Tackling Ageing Continence Through Theory Tools and Technology TACT3: Assistive Technology Development for Continence Pad Users
By van den Heuvel, Eleanor; Jowitt, Felicity; Gilhooly, Mary; RESNA/ICTA 2011: Advancing Rehabilitation Technologies for an Aging Society, June 5-8, 2011, Toronto, Canada,Publication Date: 2011
Paper outlines the work of the Continence Interventions and Services research package of the Tackling Ageing Continence Through Theory Tools and Technology (TACT3) Project. Funded by the United Kingdom’s New Dynamics of Ageing program, the aim of TACT3 is to reduce the impact of continence difficulties for older people. Two products in development by The Canada based Continence Interventions and Services package are described: (1) Smart underwear designed to detect leakage and alert the wearer before the leakage can seep out into outer clothing. The device comprises washable underwear with a sewn-in sensor and a detachable signaling unit. The sensor consists of two parallel pathways of electro-conductive yarn, which run around the edge of the area where a continence pad is normally situated. The underwear can be worn with most types of disposable pads. When urine wets the underwear and bridges the gap between the conductive pathways, the unit is triggered to alert by sending a vibrating signal. The Smart underwear was evaluated in a pilot test with three women who used the device in a variety of environments, reporting feeling more confident when wearing it. (2) A color change odor detector designed to respond to sub-olfactory levels of ammonia. The device, which is in the form of a key ring, is based on a reversible dye reaction, which responds to ammonia levels as low as 2 parts per million (ppm). Future testing of the products using standard outcome measures along with a specific evaluation questionnaire developed from user requirement data gathered in focus groups is discussed.
Published by: Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) (Website:http://www.resna.org)
Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) (Web Site: http://www.resna.org )
Link to text: http://web.resna.org/conference/proceedings/2011/RESNA_ICTA/van%20den%20heuvel-69594.pdf
