HI-TECH UNDIES OF THE WEEK: ELECTRIC PANTS*
by Hazed
* That’s pants in the British sense of the word, ie underpants or knickers, not the American use meaning trousers.
Electric pants will deliver a jolt to the buttocks. Why? No, this isn’t some kind of masochistic sex aid, it’s designed to prevent pressure sores.
Pressure sores are dangerous open wounds that form when people are stuck in one position for too long - for example when being confined to bed because of illness, a particular problem in hospitals. The skin is compressed and this cuts off the blood supply.
The electric undies are designed to combat this. The mild current delivered by the pants mimics fidgeting and prevents sores from forming.
This innovation was tested on 37 patients during a trial lasting a month. In that time, none of them developed a sore. Now much larger tests need to be carried out, but it certainly sounds encouraging.
