Pressure profiling of compression bandages by a computerized instrument

Abstract

In the present study, a novel computerized instrument has been developed to record the applied pressure exerted by medical bandages in real time. The working of novel computerized instrument is based on the pneumatic principle, which is used to obtain pressure profiles of internal pressure exerted by the bandages over a period of time. The basic idea of this work is to design an online measurement system using differential pressure transmitter and digital process controller that provides a very accurate method of measuring pressure applied by compression bandages. This work also aims to identify different parameters affecting applied pressure profile of these bandages. A series of commercially available bandages have been studied and the effects of variables, namely fabric parameters (mass per unit area of bandage, tensile properties and thickness of bandage), number of bandage wraps or folds and extent of initial internal pressure have been studied. Bases on the results, certain characteristics have been recommended for choosing the ideal bandages. The bandages with higher mass per unit area and higher warp-wise extensibility show the faster and higher drop in internal pressure over a period of time. The reduction in internal pressure is minimised by increasing number of bandage wraps or folds.