smart socks help people with diabetes feel the ground again while walking

"Named Leia, the device has electrodes sewn into it, which restores the user's sensation to the foot sole as well as reduces their chronic pain. When the electrodes stimulate specific nerve strands, the body releases chemical messengers, and these block pain signals from traveling through the nervous system. A small tracker sits in the upper part of the sock, in the shaft section. It is this part that receives data from the pressure sensors and converts it into electrical signals."

"The smart socks for people with diabetes also use AI that adjusts the electrical stimulation for each person who wears the device. It adjusts the stimulation based on external conditions, and the personalization means each user receives treatment that matches their specific needs. Around the wearable device lie pressure sensors built into the sole to measure how pressure distributes across the foot when the person walks."

MYNERVA developed Leia, a smart sock that restores foot-sole sensation and reduces chronic pain for people with diabetes. Electrodes sewn into the sock stimulate specific nerve strands, triggering release of chemical messengers that block pain signals. A small tracker in the sock shaft receives pressure-sensor data and converts it into electrical signals. Pressure sensors built into the sole measure pressure distribution during walking. Onboard AI adjusts electrical stimulation for each wearer and adapts to external conditions for personalized treatment. Prototypes evolved from wired overshoes to a regular sock design. A soft US launch is planned for 2027 and a long-term study on ulcer prevention will start in late 2025.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine