# Development of a Digital Monitoring System to Reduce Risk of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries

> **NIH NIH R43** · OCUVERA LLC · 2020 · $160,570

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The goal of the proposed SBIR project is to develop, implement, and demonstrate the feasibility of a Digital
Pressure Injury Monitoring (DPIM) system to reduce the risk of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries (HAPIs).
HAPIs are a common, costly, and serious problem for public health. Ocuvera’s DPIM system will use data from
three-dimensional video processing and custom algorithms to detect and predict risky patient behaviors as well
as to automate nurse record keeping related to HAPIs. Algorithms will be refined, tested, and customized to
different subtle patient behaviors that are related to risk of HAPI development. Ocuvera will create a user
interface to automate record keeping and provide intelligent activity reports. To garner feedback from end-
users, Ocuvera will deploy the prototype DPIM to a local hospital where data will be collected on a small
number of patients during a short field test. Feedback will be gathered from nursing staff using the system to
determine its potential impact on HAPI care. Information gathered during this Phase I study will inform
refinement of the system and prepare Ocuvera for a larger clinical trial during Phase II. If successful, this study
would show Ocuvera’s potential as an innovative technology with the ability to reduce risk of HAPIs and
improve the standard of care, which represents a significant opportunity to improve outcomes for patients,
hospitals, and nursing staff.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10082132
- **Project number:** 1R43NR019556-01
- **Recipient organization:** OCUVERA LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Lucas Sabalka
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $160,570
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-04 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10082132

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10082132, Development of a Digital Monitoring System to Reduce Risk of Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries (1R43NR019556-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-08 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10082132. Licensed CC0.

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