Smart socks prevent amputation in diabetics
Diabetic neuropathy, a type of nerve damage commonly occurring in the legs, is the leading cause of amputation in diabetics.
To prevent the complication, students at the Hebrew University’s BioDesign program developed SenseGO, a machine-washable sock containing dozens of micro-fabricated pressure sensors.
With SenseGO, changes in pressure due to incorrect posture, anatomical deformation or ill-fitting shoes are registered as electrical signals that are relayed to a smartphone app, which in turn informs the patient of developing risk.
“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.
Prof. Yaakov Nahmias, BioDesign program director, said: “This is a classic mobile health approach. By giving patients and their families the tools they need to prevent the development of ulcers, we can dramatically reduce health care costs related to diabetes.”
Other members of the BioDesign SenseGO team included Inbal Boxerman and Yael Hadar, MBA students at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The innovations produced by the Biodesign program participants are commercialized by Yissum, the technology transfer company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Hadasit, the technology transfer company of the Hadassah Medical Center.
Category: Features, Technology & Devices