EPSRC - NIHR HTC Partnership Award: Medical devices and vulnerable skin: Optimising safety in design
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Faculty of Health Sciences
Abstract
Chronic wounds, as typified in the development of pressure ulcers (PUs) and diabetic foot ulcers, represent a huge problem for many patients, their families and the carers. Indeed, the management of such wounds can prove problematic and in some cases can be life threatening. Non-healing wounds continue to be a major issue in all health care systems, resulting in considerable distress to patients and carers and providing an estimated financial burden to the NHS of £4 billion pa. They are caused when parts of the body involving soft tissues, namely skin, muscle and fat, are exposed to prolonged mechanical loading. Although commonly involving immobile subjects who are bedridden or confined to chairs, these ulcers can arise in many other situations in which interventional medical devices introduce potentially damaging loads at the skin surface, afflicting patients of all ages. Indeed device-related ulcers represent a major healthcare problem, accounting for over 30% of hospital-acquired PUs. Current devices are based on designs employing traditional materials which are relatively stiff/rigid and do not match the compliance of fragile skin tissues. Accordingly the Network will provide a technological platform for novel designs of medical devices, incorporating suitable materials to make contact with fragile skin tissues, and manufacturing capability, which will protect them from device related injury.
The network is designed to integrate expertise from the NHS, healthcare industry, engineering consultancy and academia. It will provide cutting edge technologies and scientific understanding in order to ensure safety of vulnerable skin in situations arising from medical devices. As an example the Network will utilise imaging techniques and simple robust biomarkers to evaluate the health of loaded skin. The Network will also develop computer generated models to test device performance prior to evaluation on vulnerable patients. Materials developed in other engineering applications will be evaluated for their suitability in new and existing device designs.
Three proposed studies provide exemplars of devices attached to skin tissues; to provide breathing assistance for pre-term infants, protection for infants and adults with inherited disease and incontinence management for males. The network will engage with other partners and in particular our two supporting HTCs in Wound Prevention & Treatment and Devices for Dignity, who will prioritise subsequent activities based on identified clinical needs. These will inevitably involve engagement with other academic, clinical and industrial partners, which the Network will fully encourage.
Activity within the Network will provide benefits to patient-centric Quality of Life. Improving device design will reduce discomfort and lower the occurrence of lifelong scarring and disfigurement injuries. This will also offer the opportunity for the NHS to reduce costs associated with treatment of medical-device related skin damage and their potential recurrence. This, in turn, will attract interest from the healthcare industry to reinvest in a range of safe devices with novel materials and designs which can prevent damage to vulnerable tissues. The Network aims to extend the success of UK plc in the advanced wound dressing market, which currently embraces over 20% of the global market, into the wound prevention or avoidance market.
The wide dissemination strategy will attract other academics in the UK and Internationally to offer additional expertise to the innovation platform in the form of methodological or theoretical techniques and engage with the Network. In addition, activities from the Network will attract interest from additional Health Technology Cooperatives, thereby enhancing its scope and increasing its associations with the wider academic and clinical communities. The Network will also establish key links with organisations, such as the MHRA who regulate the medical device industry.
The network is designed to integrate expertise from the NHS, healthcare industry, engineering consultancy and academia. It will provide cutting edge technologies and scientific understanding in order to ensure safety of vulnerable skin in situations arising from medical devices. As an example the Network will utilise imaging techniques and simple robust biomarkers to evaluate the health of loaded skin. The Network will also develop computer generated models to test device performance prior to evaluation on vulnerable patients. Materials developed in other engineering applications will be evaluated for their suitability in new and existing device designs.
Three proposed studies provide exemplars of devices attached to skin tissues; to provide breathing assistance for pre-term infants, protection for infants and adults with inherited disease and incontinence management for males. The network will engage with other partners and in particular our two supporting HTCs in Wound Prevention & Treatment and Devices for Dignity, who will prioritise subsequent activities based on identified clinical needs. These will inevitably involve engagement with other academic, clinical and industrial partners, which the Network will fully encourage.
Activity within the Network will provide benefits to patient-centric Quality of Life. Improving device design will reduce discomfort and lower the occurrence of lifelong scarring and disfigurement injuries. This will also offer the opportunity for the NHS to reduce costs associated with treatment of medical-device related skin damage and their potential recurrence. This, in turn, will attract interest from the healthcare industry to reinvest in a range of safe devices with novel materials and designs which can prevent damage to vulnerable tissues. The Network aims to extend the success of UK plc in the advanced wound dressing market, which currently embraces over 20% of the global market, into the wound prevention or avoidance market.
