Pressure ulcers develop when there is a prolonged reduction in blood flow to the layers of the skin which subsequently leads to skin tissue break down. Pressures above capillary pressure, >32-35mmHg for a period longer than 2 hours have been demonstrated to lead to capillary occlusion and ischemia (Daniel, Priest & Wheatley, 1981). 

However, more recently it has been recognised that vulnerable patients may be susceptible to skin tissue damage after as little as 20 minutes of pressure exposure (Angmorterh, S.K., 2016; Moore & Patton, 2019). Whilst interventions to reduce the risk of pressure ulcers including high specification mattresses, pressure redistribution aids and offloading equipment have been considered in relation to pressure relief on hospital wards, the medical imaging context has only more recently been considered in relation to pressure ulcer risk (Alresheedi, Walton, Tootell, Webb & Hogg, 2020; Angmorterh, 2016). 

Medical Imaging covers a broad range of procedures which vary in time frame. A patient may be in position for as little as 10 minutes (for example a peripheral limb X-ray), or 40-60 minutes for Radiotherapy planning, or at the upper end for 2 hours or more for interventional procedures, such as stent insertion.  

Whilst bed mattresses tend to be relatively thick and offer pressure relieving properties, X-ray mattresses are typically 2.5-5cm thick and therefore relatively high interface pressures have been recorded for patient equivalent weights on X-ray mattresses (Alresheedi et al., 2020). 

Attenuation Testing

All Attenuation testing performed at The University of Salford

All Doses measured with X2 Ray Safe (+/- 5% error)

Recommended Cleaning

Cleaning and disinfection may be carried out with warm water and a neutral detergent or with a sodium hypochlorite solution (1% or 10,000 parts per million available chlorine). 

Proprietary disinfectants may be used provided manufacturer’s instructions are followed. 

All cleaning agents and disinfectants must be thoroughly rinsed off and the item dried before storage. 

Failure to do this may result in the accumulation of reagent that could damage the polyurethane coating or negate the biocompatibility results of the Dartex® fabric.

It is essential that articles be thoroughly dried after all cleaning procedures and before storage. 

Dartex MUST NOT BE CLEANED with abrasive cleaning agents, hydrogen peroxide, Iodophors, phenolics or ammonium compounds. These may cause irreversible swelling or blistering of the fabric and make it more prone to mechanical damage.