Smart Peripheral Neuropathy Therapy Device

What it does

A smart electrostimulation sock for peripheral neuropathy patients that uses blood flow sensors to give personalize therapy. It relieves pain, numbness, and balance issues by adjusting stimulation based on real-time data via an app-controlled feedback system.

Your inspiration

Just like my grandfather, millions suffer from peripheral neuropathy, facing numbness, pain, and balance issues due to poor blood flow in the feet. Since childhood, I’ve been passionate about solving real-world problems. I wanted to help my grandfather walk with ease, which inspired me to develop this solution. After several iterations, we created a smart pair of socks that uses blood flow sensors and electrostimulation to provide personalized therapy. The device, controlled via an app, adjusts stimulation based on real-time data, aiming to improve blood flow in feet leading to pain relief, numbness, and improve stability.

How it works

Our design is a pair of smart socks that help people with peripheral neuropathy by delivering personalized electrostimulation therapy which improves blood flow in feet leading to pain relief and increase stability. A sensor on the ankle measures blood flow and sends this data to a small controller that adjusts the stimulation through soft textile electrodes on the soles. The entire system is connected to a mobile app via Bluetooth, which monitors the data and adjusts treatment in real time. The socks are built with three layers for comfort, durability, and safe integration of electronics. The app uses data collected over several days to learn what works best for the user, automatically optimizing stimulation patterns. This smart feedback system makes therapy more effective and user-friendly. The system can also work with other types of sensors, like temperature or laser-based ones, and stores data for further analysis and improvement of therapy.

Design process

We set out to create a device to help people with peripheral neuropathy walk better and regain balance. Our initial concept was a self-balancing shoe that used fluid dynamics to redistribute pressure, aiming to stabilize the user’s gait. While innovative, it was complex, bulky, and difficult to control. We then developed an electrostimulation sole insert, embedding electrodes into an insole to stimulate nerves and muscles. Though it showed promise, it lacked real-time adaptability and comfort. From these early versions, we learned the importance of a lightweight, wearable design and personalized therapy. This led to our current solution: a smart pair of socks with integrated textile electrodes and a blood flow sensor. The sensor collects real-time data and communicates with a microcontroller, which adjusts stimulation levels accordingly. Controlled via a mobile app, the system adapts over several days to each user's needs. What makes this solution special is its ability to provide truly personalized and optimized therapy based on the user’s physiological response. The three-layer sock structure ensures durability and protection of the embedded electronics, while Bluetooth connectivity enables seamless interaction between the sock and app for continuous monitoring and adjustment.

How it is different

What makes our design unique is its ability to deliver fully personalized and adaptive electrostimulation therapy for peripheral neuropathy patients. Unlike existing devices that use static stimulation settings or target only acupoints, our smart socks use real-time blood flow data from a sensor at the ankle to adjust stimulation dynamically. The system learns how each user responds over several days and automatically optimizes treatment using an integrated app and microcontroller. Textile electrodes embedded in a three-layer sock ensure comfort, durability, and effectiveness. This combination of real-time monitoring, automated adjustment, and long-term data tracking provides a level of tailored therapy unmatched by current solutions. Prior devices like those in US Patents 10,143,834 and 5,607,454 lack data-driven personalization and rely on fixed stimulation patterns. Our design fills this crucial gap, offering a more responsive and user-friendly solution.

Future plans

We are seeking funding to move from a provisional to a full patent and to advance our prototype. Technologically, we aim to use a more compact microcontroller, improve sensor accuracy, and refine our algorithm for better personalization. Additional resources will enable us to enhance performance, comfort, and usability. With no similar product currently in the market and peripheral neuropathy affecting over 2.4% of the global population, including 20 to 30 million in the U.S. alone, our device has strong potential for large-scale impact, clinical adoption, global distribution, and long-term commercial success.

Awards

We won 2nd Best Invention at Invention Factory 2024 organized at IIT GN, a competitive six-week program focused on prototyping, pitching, and patenting real-world solutions. Weekly expert feedback from doctors and engineers guided multiple design iterations, strengthening technical and market viability.