Researchers at the University of Queensland have developed a shoe sole with bionic technology that helps people with nerve damage maintain their balance.
Dr. Anna Hatton of the UQ School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences said the technology was designed to enable safe, active, and independent living.
“One in six people will experience sensory loss of the foot from numerous types of neuropathy, and up to 65 percent of people with this nerve damage will fall each year,” said Dr. Hatton.
“Our new bionic technology called Augmented Vibrotexture is a hybrid design that combines vibration and geometric texture into an insole that stimulates the soles of the feet.
“This provides feedback along key sensory nerves that transmit signals via touch, vibration, and sense of position from the feet to the brain to help maintain balance.
Bionics Challenge 2021 – Main Category Prize Winner, worth $ 50,000 – Challenge 2 – Bionic Sensesgame
Video Credit: The University of Queensland
“This is the first time that a shoe sole has been developed with such a hybrid design that delivers two different types of sensory stimuli.”
The insoles are operated via a mobile app that tracks the health status of the user and also enables remote health monitoring between patients and doctors.
The unique invention recently won the Major Category Prize at this year’s Bionics Challenge for $ 50,000 and an eight-week mentoring program.
The team is very happy about this award.
The funds will be used to support the development of the technical insole design features, the mobile app and the testing of the final prototype.
Over the next 12 to 18 months we will advise patients and key stakeholders in the design process and use artificial intelligence to measure brain activity in response to the sensory experience of the foot. “
Dr. Anna Hatton, UQ’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Dr. Hatton plans to develop a wide range of products that will include insoles for people with neuropathy, people with balance problems due to other medical conditions, and a product aimed at general health and wellbeing.
The team is working with academics, clinicians and industry partners in Queensland and New South Wales and Walk With Path in Copenhagen and London to jointly develop this novel bionic sensory insole technology.
Source:
The University of Queensland
