Design and Development of a Monitoring System for the Interface Pressure Measurement of Seated People

This paper illustrates the design and realization of a novel measurement system for the acquisition and dynamic analysis of interface pressure data and continuous monitoring of the center of pressure of a seated person. The system is composed of a capacitive sensor matrix, the electronics for the acquisition and preprocessing of the signal, and a software application for displaying data on a personal computer screen. The scope of this device is to obtain a system that is able to detect important parameters without being perceived by the subject and to evaluate the feeling of discomfort, pain and, eventually, to early detect the development of pressure ulcers. The continuous and automatic measurement of the individual´s movements contributes to the assessment of the psychological-physical condition of the person and in particular to the detection of the level of comfort and discomfort during long periods of sitting.