This technology enables diabetic patients to detect foot ulcers easily and effectively at home.
Background: Diabetic foot ulcers are a significant health problem (15% baseline probability) in the growing diabetic population. Foot ulcers can become infected and lead to hospitalization or even amputation. The best way to address this disease is through prevention via inspection, in which a qualified medical professional examines a patient’s feet every three to six months, and determines whether a change in footwear or behavior is warranted. In between visits, patients are instructed to self-examine their feet. Unfortunately, these self-examinations can be ineffective for a variety of reasons. One issue contributing to patients not detecting a foot ulcer is diabetic neuropathy. Patients with advanced disease have little to no sensation in their distal limbs due to the loss of small nerves. Therefore, what should be an excruciating wound goes unnoticed.
Technology Overview: This technology is a device for monitoring the surface of the foot to detect early signs of tissue disruption. It captures images of the patient’s plantar surface in a streamlined and standardized manner. The previous record of images can be analyzed to detect changes in the integrity of the plantar surface tissue. Quantification of ulcer size is simplified by imaging the foot at a constant focal plane. The device can be used independently by patients at home without assistance. Data can be initially processed within the device as well as uploaded to the cloud for further analysis by a medical professional.
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Advantages: • Detects diabetic foot ulcers more accurately and effectively than patient self-examination. • Addresses a major health risk among diabetics. • Can provide data that can be uploaded to the cloud for analysis by health professionals. • Easy to use at home by untrained patients.
Applications: The primary application for this technology is early detection of foot ulcers in diabetic patients.
Patent application filed: US 20240341674, “Diabetic Foot Examination Device,” Filed April 15, 2024 (Application Number 18/635,398), published October 17, 2024
Stage of Development: TRL 3 – Experimental proof of concept
Licensing Status: This technology is available for licensing.