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e-Stockings - New generation smart compression stockings wih integrated ICT for suprior customized performance

Research Project
 | 
01.02.2012
 - 31.01.2015

Venous insufficiency is a chronical health problem with a huge impact on the quality of life of older persons, since it induces pain and pressure to the legs, affecting general physical condition and daily routines, greatly hindering their mobility both indoor and outdoor. It is characterized by poor back flow of blood to the heart which can ultimately originate ulcers. Specifically, venous leg ulceration affects approximately 1% of the general population in Europe, with a reported higher incidence in population above 65 years old, and a total indicative annual cost of ?6.5 billion. The most practical non-invasive treatment to improve blood circulation is compression therapy. But even the use of current compression therapy methods (such as obtrusive and unstylish bandages and stockings) greatly limits the older persons in their mobility and hinders their autonomy and self-confidence to perform daily routine tasks and physical activity. It is difficult to put medical compression stockings on and take them off, bringing unnecessary pain in the process for the elderly users and restricting their freedom and mobility. In fact, most elderly need assistance for the application of compression stockings, and must wait for the care services twice a day being unable to move indoor or outdoor before being helped. The overall objective of the e-Stockings project is to develop novel ?smart? compression stocking solutions that enable customised compression levels according to each patient needs, relying on ICT to support real-time pressure adjustments and patient data monitoring. The key features of the novel stockings are: user-friendliness; compliance with individual clinical needs of the patient; and appealing design. The innovative concept will rely on electronic sensors, actuators and the necessary supporting computational elements embedded in e-textiles, connected through wireless technologies to an ICT platform running supporting applications and optionally providing associated e-health services. Such a ?smart? ICT-enabled solution is expected to have a strong impact on the quality of life of older persons with leg venous disorders ? delivering high quality compression treatment; enabling users to monitor their health condition, and providing warning to assisting services in the case of emergency ? enhancing their independence and their mobility capacity both indoor and outdoor beyond the perimeter of their home. The solutions developed will be tested by primary end-users with leg venous disorders; clinical tests will be conducted by a specialized medical unit in Switzerland and user testing will be performed in nursing homes/leg clinics in Denmark, Switzerland and UK. After testing, the consortium will mobilize resources and key stakeholders, possibly a large player with market access, to bring the developed solutions and products to market, which we estimate for the initial versions to take 2 years.

Members (1)

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Daniel Staub

Principal Investigator