A fully wearable electro-stimulating system designed to improve mobility and foot health in diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients

Objective

The NEURO-SOCK is a non-invasive, fully-wearable device designed to induce sensations in patients with sensory loss due to conditions such as amputation, diabetes, or multiple sclerosis. The device captures information from the environment interaction through wearable sensors and translates it into electrical impulses delivered to the nerves embedded in a soft-robotic stimulating garment. An AI-based algorithm optimizes stimulation parameters to target the nerves and restore natural sensation to patients in real-time. Our device has been already validated in 12 neuropathy patients, resulting in 30% restoration of lost sensation in the foot and in an improved cadence in 60% of the users. The generated artificial feedback intuitiveness was validated through an fMRI study. This ERC-funded project aims to investigate the health benefits of NEURO-SOCK, with the potential to improve skin conditions, lower cardiovascular stress, and ultimately reduce the harmful conditions that lead to sedentary lifestyle, heart failures, amputations, and elevated death rates. Therefore the funding will be used for optimizing the NEURO-SOCK design for home-use scenarios and a following clinical trial investigating the long-term rehabilitative effects on people suffering from neuropathy, who currently have no immediate solution.