21st February 2019
FUSION The R+I Programme
A portable in-shoe measurement system to acquire dense continuous foot temperature maps
- Coordinator: University of Malta
- Partner: Mater Dei
- Funding: €194,981
- Duration: 2.5 years
- Technical lead: Dr Owen Falzon, Centre for Biomedical Cybernetics
- Clinical lead: Dr Stephen Mizzi, Department of Podiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences
Individuals with diabetes are at risk of developing foot ulceration, which can in turn lead to more serious foot complications. We are developing a wearable in-shoe dense temperature monitoring system in the form of a sock, to be used during daily activities to monitor abnormal foot temperature patterns indicative of ulcer development, thus facilitating early identification of foot complications and allowing for timely intervention.The system being developed is intended to serve as an innovative screening tool to be used by people living with diabetes during their daily activities. Through continuous real-time monitoring and advanced analysis of foot temperature patterns, the system will detect arising problematic foot conditions such as foot ulcerations and circulatory deterioration at an early stage and will provide real-time alerts and suggestions for remedial actions to the user. It will also assist clinicians to significantly improve assessment, prevention and enhance customised treatment plans for high-risk patients.
