Pressure sores are unacceptably common among wheelchair users, according to a study published in the National Library of Medicine at the National Center for Biotechnology information. We’ve written about smart bandages for early bed sore detection and a patient monitoring wearable built to reduce pressure injuries. Former SpaceX engineers at Melbourne, Florida-based Kalogon developed a smart cushion to help prevent wheelchair pressure ulcers and to assist in healing existing pressure ulcers and bedsores.
The Kalogon Smart Cushion employs what the company calls intelligent redistribution technology to eliminate direct pressure on sensitive areas. Redistribution aids healing and hopefully prevents pressure ulcers from occurring. Each Kalogon Smart Cushion is designed and built specifically for the purchaser based on interviews between the customers and Kalogon’s concierge team. After a customer receives the cushion and downloads a connected app for iOS or Android mobile devices, a company-assigned team member assists with installation and customization. The user, their caregivers, or clinicians can select from pressure relief presets or customize preferred settings for comfort and pain relief. In operation, the Kalogon Smart Cushion uses pressure sensors to analyze the wheelchair user’s pressure points in real-time. The cushion then redistributes the weight to maximize comfort, minimize pain, and accelerate healing. Kalogon also has coaching programs and other resources for customers to help them get the greatest benefits from the technology.
Kalogon partners with the Brevard Achievement Center (BAC), a Florida non-profit organization that employs people with disabilities, to manufacturer the smart cushions. The partnership includes conferring with team at BAC to optimize production and assembly.
Participants in an early adopter program reported they could sit twice as long in their wheelchairs with the Kalogon smart cushion, according to the company. The users said they could take longer car trips and participate in more community events than previously. Those with existing pressure ulcers also reported faster healing and less skin breakdown.
The Kalogon Smart Cushion starts at $2,000, according to a company news release. Kalogon sells the Smart Cushion to wheelchair users, care facilities, and clinicians. According to Kalogon, participants in the Kalogon Early Adopter Program who were disabled veterans were able to have the cost of the Smart Cushion covered with V.A. benefits.
