Project description
Disruptive system for diabetes-caused foot problems
Those with diabetes have a greater chance of developing foot problems. This is because elevated blood glucose levels can damage the sensation in the feet, leading to foot ulcers, infections and amputations. The Spanish company Voxelcare is developing a novel system for the treatment of people with diabetes-caused foot problems. Taking it a step further, the EU-funded DIAIoT project has set out to improve the cloud-based tools in the Voxelcare online CAD/CAM system in order to create an e-health framework for the diagnosis and treatment of diabetics that will help reduce the risk of skin breakdown and co-existing foot disease.
Objective
VOXELCARE, is a Spanish software/hardware engineering company with 15 years experience in the design, production and marketing of industrial applications ranging from special purpose CAD/CAM systems, contact and non contact 2D and 3D (foot) scanning devices, CAD design software and CAM systems for different kind of machines (e.g milling), for the worldwide footcare and footwear industry. We have been working in the development of a disruptive way to improve the treatment of people with diabetes caused foot problems. To this end we aim to prototype, test and commercialise an eHealth expert system for diagnosis and treatment of diabetics and other added features to reduce the risk of skin breakdown and co-existing foot diseases. According to the World Health Organization, the number of people with diabetes grows worldwide and is projected to become one of the world’s main disablers and killers within the next twenty-five years. In 2014, 422 million people in the world had diabetes and caused at least $612 billion in health expenditure worldwide. The diabetic foot or diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) and diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) is one of the most feared diseases resulting from diabetes mellitus. Ultimately affecting some 25% of those living with the disease. One important preventive measure is to wear therapeutic footwear in the form of diabetic orthotics. The goal of this project is to improve the cloud based tools in the current VOXELCARE online CAD/CAM system so that it is possible to create an e-Health framework for footcare, and allow practitioners in developed countries to help less skilled practitioners in emerging economies that similar levels of treatment quality can be achieved worldwide. On the other end, this technology will also improve the capability of footcare and footware specialists in developed countries to provide a better service to patients which will be faster and more accurate.
Fields of science
- medical and health scienceshealth scienceshealth care serviceseHealth
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftware
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineendocrinologydiabetes
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and managementbusiness models
- engineering and technologymedical engineeringwearable medical technology
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
03202 ELCHE
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.