Consumer-centred hybrid cushion innovation for people living with a disability

Lead: Dr Marlena Klaic, Senior Research Fellow, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences

Pressure injuries cause significant pain, disability, and premature death - and cost the Australian health system over $9 billion a year. Current gold-standard cushions (air-cell) are clinically effective but difficult to set up, prone to leaks, and require ongoing occupational therapy oversight, meaning they frequently operate incorrectly and undermine independence. Simpler foam alternatives offer insufficient protection. There is a clear gap for an effective, easy-to-use solution that people with disability and carers can manage independently.

The team will conduct feasibility testing of an innovative hybrid pressure-relieving cushion developed in-house at the University of Melbourne. Co-designed with people with mobility impairment, clinicians, and researchers, the cushion automatically controls inflation and interface pressure, removing the need for manual setup or ongoing clinical adjustment. Testing will happen across three parts: biomechanical performance testing against a gold-standard cushion; simulated usability testing with occupational therapists, carers, and people with disability; and a one-week home trial with up to five users to capture real-world evidence on independence, comfort, transfers, and maintenance.

The aim is to generate early evidence on the cushion's performance, usability, and implementation readiness — establishing the foundation for future development and scaled evaluation of a genuinely accessible, independence-enabling alternative to current pressure injury prevention solutions.