New special insole for medical footwear - Applications for diabetics’ feet assuring comfort, good hygiene and perforating plantar wounds treatment time reduction

05 FR GECA 0C0H

Abstract
A French company patented an innovative insole. Especially designed for medical footwear, it is completely non-toxic: all the components of the insole fulfil very stringent requirements. The process combines an insole and a decontamination system providing comfort, perfect hygiene and reducing time of treatment of perforating plantar wounds. The company is looking for license agreement, manufacturing or commercial agreement with research, public or industrial partners.

Description
Presently, time treatment in the case of perforating plantar wounds can amount to 4 to 6 months. It has been observed that people who receive general or local medication usually wear shoes with adjustable Velcro fastenings, due to the presence of the bandage.
In most cases, the bandage oozes permanently and floods the insole with pathogenic germs. The development of these germs is exponential due to moisture and heat, especially since the top layer of these shoes is usually made of sponge fabric.
In this case, after the treatment, the clean bandage comes into immediate contact with an extremely septic environment, which inevitably creates a cross contamination detrimental to proper medical care.
Moreover, feet baths, and even so-called "normal" hygiene, become quasi-impossible due to the presence of the wound and the bandage; this is of course an aggravating factor.
The absorbent membrane, the key of the insole system, has received the CE mark as a class 1 Medical Device (nr fr/CA01/0004306V).
The top layer of the insole ensures that air and moisture can be evacuated to the membrane, and eliminates the rise in heat due to friction when walking.
The shock-absorbing foam used for the bottom layer (Alveo foam, Lucerne - CH) provides perfect comfort and maximal absorption against micro-traumatisms. Alveo foams are commonly used as orthopaedic insoles.
The DS2 insoles can be washed in a washing machine as often as necessary to make sure that the user obtains perfect hygiene.
The DS2 insoles also have many advantages for the more specific use in diabetology. Diabetic people appreciate the advantages of this innovative insole, either at the prevention stage as the insole provides good cushioning, protection of the feet, and regular cleaning of the insole, or for subjects who suffer from perforating plantar wounds. The textile used as the top layer of the insole can be treated with the special antibacterial substance. The Alveo foam can also be delivered in a completely non-toxic Sanitized® antibacterial form based on silver ions.

Innovative Aspects:
This innovative insole:
- Assures good air circulation and moisture evacuation
- Absorbs the exudates of the bandage
- Can be disinfected daily by spraying a suitable product, with especial efficiency
- Assures maximal comfort and absorption of micro-traumatisms, providing a permanently wholesome environment for the foot, whatever the conditions

Main Advantages:
- CE mark as a class 1 Medical Device (nr fr/CA01/0004306V) for the insole
- Treatment time reduction of perforating plantar wounds of up to 35 to 50%
- Medical treatment costs reduction
- High comfort
- Easiness to clean the insole (washing machine) assuring a regular cleaning and consequently a permanent good hygiene for the feet

Development phase
Available for demonstration - field tested

Intellectual Property Rights
Patent(s) granted

Collaboration details
Technical Co-operation; License agreement; Commercial Agreement with Technical Assistance
- Type of partner sought: The company is looking for license agreement, commercial agreement with technical assistance (engineering, technical consultancy) with laboratories, research organisations, public or industrial partners
- Specific area of activity of the partner:
* Treatment of diabetes side-effects
* Treatment of plantar wounds
* Medical or para-medical shoes
- Task to be performed: Co-development of the product and new products

For more information
Isabelle Gouriou

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