The wide dissemination strategy will attract other academics in the UK and Internationally to offer additional expertise to the innovation platform in the form of methodological or theoretical techniques and engage with the Network. In addition, activities from the Network will attract interest from additional Health Technology Cooperatives, thereby enhancing its scope and increasing its associations with the wider academic and clinical communities. The Network will also establish key links with organisations, such as the MHRA who regulate the medical device industry.
Planned Impact
Technological advances in medicine has raised societal expectations in such a way that there is an increase in infants who survive childbirth and childhood and an increase in life expectancy of adults with long term conditions e.g. diabetes, cancer. In order to provide this advance there has been an expansion of medical devices which interface with patient's skin. However, some of these device-related interventions can cause trauma and soft tissue damage.
The network will expand knowledge and drive fundamental scientific advances by providing a forum for expansive multidisciplinary research. The aims of the proposed research will be governed by key pathways, namely; research to address known clinical problems, device designs are feasible for development by industry, each of which are underpinned by established research criteria. In order to achieve this expertise from bioengineering, health sciences, engineering design, medical physics (including imaging), computational methods and material science will be combined.
The proposed Network also aims to prevent hospital acquired wounds, which currently costs the NHS £4 billion pa. Economic Impact will be achieved through the development of novel designs and material features for medical devices which will lead to the generation of new product creating opportunities for the supply chain. The Network will provide a pathway to end-users (via the Cooksey model) by providing an accessible framework of clinical research. The Networks aims to extend the success of UK plc in the advanced wound dressing market, which currently embraces over 20% of the global market (worth $5 billion and set to triple in ten years) into the wound prevention market.
Establishing key links with policy making organisations such as the MHRA will increase the profile of medical device-related injury. Organising bodies which regulate safety and distribution of devices will play a pivotal role in providing institutional backing for changes in the design and manufacture of medical devices. The Network will also provide a pre-clinical platform for more rigorous testing of devices used in the healthcare setting, which will include pre-clinical simulation of new devices interacting with the skin. We will also look to inform clinical and technical guidelines provided by key national agencies such as NICE and BSI, in areas associated with "medical devices and wound prevention".
The Network output will affect Quality of Life in several aspects. For example, devices which safely interact with patients will be more comfortable to wear, thus improving their compliance and reducing the incidence of long-term injury. In addition, safe medical devices can be maintained in-situ for prolonged periods, stabilising the medical condition and reducing the need for repeat interventions.
The Network will have a number of Beneficiaries which will include academics, industrialists, clinicians and policy makers. Successful collaborations within and beyond the network will facilitate multidisciplinary research and provide a platform for novel, translational ideas. Partners will also be encouraged to develop a series of KTPs, and collaborate with established centres of excellence e.g. Strathclyde Institute of Medical Devices.
The network will actively communicate and engage with clinical, industrial, academic and organisational communities to raise the awareness of medical device-related injury. Clinical recognition will be promoted through the established clinical links proposed within the Network and developed through dissemination strategy. In addition the regularly updated website will include a comprehensive database of relevant research expertise within the HTC partnership and a search facility to enable initial contact between researchers, clinicians and industrialists. The website will also provide information relating to upcoming meetings and conferences of relevant to the multidisciplinary community.
The network will expand knowledge and drive fundamental scientific advances by providing a forum for expansive multidisciplinary research. The aims of the proposed research will be governed by key pathways, namely; research to address known clinical problems, device designs are feasible for development by industry, each of which are underpinned by established research criteria. In order to achieve this expertise from bioengineering, health sciences, engineering design, medical physics (including imaging), computational methods and material science will be combined.
The proposed Network also aims to prevent hospital acquired wounds, which currently costs the NHS £4 billion pa. Economic Impact will be achieved through the development of novel designs and material features for medical devices which will lead to the generation of new product creating opportunities for the supply chain. The Network will provide a pathway to end-users (via the Cooksey model) by providing an accessible framework of clinical research. The Networks aims to extend the success of UK plc in the advanced wound dressing market, which currently embraces over 20% of the global market (worth $5 billion and set to triple in ten years) into the wound prevention market.
