Orpyx, a connected insole to combat the diabetic foot

June 10, 2019

Faced with the amount of foot problems causing amputations in diabetics, Dr. Breanne Everett decided to use modern technology. She developed connected insole Orpyx, a company that creates connected soles.

As the infantry know, the feet must be the object of all care. Smart advice that also applies to diabetics but which, unfortunately, is often neglected. It seems, however, that there is a trend toward greater awareness of the importance of foot examinations and the value of implementing ways to preserve their integrity.

In diabetics, the overall risk of occurrence of a first neuropathic ulceration of the soles of the feet is of the order of 25% and in subjects with such antecedents, the probability of recurrence is 50 to 70% within 5 years. Until now, prevention trials were anything but convincing, probably because the development of the ulcer is related to the level and duration of the plantar pressure peaks recorded during walking. . In the normal individual, the perception of these pressures leads to an adaptation of walking activities, which is not the case in diabetics that neuropathy renders insensitive to warning signals.

Connected insole Orpyx should limit ulcers to the feet

It is an evil often unknown. Diabetics live with the risk of amputation. This is Dr. Breanne Everett’s discovery during her surgeon’s studies. So she decided to pause her medical career and get into the world of high-tech. His product? A connected sole, created by Orpyx. This can detect if there is something abnormal in the foot and alert the patient. He then receives instructions to encourage him to move or, on the contrary, to sit down and check the inside of his shoe and his foot.

According to studies, between 15 and 25% of diabetics have ulcers on their feet. And 20% of these cases will have to undergo amputation. The device consists of a connected sole and a smart watch. The life of the sole is estimated between 12 and 18 months. Small problem however, the Orpyx soles are currently only available in North America. However, trials are in progress in Great Britain, so we can hope that they will soon arrive in Europe. It only remains to take his trouble in patience.

Diabetes and connected objects

Diabetes is a disease based on the inability of the pancreas to regulate the amount of glucose (sugar) in the body. Type 1 diabetics (especially young people) do not produce insulin. Those of type 2 (mainly after 65 years) have a lack of assimilation of sugar in the body. Poor regulation of sugar leads to narrowing of the arteries, a decrease in oxygen supply and therefore a loss of nerve sensitivity. It is the latter that is dangerous. The patient feels less pain and is not worried about a wound that does not heal and become infected. An infection that can lead to gangrene and amputation.

This is not the first time that connected objects are used to help diabetics. Worldwide, there are more than 285 million patients! Google has partnered with DexCom to launch an object that can monitor blood glucose levels in real time. iHealth and MySugr, two pioneering companies in connected health, have teamed up to make it easier for people with diabetes to follow up over time.