A project to 3D-print low-cost, personalised, pressure-offloading insoles for people with diabetes-related foot disease in remote areas has received a $810,000 Medical Research Future Fund Primary Health Care Digital Innovations Grant.
Professor Mia Woodruff, from the QUT , said people living in regional and remote areas had reduced access to podiatry services and less chance of diabetes-related foot ulcers healing which, in turn, contributed to a higher risk of developing amputation.
(Pictured from back left: Associate Professor Peter Lazzarini, Professor Mia Woodruff, Dr Sean Powell, Dr Edmund Pickering, Associate Professor David Holmes, Alex Terrill)
“Our research team will develop and evaluate low-cost foot scanning technologies, developed in partnership with Aptium3D within an established digital framework,” Professor Woodruff said.
“These technologies will be integrated in the allied healthcare organisation, Healthia’s, diabetes-related foot ulcer (DFU) monitoring, diagnosis and treatment pipeline for use in regional communities.
“Our innovative 3D dynamic foot scanner will be used by expert podiatrists as a telehealth device for remote monitoring and diagnosis.
“It will be coupled with advanced, flexible, metamaterial 3D-printing technologies to create personalised insoles to help protect the feet from injury and ulceration.”
The project research team for the project, 3D digital solutions for diabetes-related foot ulcer offload treatment, comprises: Professor Woodruff, Associate Professor Peter Lazzarini, Dr Sean Powell, Associate Professor David Holmes, Alexander Terrill, Dr Edmund Pickering (QUT); Professor Jonathan Golledge (James Cook University); Dr Kerrie Evans (University of Sydney). Associate investigators are Dean Hartley, Chief technology officer, Healthia Ltd; Scott Morrison General manager iOrthotics, Greater Brisbane and industry partner Aptium3D.
