Sub-epidermal Moisture
Scanner Figures
Bruin Biometrics developed a device (Provizio SEM Scanner) to measure sub-epidermal moisture (SEM), that helps nurses prevent pressure injuries, and asked me to make some illustrations explaining SEM. All illustrations were first drawn in Illustrator and later painted over in Photoshop, and finally put in a layout in Illustrator with labeling.
Normal anatomy of the skin, showing the epidermis, dermis and hypodermis
Pressure Injury Cascade
The pressure injury damage cascade is a progressive cellular and tissue breakdown process. It starts when prolonged mechanical pressure or shear force squeezes soft tissue against bone. This cuts off blood flow, triggers deep cell distortion, sparks severe inflammation, and leads to tissue death.
Somewhere in the damage cascade sub-epidermal moisture (SEM) starts to build up, before there is any visible sign of skin damage detectable by a nurse.
SEM Scanner
The SEM scanner is able to detect the build-up of sub-epidermal moisture before the damage develops into a full pressure injury, breaking the skin. This enables nurses to prevent much more serious injuries and complications resulting from them.