Innovative Smart Clothing for lymphoedema Assessment and Personalised Care

In Collaboration with: Dr. Masoumeh Hesam Mahomudinezhad

With support from the University of Auckland

Duration: 2024 - 2025

Purpose:

This project aims to improve lymphedema treatment in breast cancer survivors by enhancing the intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) suit with an innovative capacitive sensor, which enables the precise measurement of pressure application at body interface. This addresses the challenge of undefined optimal pressures and waveforms in IPC treatments for effective lymph drainage. Having developed and tested a prototype capable of measuring localized pressure, future steps involve optimizing the sensor for full upper limb coverage, integrating real-time limb volume measurements, and conducting comprehensive clinical testing. These efforts aim to validate the system's effectiveness and refine its design, ultimately improving patient outcomes in lymphedema management.