Innovation Anthology #220:

Download MP3 Link

Despite what your teacher at school may have said, fidgeting at your desk is not a bad thing.

The body’s need to fidget is the principle behind the development of a new medical device called “smart underwear”.

Designed for people with spinal injuries who are confined to wheelchairs, the high tech garment stimulates muscle movement to prevent debilitating pressure ulcers.

Dr. Martin Ferguson-Pell belongs to a team of researchers working on the project at the University of Alberta.

DR. MARTIN FERGUSON-PELL: What the underwear will contain is principally the stimulating electrodes to get the muscles to contract, and then secondarily will be sensors which will look at the status of the tissues and sort of help to inform the stimulator when it needs to be active. And so as we find that the period of time that the oxygen has been depleted from the tissue becomes too long through measurements made with sensors in the underwear, then the underwear will then create an electrical stimulation and stimulate the muscles, and then allow those tissues to be renourished again.

Dr. Ferguson-Pell says smart underwear is just one invention under development by the Smart Neural Prostheses Team supported by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research.

I’M CHERYL CROUCHER

Guest

,

, , , ,

Sponsor

Alberta Innovates Health Solutions

Alberta Innovates (formerly Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions)

As the newly formed Alberta Innovates corporation, we still fund top quality, internationally competitive health research and innovation activities to improve the health and wellbeing of Albertans. We provide leadership for Alberta’s health research and innovation enterprise by directing, coordinating, reviewing, funding and supporting research and innovation.

Working with our many partners  in the health system, we ensure that research achieves innovation in care, policy and practice, and that the needs of patients and clinicians influence research.

Our background

Alberta Innovates consolidation was launched November 1, 2016.

Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions

Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions was established as part of the Alberta Innovates system by an Act of Legislation of the Government of Alberta. It is a agency  of the Government of Alberta. We receive a yearly allocation from the Ministry of Health and report through the ministry to the people of Alberta.

Our Mandate and Roles document reflects our role and responsibilities and outlines the government statues and regulations with which we comply.

Alberta’s Health Research and Innovation Strategy (AHRIS) sets out Alberta’s health research agenda for the coming decade to ensure our considerable investments in research align with our priority—to improve the health of Albertans.

Program Date: 2009-04-28