An Australian-developed smart bedding system could help aged-care workers identify residents at risk of falls, without them needing to rely on a smartwatch or other monitoring device.

Forget wearables, this technology involves newly patented flexible sensors and turns an ordinary mattress protector into a potential fall-risk monitoring system.

Developed by Australian medtech company Sleeptite in collaboration with researchers at RMIT University, FlexiSense uses flexible sensors embedded in bedding to monitor body position and posture to help carers identify potentially risky movements.

The technology builds on earlier work by RMIT University and Australian medtech company Sleeptite, which introduced their REMi in-bed monitoring system in 2021. Bed-based monitoring systems and pressure-sensitive sensors are already used in healthcare, but the latest development centres on FlexiSense, a flexible sensor technology designed to be integrated into bedding.

The technology has now received a US patent, marking a step towards potential commercial production.

Unlike wearables, which must be charged and worn correctly, FlexiSense works from within the bedding itself. Its sensors detect changes in pressure as a person moves or changes position.

It could prove particularly useful in aged-care facilities, where staff cannot be present in every room throughout the night.

FlexiSense sensors are printed using silver and carbon inks on flexible polyurethane sheets, creating a thin sensing layer that can be incorporated into mattress protectors.

A wireless electronic module can continuously monitor and record data, which can be stored in the cloud for potential use by caregivers.

It aims to give care staff an additional way to recognise possible fall risks and intervene before it happens.

The technology was developed by RMIT researchers led by Distinguished Professor Madhu Bhaskaran, working alongside Sleeptite and bedding manufacturer Sleepeezee Bedding Australia.

Previous field testing involved six aged-care residents monitored over more than 250 nights, generating more than 6,100 hours of bed-monitoring data.

Research published in the journal Flexible and Printed Electronics has also examined the sensors’ durability and the potential for large-scale manufacturing.

The US patent was granted in October and covers the FlexiSense sensor design and its manufacturing method.

Sleeptite is planning initial production in Melbourne, with the possibility of setting up smaller manufacturing operations closer to international customers, including in the US.

The company and researchers will still need to demonstrate how reliably the technology performs across a wider range of real-world care environments.

While the sensors have shown promising durability, sensitivity and low-power operation in testing, the system is not a complete solution to falls prevention. Instead, it is intended to operate in addition to existing care practices and professional judgement.

Researchers are also exploring whether the technology could eventually help identify the risk of pressure sores, another concern for people who spend extended periods in bed.