Establishing key links with policy making organisations such as the MHRA will increase the profile of medical device-related injury. Organising bodies which regulate safety and distribution of devices will play a pivotal role in providing institutional backing for changes in the design and manufacture of medical devices. The Network will also provide a pre-clinical platform for more rigorous testing of devices used in the healthcare setting, which will include pre-clinical simulation of new devices interacting with the skin. We will also look to inform clinical and technical guidelines provided by key national agencies such as NICE and BSI, in areas associated with "medical devices and wound prevention".
The Network output will affect Quality of Life in several aspects. For example, devices which safely interact with patients will be more comfortable to wear, thus improving their compliance and reducing the incidence of long-term injury. In addition, safe medical devices can be maintained in-situ for prolonged periods, stabilising the medical condition and reducing the need for repeat interventions.
The Network will have a number of Beneficiaries which will include academics, industrialists, clinicians and policy makers. Successful collaborations within and beyond the network will facilitate multidisciplinary research and provide a platform for novel, translational ideas. Partners will also be encouraged to develop a series of KTPs, and collaborate with established centres of excellence e.g. Strathclyde Institute of Medical Devices.
The network will actively communicate and engage with clinical, industrial, academic and organisational communities to raise the awareness of medical device-related injury. Clinical recognition will be promoted through the established clinical links proposed within the Network and developed through dissemination strategy. In addition the regularly updated website will include a comprehensive database of relevant research expertise within the HTC partnership and a search facility to enable initial contact between researchers, clinicians and industrialists. The website will also provide information relating to upcoming meetings and conferences of relevant to the multidisciplinary community.
Organisations
- University of Southampton (Lead Research Organisation)
- UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM (Collaboration)
- Footfalls and Heartbeats (Collaboration)
- Hill-Rom (Collaboration)
- Peacocks Medical Group Ltd (Collaboration)
- medstrom healthcare ltd (Collaboration)
- National Institute for Health Research (Collaboration)
- QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON (Collaboration)
- Frazer-Nash Consultancy (Collaboration)
- NIHR WoundTec HTC (Collaboration)
- Scarletred (Collaboration)
- Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (Collaboration)
- Sumed International (UK) Ltd (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS (Collaboration)
- Wessex Academic Health Science Network (Collaboration)
- KING'S COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Project Partner)
- Devices for Dignity (Project Partner)
Publications
Bader DL
(2018)
Technologies to monitor the health of loaded skin tissues.
in Biomedical engineering online
Chai CY
(2017)
Pressure signatures can influence tissue response for individuals supported on an alternating pressure mattress.
in Journal of tissue viability
Dickinson AS
(2017)
Finite element analysis of the amputated lower limb: A systematic review and recommendations.
in Medical engineering & physics
Dickinson AS
(2016)
Registering methodology for imaging and analysis of residual-limb shape after transtibial amputation.
in Journal of rehabilitation research and development
Fryer S
(2023)
Continuous pressure monitoring of inpatient spinal cord injured patients: implications for pressure ulcer development.
in Spinal cord
Gray R
(2016)
Monitoring contractile dermal lymphatic activity following uniaxial mechanical loading
in Medical Engineering & Physics
Jayabal H
(2021)
The identification of biophysical parameters which reflect skin status following mechanical and chemical insults.
in Clinical physiology and functional imaging
Levy A
(2017)
Penile compression clamps: A model of the internal mechanical state of penile soft tissues.
in Neurourology and urodynamics
Liu L
(2019)
A reflection-mode fibre-optic sensor for breath carbon dioxide measurement in healthcare
in Sensing and Bio-Sensing Research
Macaulay M
(2015)
A trial of devices for urinary incontinence after treatment for prostate cancer.
