Offloading with additive manufactured insoles using optimally tested designs

Project team

Supervisory team: Prof. Patricia Munoz de Escalona , Dr. Ruth Barn, Dr. Jari Pallari (external)

GCU researcher fellow funded by study: Niloofar Sedighi

Funder: UKRI, Horizon Europe

Web page: https://dialect-diabeticfoot.eu/

Background

Diabetes mellitus, a chronic condition, stands as the primary factor behind non-traumatic lower limb amputations, with up to 85% arising from diabetes foot ulcers (DFU). Beyond the evident impact on quality of life, these ulcers present a substantial financial burden on public health, with estimated healthcare costs anticipated to reach USD 1.03 trillion by 2030, emphasizing the need for effective prevention strategies. One of the most effective approaches involves prescribing insoles to redistribute plantar pressure from high-risk ulceration areas to safer ones. However, the design of these insoles is typically reliant on the expertise of the prescribing specialist and orthopaedic shoe technician, resulting in varied outcomes and sometimes inadequate foot offloading.

Aim

This research focuses on utilizing cutting-edge 3D printing technologies to design and manufacture next-generation insoles that can effectively redistribute plantar pressure and unload areas prone to tissue damage to prevent ulceration.

Objectives

This study has three main objectives:

1. Explore, develop, and evaluate novel concepts to offload pressure from at-risk foot sites in diabetes.
2. Design and optimise personalised prototype insoles based on novel concepts using individual foot shape and pressure data.
3. Pre-clinical testing and evaluation of the functional prototypes

Study design

This is a cross sectional analytical study.