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Early detection and treatment device for diabetic foot neuropathy

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Abstract

Background

Diabetic foot neuropathy is one of the complications of diabetes that affects around 50% of diabetic people. Because peripheral neuropathy involves nerve loss around the foot areas, patients with diabetic neuropathy frequently lose sensation in their feet while walking or standing. Furthermore, since sensory nerves are damaged, the area that holds the majority of the foot pressure and temperature is at high risk of injury. If not diagnosed and treated properly, it can cause foot injury and eventually lead to edema, gangrene, ulcers, amputation, and even death. There are now several techniques of detecting diabetic neuropathy, but they are limited in their availability, cost-effectiveness, and complexity.

Aims

The primary goal of this research was to develop devices for early detection and treatment of diabetic foot neuropathy.

Methods

The proposed device combines a foot pressure monitoring method and a foot temperature measurement method to diagnose diabetic neuropathy early on, with red light therapy added as a treatment method. For 2 weeks, the device measures the patient’s foot pressure and temperature, and light therapy is provided if a change in pressure or temperature at a specific area is observed.

Results

The device prototype was successfully developed, and numerous tests were carried out in accordance with the design specifications. For pressure measurement and temperature measurement, measurement accuracy of 99.05% and 99.30%, respectively, were attained.

Conclusion

The early detection and treatment device developed in this study could be used at home by diabetic patients as well as in hospitals to test for and treat diabetic foot neuropathy at an early stage. The device incorporates two different methods of diabetic foot neuropathy detection with high measurement accuracy which makes it suitable for use in resource-limited areas at low cost. The incorporation of red light therapy together with the two methods of diabetic neuropathy detection gives another unique feature for our device.

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Abbreviations

DFN:

Diabetic foot neuropathy

DPN:

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy

LCD:

Liquid crystal display

LED:

Light emitting diodes

IR:

Infrared

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the School of Biomedical Engineering, Jimma Institute of Technology, Jimma University and individuals who supported us and motivated us during this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biomedical Engineering, Jimma Institute of Technology, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia

    Hunduma Tolossa Kumsa, Lelisa Getaneh Abdisa, Lelisa Tesema Tolessa, Sosina Ayele Wubneh, Wadajo Feyisa Kusa, Shimelis Nigusu Hordofa & Hundessa Daba Nemomssa

  2. Gida Ayana General Hospital, Gida Ayana, Oromia, Ethiopia

    Hunduma Tolossa Kumsa

  3. Teltele Primary Hospital, Teltele, Oromia, Ethiopia

    Lelisa Getaneh Abdisa

  4. Badessa Primary Hospital, Badessa, Oromia, Ethiopia

    Lelisa Tesema Tolessa

  5. ICMC Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Sosina Ayele Wubneh

  6. Wise Team PLC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Wadajo Feyisa Kusa

Authors
  1. Hunduma Tolossa Kumsa
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  2. Lelisa Getaneh Abdisa
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  3. Lelisa Tesema Tolessa
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  4. Sosina Ayele Wubneh
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  5. Wadajo Feyisa Kusa
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  6. Shimelis Nigusu Hordofa
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  7. Hundessa Daba Nemomssa
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Contributions

HD and SN are the overall coordinators of this study, and they conceptualized, designed, and implemented in collaboration with the main investigators HT, LG, LT, SA, and WF. All authors contributed to the preliminary study, the design, prototyping, and testing. The article was drafted by HD, considering the comments and suggestions of the coauthors in the process. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hundessa Daba Nemomssa.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Kumsa, H.T., Abdisa, L.G., Tolessa, L.T. et al. Early detection and treatment device for diabetic foot neuropathy. Ir J Med Sci 192, 143–148 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-022-02958-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-022-02958-3

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