Abstract
A method employing the continuous measurement of body pressure, skin temperature and relative humidity in the air adjacent to the skin was investigated. In order to make clear the relation to the occurrence of decubitus ulcer, a measuring apparatus was devised. This apparatus enabled us to measure simultaneously local body pressure in 20 points, skin temperature in 6 points and relative humidity in 4 points at 10 second intervals.
Distribution of body pressure around the sacrum for 6 healthy adult women was measured using this apparatus. A linear set of 20 sensors was put on a Jacobi line as a base line, and it was shifted downward in succession at 2 cm intervals. Thus, a measurement totalling 300 points in the area of 40cm×30cm was taken.
The region of high body pressure coincided with the sacrum area. The highest value and the area with a pressure of over 100 g/cm2 differed with the subject though the portion with the highest value was on the median line in many cases.
The measurements with the highest value were 0-5 cm lower when measured in dorsal position than in prone position.
The measuring apparatus employed in this report has many advantages compared with a customary instrument. It is suitable for a measurement in narrow area, and it is especially capable for a rapid and continuous multi-point measurement.
