Pressure’s on, but students think smarter

UND biomedical engineering students design smart mattress pad to combat pressure ulcers

For a team of senior biomedical engineering students at the University of North Dakota, solving a problem wasn’t just about innovation — but empathy.

Their senior design project, titled “Smart Reusable Multisensor Monitor for Pressure Ulcers,” targets a common and painful issue among individuals with limited mobility: pressure ulcers.

These injuries, which result from prolonged pressure on the skin, affect millions of people each year, especially elderly and bedridden patients. Left unchecked, they can lead to infections, hospitalization, and long-term complications.

“There are about 2.5 million people suffering from pressure ulcers in the U.S. alone,” said team member Samuel Temgoua. “That number will continue to grow as more people get older.”

Temgoua’s motivation stems from real-world experience. “I’ve been working as a CNA for the past 3 years — I’ve seen how much pressure injuries can be an issue for the older population,” he said. “So I figured I would help by being part of the team that is trying to develop a solution for this growing issue.”

Engineering with a purpose

To create that solution, the team engineered a sensor-embedded mattress pad capable of monitoring three key risk factors for skin breakdown: pressure, temperature, and humidity. The system is embedded within a four-layer pad designed for comfort and safety, from custom-made membrane capacitance pressure sensors to temperature and humidity sensors.

Data is collected through a microcontroller and wirelessly transmitted in real-time to alert caregivers if conditions become unsafe. It’s an approach designed to bring hospital-grade monitoring to homecare settings — where cost and complexity often make existing devices impractical.

“Our project addresses the problem of pressure ulcer formation in individuals with limited mobility, especially those in homecare settings,” said Teneng Jawneh-Marenah. “By enabling early detection and timely intervention, our solution improves patient outcomes and quality of life, while also reducing the burden on caregivers.”

Jawneh-Marenah, who worked as a nurse assistant, was inspired by the gaps in care she witnessed. “That gap in care motivated me to develop a solution that could improve comfort while monitoring the major factors that contribute to pressure ulcer formation.”

A team effort

The team’s work was fueled by diverse skills and shared dedication. Bailey Buenarte, an online student, brought a personal connection to the project. “I have seen the effects pressure ulcers have firsthand,” she said. “Knowing how [patients] are stuck in bed and may have additional pain from pressure ulcers, I wanted to be a part of something that could change or help prevent that.”

That teamwork also empowered Silvia Galindo, a freshman and the team’s lead on CAD and 3D printing. “In this project, I had the pleasure of learning a lot of different skills, such as CAD, and how to use different 3D printers,” Galindo said. “I also learned how to write an abstract, a manuscript, and present at an academic conference — skills I didn’t think I would be learning until my senior year in college.”

One of the team’s most essential hurdles was avoiding a common issue with medical technology: making sure the device itself doesn’t cause harm.

“The biggest challenge we faced was designing an innovative device that effectively monitors at-risk patients without contributing to medical device–related pressure ulcers (MDRPUs) itself,” said Jawneh-Marenah.

“To overcome this, we focused heavily on material selection, flexibility, and sensor integration.”

Temgoua echoed this, describing how difficult it was to get the electronics to work reliably. “The biggest issue has been doing the circuit and coding the microcontroller to give the data I needed — but the issue was mainly the circuit,” he said. “With the help of the project mentor we were able to figure something that worked.”

As for what inspired the team in the first place, Abhi Gudapati answered: “Patients with pressure ulcers and our elderly population.” His succinct goals for the project? “Mitigating the formation of pressure ulcers.”

Looking ahead

The team’s prototype was successful in early testing — detecting changes in pressure, moisture, and temperature within clinically relevant ranges. Their layered design offered pressure redistribution while preserving comfort and skin protection.

Next steps include refining sensor accuracy, integrating real-time alerts into a caregiver app, and performing further testing in real-world care environments. The hope is to deliver a cost-effective, scalable solution that can be used at home or in hospitals to protect vulnerable patients.

As Galindo put it: “We are developing a smart, sensor-embedded mattress pad designed to monitor pressure, temperature, and humidity in real-time to monitor pressure ulcers in individuals with limited mobility.”

And with that goal in mind, these UND students are working not only to engineer smarter health devices — but also to create a more compassionate future.

Written by Paige Prekker  //  UND College of Engineering & Mines