We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

HospiMedica

Download Mobile App
Recent News AI Critical Care Surgical Techniques Patient Care Health IT Point of Care Business Focus

Bionic Insole Helps Overcome Neuropathic Instability

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 15 Nov 2021
A novel orthotic shoe insole help people with nerve damage maintain their balance, promoting safe, active, and independent living.

Designed at the University of Queensland (UQ; Brisbane, Australia), Walk with Path (Waltham Abbey, United Kingdom), and other partners, the new bionic technology, Augmented Vibrotexture, is based on a hybrid shoe insole that combines vibration and a geometric textured surface that provide proprioceptive stimuli to the soles of the feet. This provides feedback along the major sensory nerves that carry touch, vibration, and position sensation from the feet to the brain to help maintain balance.

Image: The Augmented Vibrotexture bionic insole (Photo courtesy of Anna Hatton/ UQ)
Image: The Augmented Vibrotexture bionic insole (Photo courtesy of Anna Hatton/ UQ)

The insoles are operated by a mobile app that tracks the user’s health and also allows remote health monitoring between patients and clinicians. A wide product range is currently under development, which will include insoles for those with neuropathy, balance issues due to other medical conditions, and a product that targets general health and well-being. The insole was recently awarded the major category prize in the 2021 Queensland Bionics Challenge, receiving AUD 50,000 in prize money and an eight-week mentoring program.

“One in six people will experience foot sensory loss due to numerous types of neuropathy, and up to 65% of people with this nerve damage will fall each year,” said Anna Hatton, PhD, of the UQ School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. “This is the first time a shoe insole has been developed with a hybrid design like this that provides two different types of sensory stimuli. We will be consulting with patients and key stakeholders in the design process and will use AI to measure brain activity in response to the foot sensory experience.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO; Geneva, Switzerland), an elderly person is seen to every 11 seconds in an emergency room after a fall, and up to 30% of people over 65 and 50% of those over 80 fall at least once a year. The result of a majority of these falls is a hip fracture, with about 60,000 elderly people dying every year as a result of such falls.

Related Links:
University of Queensland
Walk with Path
World Health Organization



Gold Member
12-Channel ECG
CM1200B
Gold Member
Disposable Protective Suit For Medical Use
Disposable Protective Suit For Medical Use
Silver Member
Wireless Mobile ECG Recorder
NR-1207-3/NR-1207-E
New
Endoscope Tracking Software
T-DOC Endo

Latest Patient Care News

Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization

Game-Changing Innovation in Surgical Instrument Sterilization Significantly Improves OR Throughput

Next Gen ICU Bed to Help Address Complex Critical Care Needs