# Camera System Development for Pressure Injury Screening in Veterans with SCI

> **NIH VA I21** · MINNEAPOLIS VA  MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · —

## Abstract

Veterans with spinal cord injury (VwSCI) are at high risk for pressure injury (PI). Risk factors for PI in VwSCI
include lack of sensation below the level of injury, relative immobility, and poor gluteal muscle tone. The
average added healthcare cost for a person with SCI with a pressure injury is estimated to be $70,000, and
hospitalization may be required for weeks to months to heal the pressure injury. Furthermore, incurring a
pressure injury can result in severe infection, limb loss, or even death. Preventative behavior to incurring a
pressure injury is taught to the VwSCI during rehabilitation. Behaviors such as pressure reliefs every 15
minutes, turning every two hours when lying in bed, and conducting regular skin assessments are
recommended for PI prevention. Most VwSCI are taught to use a mirror on a long handle for viewing at-risk
seated areas (e.g., sacrum, ischial tuberosities, coccyx area, and trochanters) at least twice a day for evidence
of skin changes. If the mirror user discovers a change in the skin, he/she is encouraged to completely offload
that area. Many VwSCI live great distances from the VA SCI clinic thus healthcare providers could better
advise Veterans to the appropriate pathway if they could view an image of the at-risk skin. The long term goal
of this work is to help VwSCI prevent the progression and severity of an early detected pressure injury. The
short term goals are to 1) provide VwSCI a more efficient and efficacious tool [In-Sight camera system] to
examine their at-risk skin areas; and to 2) provide a secure and efficient communication process with their
health care provider or skin specialist regarding areas of concern.
The first aim of the project will involve N=18 VwSCI (level C7 and below). During a first visit, Veterans will
describe their current use of the long-handled mirror to conduct skin screening and will demonstrate their ability
to see key locations with the mirror. They will also fill out the Assistive Device section of the QUEST 2.0 to
provide their satisfaction with the long-handled mirror. The In-Sight camera system will be presented to the
Veterans and they will be trained on how to use the system by the research nurse. The Veterans will then
demonstrate their ability to see key locations with the camera system. Subjects will fill out the Assistive Device
section of the QUEST 2.0 for the camera system and will provide feedback on how to improve the system. This
feedback will be used by our engineering team to refine the camera system. During a second visit, the refined
camera system will be retested by the same N=18 VwSCI using the same protocol. QUEST 2.0 device
subscale scores will assist in quantifying improvements to the device during the refinement.
The second aim will use the refined camera system in at-home testing of N=6 VwSCI (level C7 and below).
During a first visit to the Veteran's home, the Veteran will conduct the same testing with the long-handled
mirror as described for Aim 1...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10070519
- **Project number:** 5I21RX002533-03
- **Recipient organization:** MINNEAPOLIS VA  MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** CHRISTINE M OLNEY
- **Activity code:** I21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-01-01 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10070519

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10070519, Camera System Development for Pressure Injury Screening in Veterans with SCI (5I21RX002533-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10070519. Licensed CC0.

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