720042Project to develop a pre-production prototype of a new standard apparatus to test surgical compression hosieryClosedGRD Development of PrototypeInnovate UKCompression hosiery is used in the management of a large number of medical conditions affecting the venous and lymphatic systems. The appropriate product type, pressure classification, and design are dependent upon the specific application. Graduated compression hosiery is used to improve venous and lymph flow in conditions such as of varicose veins, venous leg ulcers, post-operative deep vein thrombosis, and oedema. Venous ulcers are the most frequently occurring type of chronic wound affecting 1-2% of the UK population at any one time. This has a significant impact on healthcare costs and drastically affects the quality of life of those afflicted with this condition. It is difficult to accurately assess the cost for the treatment of all of these conditions with compression therapies. However, a good indication of the scale of the cost is given by the £800m per annum it is estimated to cost the NHS for the treatment of venous leg ulcers. The cost-effective management of these medical conditions depends upon understanding and knowledge of the behaviour of the bandaging system when deployed upon the leg of the patient. Currently this understanding is based upon the classification of the bandage and the pressure that it is designed to apply to a limb. As matters stand, hosiery is classified into a range of pressure gradients defined by British Standard 6612: 1985. This Standard is based upon tests performed employing experimental apparatus known as the HATRA Pressure Tester. However, there are significant limitations to the capabilities of the HATRA testing equipment. The invention of pressure sensors that are formed by a new, printable, ink-based technology has made it possible to create a testing apparatus that is far closer to a simulacrum of the human leg. It is proposed that such a device will allow the laboratory testing of compression stockings and bandages that accurately reflects their behaviour when applied to patients.