Addressing pressure injury disparities in persons with darkly pigmented skin using dynamic tissue simulations

The National Institute on Aging awarded Innovative Design Labs Inc. $313,311 on September 20, 2025, under the Aging Research program (CFDA 93.866) to develop a high-fidelity, interactive pressure injury simulation product addressing assessment and treatment disparities in patients with darkly pigmented skin.

The recipient will create a mannequin-based simulation system leveraging 3D anatomy printing to represent adjustable skin tones and all stages of pressure injury wounds and variations. Phase I activities include consulting with an expert advisory panel, prototyping and producing mannequin materials and mechanical design, and developing simulation electronics and functionality. The product aims to enable clinical students to identify early pressure injury development across skin pigmentation types without relying on visual indicators alone, addressing higher rates of advanced-stage wounds and excess mortality documented in patients with darkly pigmented skin.

The award covers performance in Minnesota through September 19, 2027. Innovative Design Labs Inc. is a for-profit small business based in Minneapolis specializing in medical simulation systems and biomedical technologies. The company has prior experience developing advanced medical simulation products and holds multiple federal grants from agencies including the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities and National Institute of Nursing Research.

Abstract

The proposed project focuses on creating a high-fidelity, interactive pressure injury (PI) simulation product to address assessment and treatment disparities of patients with darkly pigmented skin. Significance: millions of americans develop pressure injuries (PIS) each year. PIS cause serious morbidity and excess mortality. Significant disparities exist as patients with darkly pigmented skin have higher rates of high-stage PIS and a higher mortality from the wounds. In patients with darkly pigmented skin, identifying developing PIS is nuanced and challenging leading to them being detected at later stages. Solution: our proposed product innovatively leverages recent material advances in 3D anatomy printing to comprehensively allow for adjustable skin tones and representations of all stages of PI wounds and variations. With our product, students will learn variations and nuances that occur across skin pigmentation types and how to identify the early development of a PI on darkly pigmented skin without any visual indications. Specific aims: in phase i the following aims are proposed: 1) consult with expert advisory panel and perform a final evaluation, 2) prototype and produce mannequin materials/mechanical design, and 3) develop simulation electronics and functionality.