A Smart Shoe for Detection and Alleviation of Foot Ulcers

Foot ulceration, a leading cause of mortality in diabetic patients, underscores the urgent need for innovative solutions. This project aims to design and develop an advanced, cost-effective wearable system for plantar pressure measurement, specifically targeting the evaluation of Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs) in everyday settings. Central to this endeavour is the creation of a smart shoe equipped with FlexiForce sensors and an ESP32 processor, which captures the force exerted by the foot against the ground. The data collected is transmitted wirelessly to a mobile application, enabling realtime monitoring and analysis. The initial prototype will test the efficacy of the software and assess the system’s design parameters. This smart shoe is envisioned to significantly mitigate the risk of foot ulceration by providing detailed, actionable insights into pressure distribution, thereby enhancing patient care and prevention strategies.