Inflatable Device Streamlines Repositioning of Proned Ventilated Patients

Prone ventilation is a key intervention for severe respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome, but repositioning sedated, ventilated patients is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Frequent turns are required to prevent pressure injuries, yet staffing pressures can delay or limit this care. In many units the task ties up several clinicians for prolonged periods. To help address this challenge, a newly introduced inflatable device aims to streamline consistent, safe turning of proned patients.

BathMat is an inflatable pillow placed beneath a patient’s chest and abdomen to gently raise the torso, enabling controlled repositioning while prone. The device was created by researchers and clinicians at the University of Bath and Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust. By elevating the upper body under the sheet, it reduces manual handling demands during routine turns.

A clinical trial that concluded in June 2026 enrolled 30 patients and encompassed about 160 repositioning procedures. Preliminary findings showed the device reduced the number of staff required to reposition proned, ventilated patients from five people to three. Each repositioning saved approximately one hour of staff time while maintaining high standards of care.

Prone ventilation is widely used for severe respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome, benefiting around 16,500 patients each year. To prevent pressure injuries, guidance calls for repositioning every two to four hours, and the task can require up to seven staff members for as long as an hour. When positioned beneath the sheet, the device can permit repositioning by as few as two staff members, supporting more consistent delivery during workforce pressure.

Investigators noted that patients with complex care needs or high body mass index may have reduced access to prone ventilation because of the resources needed to deliver it. They aim to help close this gap by simplifying the turning process and reducing the physical burden on staff. Earlier work describing development and early evaluation of the technology was published in BMJ Innovations.

The team plans to commercialize the technology through a spin-out affiliated with the University of Bath and Royal United Hospitals Bath. They are also developing a next‑generation version with pressure sensing to provide real‑time pressure maps across the body. In the longer term, they hope the system could detect and automatically relieve pressure hotspots before injury occurs.

“The BathMat was inspired by the challenges intensive care teams faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of which remain today as services continue to operate under significant workforce pressure. By bringing together clinicians, engineers and researchers, we’ve developed a practical solution to a longstanding challenge in critical care. These early clinical results show that we can safely reduce the number of staff required to reposition ventilated patients while maintaining high standards of care. We believe BathMat has the potential to make prone ventilation more accessible, more consistent and less physically demanding for health care professionals, ultimately benefiting patients across the NHS,” said Dr. Alexander Lunt, senior lecturer at the University of Bath and lead engineer on the project.

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