Students at the
Hebrew University's BioDesign program paired pressure-sensing
socks with
smartphones to reduce foot ulcers in diabetic patients.
(Photo: The Hebrew
University of Jerusalem)
(January 27, 2016) Diabetic
neuropathy is a type of nerve damage associated with the development of foot
ulcers in patients with diabetes. Resulting from anatomical deformation,
excessive pressure and poor blood supply, it affects over 130 million
individuals worldwide. It is also the leading cause of amputation, costing the
United States economy alone more than $10 billion annually.
Diabetic patients are encouraged to get regular checkups to
monitor for the increased pressure and ulceration that can eventually require
amputation. However, ulcers are only diagnosed after they occur, meaning that
patients require healing time, which dramatically increases healthcare costs.
Members of the BioDesign: Medical Innovation program,
created by The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and its affiliated Hadassah Medical
Center, set out to solve this problem.
“This is a significant medical problem that affects the
lives of millions. We thought there must be a way to avoid these wounds
altogether,” said Danny Bavli, the group’s lead engineer.