Development of a novel robotic monofilament probe for diabetic neuropathy screening

Abstract

People with diabetes are unable to produce or properly consume insulin, which is produced by pancreas. A common complication of diabetes is diabetic neuropathy which is able to affect any part of the nervous system. The diabetic peripheral neuropathy is normally detected by the physicians during the patient’s examination. The physician detects the loss of sensations in diabetic foot by using a monofilament to apply onto 3 sites on each foot. This study is to introduce a new robotic monofilament probe for diabetic neuropathy screening as a section of a telemedicine for diabetes disease project. The development of the “Robotic Monofilament Probe” is able to reduce the cost and time for both patient and physician during the long term examination period. Moreover, the system is a part of telemedicine project for diabetes disease which the system will be able to transfer examination data to the physician in a remote area.