Path Feel - Improving Mobility

About

Path Feel aims to prevent falls in those with balance issues due to sensory deficit. This is a consequence of diseases including; diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease (PD), patients who have undergone chemotherapy and general ageing. Currently 6 people fall every minute in the UK, meaning that 1 in every 3 people over 65 years old falls at least once a year. Falls are the leading cause of traumatic death in the elderly and have significant impact on psychological and physical health. This results in a reduced quality of life and a lack of independence which can lead to depression and side-effects from a sedentary life style. The costs are also significant for healthcare providers, including the NHS, who spends £4.6 million each day on falls. These figures are expected to increase with the changing demographics, and hence it is essential that a preventative solution is established. In addition to the increased aging population causing more falls there is also the rapid increase in diabetes. Currently 3.6 million people are diagnosed with diabetes in the UK and it’s estimated that if we include undiagnosed persons this figure is more likely to be 4 million. Numbers of sufferers are growing fast and of these up to 50% of diabetics suffer from neuropathy which causes reduced sensitivity and increased risk of falls. Path Feel is an advanced corrective and diagnostic shoe insole to promote, correct and monitor walking in individuals with reduced sensory function. The insole responds to pressure applied through the feet by providing vibrations to enhance the sensory stimulation so that the user can ‘feel the floor’ and achieve balance. This allows the wearer to respond to feedback in real time allowing them to walk with more confidence. The insoles can be calibrated for an individual via a connected app. They also contain sensors that collect data about gait, which can be used for diagnostic purposes, highlighting risk factors for falls, or identifying gait abnormalities particular to certain neurological conditions. It is a discreet solution that can offer therapeutic feedback and data analytics, to improve confidence and balance. The concept is based on scientific literature that has provided evidence showing that vibratory feedback help with keeping balance. We are constantly undertaking in-house and collaborative studies to validate product efficacy and usability. We are currently running two pilot studies with UCL to test the effect of haptic feedback on balance in a patients with Charcot Marie Tooth disease and in Parkinson’s patients. Both these groups have sensory feedback problems similar to what is seen in diabetic neuropathy. There is indication from the literature that diabetics would be good candidates for Path Feel, and hence further pilot trials are expected to be carried out with this user group. We are also in the process of starting a market research study with IDEO and AARP in the US. Path Feel is currently in development and is anticipated to be launched in late 2018 directly to consumers through our website. We expect it will be a CE class I medical device enabling us to sell throughout Europe.