New Study Shows Promise for Early Detection of Pressure Injuries with MIMOSA Pro Device

Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) is reporting encouraging results from a pilot study testing the MIMOSA Pro, a portable handheld skin imaging device designed to detect pressure injuries—also known as pressure ulcers or bedsores—at an earlier stage than traditional methods. According to the update published by HHS here, the device could represent a significant advancement in preventing serious, often life-threatening wounds among vulnerable patients.

Why Early Detection Matters

Pressure injuries occur when the skin and underlying tissue are damaged due to prolonged pressure, often around bony areas such as the hips, heels, or tailbone. These injuries are common among patients who are bedridden, use wheelchairs, or have limited mobility. Once a bedsore develops, it can worsen quickly, leading to infections, amputations, extended hospital stays, and even death.

Traditional detection tools, such as the Braden Scale (for adults) and Braden QD (for children), rely on surface-level visual checks and assessments of risk factors like mobility, skin moisture, and nutrition. While useful, these methods cannot see beneath the skin, meaning damage may go unnoticed until it’s advanced and much harder to treat.

What the HHS Study Found

Over a four-month trial involving more than 3,500 patient assessments, researchers found that the MIMOSA Pro outperformed traditional methods when it came to ruling out early pressure injuries in adults:

• MIMOSA Pro: Correctly identified the absence of early signs 91% of the time.

• Braden Scale: Correctly identified the absence of early signs only 40% of the time.

In pediatrics, the Braden QD performed similarly to the MIMOSA Pro, ruling out non-risk patients about 94% of the time compared to 91% with MIMOSA.

The device’s potential is especially significant for patients with darker skin tones, where traditional visual inspections may miss early warning signs. The HHS team emphasizes that further data collection is needed, but the MIMOSA Pro could help close gaps in equity and quality of care for patients of color.

How the Device Works

The MIMOSA Pro is a Class II medical device, comparable to an ultrasound or x-ray. Rather than relying on a nurse’s visual check, the device uses advanced imaging technology to detect changes beneath the skin’s surface before they become visible.

This could allow healthcare teams to intervene earlier, preventing ulcers from forming or worsening. It may also reduce unnecessary interventions, such as frequent patient repositioning or applying treatments that aren’t truly needed.

Preventing Harm in Hospitals and Nursing Homes

While technology like the MIMOSA Pro offers hope for the future, the reality is that many pressure injuries remain preventable with proper care. Hospitals and nursing homes are required to follow established protocols to protect patients from bedsores, including:

• Regular repositioning for immobile patients

• Proper skin checks and documentation

• Adequate nutrition and hydration support

• Pressure-relieving mattresses and cushions

When facilities fail to meet these standards, patients can suffer devastating injuries. In many cases, severe pressure ulcers are a sign of neglect, not just bad luck.

How KBD Attorneys Can Help

At KBD Attorneys, we have seen firsthand the toll that untreated or mismanaged pressure injuries can take on patients and families. A single missed skin check or delayed intervention can lead to catastrophic outcomes, including sepsis, amputations, and wrongful death.

Our firm advocates for patients who have been harmed by:

• Nursing home neglect, including untreated or worsening bedsores

• Hospital-acquired pressure injuries that were preventable with proper monitoring

• Failure to implement or follow care protocols for high-risk patients

We stay on top of developments like the HHS study because they demonstrate both the promise of innovation and the reality of ongoing systemic failures in patient care. While devices like the MIMOSA Pro may improve detection in the future, patients today still rely on hospitals and nursing homes to meet their duty of care.

If your loved one has suffered from a preventable bedsore or pressure injury, KBD Attorneys can help you pursue accountability and justice. Our mission is to protect vulnerable patients, hold negligent institutions responsible, and ensure that families are compensated for medical costs, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs.

Final Thoughts

The MIMOSA Pro study at Hamilton Health Sciences shows tremendous promise for the early detection of pressure injuries, especially in populations where traditional tools fall short. While it may take time for this technology to become widely available, its development highlights a critical truth: pressure injuries should never be ignored or accepted as inevitable.

Until advanced tools like the MIMOSA Pro are standard, hospitals and nursing homes must continue to follow strict protocols to prevent these painful and often deadly wounds. And when they fail, families should know that legal help is available.

At KBD Attorneys, we remain committed to standing with patients and their families as they navigate the consequences of preventable medical harm.

Contact us if your loved one has had a pressure injury and you need legal help.