Force Sensitive Bed Monitoring for the Elderly

Background: As force sensing technology continues to evolve, so can the quality of life for elderly people and their families. A group at Massey University's School of Engineering and Advanced Technology recently investigated the feasibility of incorporating a bed sensor as part of a wireless home monitoring system for an elderly person or disabled person living alone. The system is centered around a customizable database that logs a person’s routine daily activity patterns in the home. If activities deviate to a certain degree from the established pattern, caregivers can be notified. For example, if the person always gets out of bed at 7:00 am, but by 8:00 am they have not left the bed yet, it could indicate a problem and can alert loved ones via text message that they should check in to be sure there is no emergency.

Solution: Tekscan's FlexiForce™ force sensor was incorporated into the bed check monitoring portion of the system. FlexiForce was chosen because of its reliability, cost-effectiveness, and ease of integration. FlexiForce sensors are strategically placed underneath the bed legs to determine if a force is being exerted on the bed (confirming whether someone is lying on it). The sensors were calibrated in such a means that the system could confirm that the force on the bed is exerted by the human subject rather than a pet or an inanimate object.

Benefits of FlexiForce™ Sensors

• Ultra-thin sensor construction and flexibility means minimal interference/disturbance to normal action
• Accurate response gives your customers and end users confidence in the performance of your product
• Knowledgeable, experienced technical staff help you develop the most effective, economical sensor based on your specific requirements.  All manufacturing takes place at ISO 9001 compliant & 13485 registered Tekscan headquarters.
• 100% factory inspection ensures your sensors meet established performance specifications

The Right Bed Pressure Sensor Technology

Whether you are building your own system to monitor bed usage, or are looking for body pressure mapping for seat, mattress, or wheelchair design, Tekscan has a variety of custom and off-the-shelf solutions, and the support expertise to help you find the right sensor monitoring solution and integration.

Getting Started with FlexiForce Sensors

FlexiForce sensors are available off-the-shelf in packs of four or eight for testing and prototyping. Visit our online store to place an order, or contact us to discuss customization options with one of our engineers.

Source: (2008) IEEE Sensors Conference, Gaddam, A., Gupta, G., Mukhopadhyay, S., Necessity of a Bed Sensor in a Smart Digital Home to Care for Elder People, 1340-1343.