Low Friction Mattress Topper for the prevention of pressure ulcers.

When the skin is subject to pressure (usually over a bony protuberance e.g. heel, back of head,
elbow, etc for more than 2 to 3 hours, blood and oxygen flow is restricted causing body tissue
to die starting at the epidermis or outer layer. The dead skin breaks down and forms an open
sore or ulcer that is susceptible to bacterial infection and difficult to treat. Anyone having
restricted movement such as the physically disabled, elderly and bed bound are susceptible to
pressure sores, (also known as decubitus ulcers or bedsores) and are a widespread problem.
Although pressure sores can be caused by simple pressure, they often occur by the action of
pressure in combination with shear where layers of skin are forced to slide over one another,
or over deeper layers of tissue such as where a patient on a raised mattress slides down the
bed. Baltex has developed a range of 3-D warp knitted spacer fabrics that offer considerable
benefits in terms of pressure distribution when used as seat cushions by those confined to
sitting or in wheelchairs. This product has good breathability (enabling heat and moisture to
be carried away from the skin unlike foam mattresses), compression strength, recyclability, redistributes
pressure, and can be washed. It is our proposal not only to prove the concept of a
spacer fabric mattress topper for superior pressure distribution and microclimate control but
also for it to have low friction surfaces to minimising skin shear and friction when the patient
moves or is moved.