The CDC reports that between 10% and 15% of people with diabetes will develop diabetic foot ulcers during their lives. With more than 30 million diabetics in the U.S. and 84 million-plus with pre-diabetes, early foot ulcer detection gives patients the best way to avoid eventual lower leg amputation. We’ve covered various technologies designed to detect foot ulcers, including the Podimetrics Mat and FootSnap, an iPad app developed by researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Stevens Institute of Technology announced an exclusive licensing agreement to develop and use New York-based Bonbouton‘s foot ulcer detection system. Bonbouton’s graphene technology in smart insoles passively monitors foot temperature and pressure and syncs the data to an associated mobile app. Thin graphene sheets within the insoles have high mechanical strength and flexibility. When the system detects even a small change in temperature or pressure — which could be the first sign of inflammation — the app notifies the patient and their care network for timely followup.
Stevens is a shareholder in Bonbouton, which also works with Gore-Tex developer Gore, exploring additional applications for graphene sensors in wearable fabric for everyday use, athletic performance tracking, and digital health applications. Bonbouton Founder and CEO Linh Le developed the graphene sensor technology while a graduate student at SIT.
