In a new study, researchers have put effort to develop a graphene sensing system that detects early signs of foot ulcers before they form.
People living with diabetes can access preventative healthcare and confidently manage their health.
The research was conducted by a team Stevens Institute of Technology.
The team has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Bonbouton, giving the cutting-edge health and technology company the right to use the system.
Complications from diabetes can make it difficult for patients to monitor their foot health.
Chronically high levels of blood glucose can impair blood vessels and cause nerve damage.
Patients can experience a lot of pain, but can also lose feeling in their feet. Diabetes-related damage to blood vessels and nerves can lead to hard-to-treat infections such as ulcers.
Ulcers that don’t heal can cause severe damage to tissues and bone and may require amputation of a toe, foot or part of a leg.
The smart insole, Bonbouton’s first product, can be inserted into a sneaker or dress shoe to passively monitor the foot health of a person living with diabetes.
The data are then sent to a companion app that can be accessed by the patient and shared with their healthcare provider, who can determine if intervention or treatment is needed.
According to the team, Bonbouton’s smart insoles sense the skin’s temperature, pressure and other foot health-related data, which can alert a patient and his or her healthcare provider when an infection is about to take hold.
This simplifies patient self-monitoring and reduces the frequency of doctor visits, which can ultimately lead to a higher quality of life.
Bonbouton Founder and CEO Linh Le developed and patented the core graphene technology while pursuing a doctorate in chemical engineering at Stevens.
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