Organizational Unit:
College of Design
College of Design
2020-12-15
,
Sprigle, Stephen
,
Caminiti, Riley
,
Varenberg, Michael
Wound dressings can be used prophylactically or during actual treatment. Preventative dressings have become a standard of care to prevent pressure ulcers in patients
while in bed. While the mechanism of the preventative benefit has not been
completely explained, the friction between the dressing and linen is hypothesized as
being a key performance factor. The objective of this project was to quantify the
static and kinetic coefficients of friction (COF) of various brands of prophylactic
dressings under the stresses experienced in situ, while the dressings are in contact
with bed linen materials. The COF of six commercial dressings were calculated using
tribometer measurements. The ranges of static COF were 0.333-0.542 and kinetic
COF were 0.333-0.513. Four dressings exhibited COF that were consistent with
skin-linen values reported in the literature and all dressing COF appear to be lower
than the COF of moist skin against linen.