in BJU international
Title | Network Spidergram |
Description | An illustration of the academic, clinical and industrial members within the Network and their involvement in our research projects. |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2014 |
Impact | Useful tool to quickly illustrate links between academic, clinical and industrial members within the Network |
URL | http://www.southampton.ac.uk/mdvsn/about/network_partners.page |
Description | Our key findings are summarised in the EPSRC-NIHR HTC Partnership Award 'Plus': Medical Devices and Vulnerable Skin: Intelligent sensing to promote self-management. Our research findings from EPSRC - NIHR HTC Partnership Award: Medical devices and vulnerable skin: Optimising safety in design have been used to inform design features to improve existing medical devices.Exemplars include: Penile clamp design - Our bioengineering research approach has revealed that existing designs of penile clamps for males with incontinence created harmful deformations in the penile tissues restricting blood supply and their associated guidelines were deemed not fit for purpose. Subsequently, with the guidance of end-users, we developed a novel penile clamp device incorporating an ergonomic design and matched interface materials, which is being licenced for IP. It is currently being evaluated on a small cohort of male incontinent participants. The project also created the first evidence-based guideline resulting in safer practice for end users and a reduction in potential damage due to these clamps. Collaboration with Prostate Cancer UK Movember represents a first in kind evaluation of these products and a step change in device design for these vulnerable individuals. Support Surfaces - We have interacted with several industrial partners to evaluate the efficacy of support surfaces for pressure ulcer prevention. Studies have identified features within mattress systems incorporating novel designs and interface materials, co-developed into clinical products (Aerospacer, Medstrom; MCM and LPR, HillRom). These systems include technologies to manage the microclimate at the patient interface, automated tilting to offload vulnerable tissues, and internal pressure signatures to maintain skin health (The physiological response of soft tissue to periodic repositioning as a strategy for pressure ulcer prevention, Woodhouse et al, 2015, Pressure signatures can influence tissue response for individuals supported on an alternating mattress, Chai et al, 2017,An evaluation of fluid immersion therapy for the prevention of pressure ulcers, Worsley et al, 2016 and Technologies to monitor the health of loaded skin tissues, Worsely et al, 2018). The scientific research has led to changes in default settings and clinical guidance for use in commercial systems (Dolphin Fluid Immersion Therapy, Joerns, US), to improve patient safety. Successfully engaged with a multidisciplinary team of academics, healthcare practitioners and industrialists to combine expertise to minimise the risk of medical device-related injuries. We have also engaged with partners hosting a number of international internships and research personnel (Netherlands, Israel, US, Sweden, Canada and Australia). Funded a total of four feasibility studies which have targeted at least one of the EPSRC Grand Challenges. |
Exploitation Route | Our research findings have been used by industrial partners to develop new medical devices which safely interface with patent's skin. Our key findings have progressed through developments in MDVSNPlus as indicated in the corresponding submission. Our work has influenced, and will continue to influence, the guidelines produced by the the European and US National Pressure Ulcer Advisory panels (EPUAP and NPUAP). The guideline includes explicit recommendations and guidelines for pressure ulcer prevention and treatment that are used all over Europe and the US. |
Sectors | Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
URL | https://www.southampton.ac.uk/mdvsn/index.page? |
Description | Our research findings have been used by industrial partners to develop new medical devices which safely interface with patients' skin. Our key findings are summarised in the EPSRC-NIHR HTC Partnership Award 'Plus': Medical Devices and Vulnerable Skin: Intelligent sensing to promote self-management. |
First Year Of Impact | 2015 |
Sector | Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
Impact Types | Economic Policy & public services |
Description | British Health Trade Association |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Impact | Adviser to Bed Section Mattress Standard Working Group from 2015, onwards. In October 2018, Professor Dan Bader chaired the BHTA annual Symposium, highlighting current thinking that will shape the future of pressure ulcer care. |
URL | https://www.southampton.ac.uk/mdvsn/news/events/2018/10/bhta2018.page? |
Description | Expert Skin Workshop |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | Advising on skin damage and tolerance levels during vigorous sporting activities |
Description | Support Surface Group |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Impact | ISO/TC 173/WG11 Committee Member - Support Surfaces When Lying Down |
Description | CASE award |
Amount | £93,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2016 |
End | 09/2019 |
Description | MICA: Integrated interfacial sensors for lower limb prosthetic applications |
Amount | £590,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | MR/L013096/1 |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2014 |
End | 02/2016 |
Description | Paediatric Healthcare Technology Theme |
Amount | £143,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
Department | NIHR Biomedical Research Centre |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2015 |
End | 12/2017 |
Title | Lymphatic function in human skin |
