3.623