Patent ID: 8477036

Claim:
A system for monitoring localized interface pressures produced between a surface and a patient supported thereon, said monitoring system comprising: an underlayment adapted to be interposed between a patient support surface and a patient resting adjacent said patient support surface, said underlayment comprising a plurality of pressure sensors; and a processor in electrical communication with said pressure sensors of said underlayment, said processor being adapted to: acquire and map pressure data as measured by said pressure sensors; store said mapped pressure data; analyze said stored pressure data for the determination of the body position of the patient from the group consisting of: the supine position; the prone position; and a lateral position; determine, based upon whether the determined body position of the patient has remained unchanged, from one said body position to another said body position, over a length of time exceeding an established threshold value, whether repositioning of the patient should take place; generate a graphical image of said mapped pressure data, wherein said graphical image comprises a written language identification of the regions of the body of the patient that are placed at heightened risk for tissue breakdown as a result of the determined body position of the patient remaining unchanged over a length of time exceeding said established threshold value; and display, through a user interface, said graphical image.