Description | MDVSN has supported the development, for the first time, of minimally invasive techniques to assess lymphatic function in loaded human skin. In addition, the techniques have been adopted to examine the effectiveness of compression garments to manage lymphoedema |
Type Of Material | Physiological assessment or outcome measure |
Year Produced | 2017 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | Using ICG fluorescence imaging techniques, our research has developed an analytical methodology to estimate robust parameters which reflect the dynamic behaviour of transient lymphatic packets. This identified the role of lymphatic occlusion on the aetiology of skin breakdown (Gray et al. 2016). In addition, this approach has proved successful in monitoring the short-term effects of external compression garments on lymphatic function (Lopera et al. 2017). |
Title | Finite Element Modelling |
Description | MDVSN has supported the development of computer simulation (Finite Element Modelling) to predict soft tissue stresses and strain patterns resulting from the application of medical devices. The novel research has focused on two key medical devices; penile clamps and respiratory masks (Levy et al 2017; Verberne et al. 2020). The research has been collaborative in nature with named colleagues from the University of Tel Aviv (Levy and Gefen) and Eindhoven University of Technology (Oomens) |
Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
Year Produced | 2015 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Computer simulation provides the opportunity basis to conduct sensitivity analysis on both the design and material properties of devices to optimise the safety at the patient-device interface. It facilitates the reduction in the number of lab-based experiments and provides scientific evaluation of medical devices - in silico - thus establishing providing a design template for improved device features for use with patients with vulnerable skin. |
Description | Apex |
Organisation | Atacama Pathfinder Experiment |
Country | Chile |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Research into new support surface |
Collaborator Contribution | Manufacturer of specialist mattresses and funder of research project |
Impact | Performance indicator on existing and future products |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Devices for Dignity HTC |
Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
Department | NIHR Devices for Dignity Healthcare Technology Co-Operative |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Joint networking events and research projects |
Collaborator Contribution | Joint networking events |
Impact | Facilitations of PPI activity |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Footfalls and Heartbeats Ltd |
Organisation | Footfalls and Heartbeats |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Funded to work on a research project with Nottingham University. |
Collaborator Contribution | Working on a research project involving "Optical fibre sensing at the interface between tissue and orthosis or prosthesis". |
Impact | ongoing project |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | Frazer-Nash |
Organisation | Frazer-Nash Consultancy |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Provided experimental boundary conditions for FEA model and clinical context for sensitivity analysis. This was facilitated by interaction with medical device company, Intersurgical, who provided CAD geometry of respiratory masks. |
Collaborator Contribution | Joint collaboration to develop a computational (FEA) model of the mask/head interface to predict the mechanical state of vulnerable facial tissues exposed to loading using respiratory devices. Supported undergraduate engineering internship |
Impact | Sensitivity Analysis Technical paper (in preparation) |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Hill-Rom |
Organisation | Hill-Rom |
Country | Global |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Performance evaluation of a range of mattresses designed to control microclimate and periodically redistribute pressures |
Collaborator Contribution | Manufacture of range of specialist mattresses and project funding |
Impact | Performance indicator on existing and future products. Co-developed ClinActiv+ MCM™ (Microclimate Management) latest advanced therapy surface system from Hill-Rom. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Impress Network |
Organisation | University of Leeds |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | MDVSN funded partner project 'Breaking Barriers in Skin Sensing Assessment' |
Collaborator Contribution | Impress working on 'Breaking Barriers in Skin Sensing Assessment project within our Vulnerable Skin and Incontinence area of interest. |
Impact | Ongoing project. The results of the 12 month project was shared with MDVSNPlus. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Kings College London |
Organisation | King's College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Working on joint workshops and research projects |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-I on Network |
Impact | Joint workshops, sandpits and papers. The web-spacer glove (Skinnies WEB™) is now commercially available. The team at KCL is currently investigating potential commercial partners to commercialise the dressing glove and make it accessible to patients through NHS Supply Chains. The Hand Therapy Online Business Plan is advancing with Longhand Data Limited and Deloitte Life Sciences. Initial planning includes satisfying the Information Technology Management system standards for patient electronic records in the NHS. The health economists at the University of Surrey are developing the value for money argument for the devices, including the splint glove. The costs of hand surgery for EB are high (>£60,000 per hand). The value for money argument is predicated on reducing episodes of hand surgery through effective orthotics and the Hand Therapy online system, because together they enable effective hand therapy, and remote patient monitoring. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Medstrom |
