The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued an innovation briefing on a novel technique to determine the risk of development of pressure ulcers. The technology called sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) Scanner can be utilised for detecting changes in SEM to assess pressure-induced tissue damage which may progress to a pressure ulcer. The technology could be used alongside current methods for risk and visual assessment in individuals at risk of developing a pressure ulcer.
Tissue inflammation leads to leakage of plasma and fluid, creating a layer of moisture under the skin known as SEM, which increases proportionately with the tissue damage. The SEM Scanner measures the SEM using two concentric coplanar electrodes and an integrated pressure sensor. The device then computes a 'delta value', which the clinicians can compare with a threshold to determine the likelihood of progression to a pressure ulcer.
Evidence indicates that SEM Scanner could effectively identify areas of tissue damage at risk of becoming pressure ulcers earlier than other methods such as visual assessment and ultrasound. However, there is limited evidence to establish whether the technology should be used in all patients at risk of developing pressure ulcers, or only those at high risk. The cost per patient (5.6 days average length of hospital stay) is estimated to be around £1.54.