Organisation | medstrom healthcare ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Performance evaluation of new range of mattresses |
Collaborator Contribution | Manufacture of specialist mattresses and funders of project |
Impact | Co-development of new AeroSpacer revolutionary therapeutic mattress evidenced to reduce temperature, moisture and humidity, reduce shear strain, provide effective pressure redistribution to assist in the prevention and treatment of moisture lesions and pressure ulcers. https://www.medstrom.com/products/aerospacer-range/ Publication of paper Worsley PR, Parsons B, Bader DL (2016). An evaluation of fluid immersion therapy for the prevention of pressure ulcers in Clinical Biomechanics, 40, pp 27-32. |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Medstrom (PLUS) |
Organisation | medstrom healthcare ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Research into the pressure relief characteristics and microclimate control of new support surfaces |
Collaborator Contribution | Manufacturer of specialist mattresses and funder of research project |
Impact | Co-development of new AeroSpacer revolutionary therapeutic mattress evidenced to reduce temperature, moisture and humidity, reduce shear strain, provide effective pressure redistribution to assist in the prevention and treatment of moisture lesions and pressure ulcers. https://www.medstrom.com/products/aerospacer-range/ Publication of paper Worsley PR et al (2016). An evaluation of fluid immersion therapy for the prevention of pressure ulcers in Clinical Biomechanics, 40, pp 27-32. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | NIHR WoundTec HTC |
Organisation | NIHR WoundTec HTC |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Professor Bader was Co-I of original application and has supported successful continuation of funding from NIHR. He contributed to its final report (submitted April 2018) |
Collaborator Contribution | Joint networking events |
Impact | Support provided for successful NIHR paediatric call |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Nottingham |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | MDVSN funded partner project 'Development of a prototype optical fibre CO2 skin gas sensor' |
Collaborator Contribution | University of Nottingham worked on 'Development of a prototype optical fibre CO2 skin gas sensor' project. |
Impact | Ongoing project. The results of the 12 month project was shared with the MDVSNPlus. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Nottingham (Plus) |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Named CO-I on MDVSNPlus Award. Awarded funding for project. |
Collaborator Contribution | Named CO-I on MDVSNPlus Award and worked on funded project: Optical fibre sensing at the interface between tissue and orthosis or prosthesis |
Impact | MDVSN funded partner project on 'Optical fibre sensing at the interface between tissue and orthosis or prosthesis' Publication of papers: "Fibre-optic biosensors in healthcare applications", Liang liang Liu, University of Nottingham. Symposium on Fibre Optic and Photonic Sensor for Industrial and Healthcare Applications: New Challenges and Opportunities, Rank Foundation. Held at Grasmere, Cumbria in October 2018 Submitted to Sensing and Bio-sensing Research Journal: Manuscript title: A reflection-mode fibre-optic sensor for breath carbon dioxide measurement in healthcare Another paper acknowledging MDVSN was https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org /conference-proceedings-of-spie/10340/103400X/Optical-fibre-sensin g-at-the-interface-between-tissue-and-medical/10.1 117/12.2269811.short?SSO=1 |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Peacocks |
Organisation | Peacocks Medical Group Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Working on a joint research project related to lower limb orthoses |
Collaborator Contribution | Working on a joint research project |
Impact | On-going development |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Queen Mary University of London |
Organisation | Queen Mary University of London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | MDVSN funded partner project 'Design and in vitro testing of soft, biodegradable electrochemical sensors for O2 and glucose monitoring at wound sites' |
Collaborator Contribution | Queen Mary University of London worked on a project focused on the 'Design and in vitro testing of soft, biodegradable electrochemical sensors for O2 and glucose monitoring at wound sites' in alignment with the core aims of the MDVSNPlus. |
Impact | Paper currently in progress. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | ScarletRed |
Organisation | Scarletred |
Country | Austria |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Employed in a number of research projects |
Collaborator Contribution | Objective assessment and monitoring of the erythema index on prolonged use of medical devices. |
Impact | Objective assessment and monitoring of the erythema index and its relationship with other indicator of mechanical induced damage (e.g. cytokine release in sebum and TEWL). Examination of the effects of pressure in the presence and absence of shear. Research articles are being prepared. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Sumed International |
Organisation | Sumed International (UK) Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Two research projects: "Bioengineering technologies to monitor movements in supported postures: a potential strategy to prevent pressure ulcers" and an evaluation of pressure monitoring technologies to create an "Individualized Pressure Ulcer Prevention Plan" for patients with Spinal Cord Injury. |
Collaborator Contribution | Funding of research project and partner on EPSRC CASE Studentship Award |
Impact | Joint research projects, Joint clinical workshops and PhD CASE Award. Papers Caggiari et al. (2019 and 2020) |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Wessex AHSN |
Organisation | Wessex Academic Health Science Network |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Funding opportunities |
Collaborator Contribution | Support with promotion of events and research projects |
Impact | Support with promotion of events and research projects |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Annual Report |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Each year, our annual report summarises the Network's key achievements over the previous 12 months, its future plans and aspirations. It was also designed to attract new partners with an interest in the area of medical devices and their impact on vulnerable skin, and to raise the profile of chronic wounds arising from interventional medical devices to all stakeholders. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017,2018 |
URL | http://www.southampton.ac.uk/mdvsn/index.page? |
Description | Annual Sandpit/Workshop (MDVSN) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Our annual sandpit and workshops are attended by approx. 80 representatives from academics, industrialists, clinicians and key government agencies to promote exchange of ideas and techniques with a particular emphasis on exploring the clinical problems associated with the application of medical devices in a range of clinical settings. The events also proved successful with engagement workshops for the audience to discuss the barriers and facilitators to improving clinical practice and raising awareness of medical device related injuries, creating new/novel medical devices and applying research into the field of medical devices and vulnerable skin. Other outcomes included confirmation of a MDVSN Workshop at the Tissue Viability Society Conference 2016. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017 |
URL | http://www.southampton.ac.uk/mdvsn/news/2016/10/mdvsn-third-sandpit-2016.page |
Description | EPSRC Network Engagement Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A "speed dating" event with other EPSRC funded Networks to share best practice, discuss overlapping themes and maximise impact in translational research. Outcomes include plans for future related activity and identification of complementary networks such as NewMind and IMPRESS. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017 |
Description | Key note speaker (MDVSN) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Key note speaking slots introducing MDVSN at over 15 International conferences, events, workshops over 2014/2015 and early 2016 including 5th Annual Thames Valley & Wessex Neonatal ODN Multiprofessional Clinical Day - Feb 2015, EWMA 2015, incl Tissue Viability Society - May 2015, ISPO World Congress - June 2015, Ortho Europe CAD/CAM event - August 2015, EPUAP - September 2015, Royal Society of Medicine: Prosthetic Rehabilitation - September 2015, British Health Trades Association - October 2015, European Tissue Repair Society & the Wound Healing Society (ETRS-WHS 2015) - October 2015, IMechEng - November 2015, College of Podiatry Annual Conference - November 2015 and Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineered Repair - Feb 2016. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017 |
Description | Open day presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The activity of MDVSN and MDVSNPlus has been introduced at a separate University of Southampton Network - Institute for Life Sciences |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017,2018 |
URL | http://www.southampton.ac.uk/ifls/news/2016/01/21-fortisnet-launch.page |
Description | Pressure Ulcer Webinar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Professor Dan Bader contributed to a webinar for Wounds International to support 'Stop The Pressure Campaign 2015', focusing on the important role of support surfaces in the global efforts to reduce pressure ulcer incidence Professor Bader explained why tissue breaks down under load - the impact of pressure, shear and microclimate on skin health - and the importance of using an effective support surface. He also discussed the important factors to consider when selecting the type of support surface for individuals to optimise their care. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.southampton.ac.uk/mdvsn/news/2015/11/bader-webinar-nov2015.page? |
Description | Social Media |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | MDVSN's and MDVSNPlus' twitter account has in excess of 480 followers, increasing by the year and is used to disseminate news, funding calls and updates on our activity. The Network also has a dedicated LinkedIn group - Medical Devices and Vulnerable Skin Network - and is used to share information with stakeholders and peers. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017,2018,2019 |
URL | https://twitter.com/mdvsnetwork |
Description | Social Media Platforms |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Social media platforms have been established via Twitter and a dedicated group - Medical Devices and Vulnerable Skin Network - on professional networking site LinkedIn to reach new audiences with an interest in medical devices and their impact on vulnerable skin. Outcomes have included collaboration approaches from new industrial partners. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017 |
URL | https://twitter.com/mdvsnetwork |
Description | Website (MDVSN) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Our website has been used to disseminate the Network's project activities and information related to upcoming meetings, conferences and sandpits of relevance to the multidisciplinary community. The website will also offer a forum for feedback of medical devices from clinicians and provide key links to the new NHS England-MHRA National Reporting and Learning System, which will act as an integrated reporting route for medical device incidents. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016,2017 |
URL | http://www.southampton.ac.uk/mdvsn/ |