A regular sock costs three euros. This one will cost a few thousand, but it could save you from amputation. It's called Leia and it's the first smart sock that restores feeling to the feet of people with diabetes. Inside, there are pressure sensors on the sole, a computer in the shaft, and electrodes sewn into the fabric. When you walk, the sensors map your weight. The computer translates this data into electrical impulses. The electrodes stimulate the still-functioning nerves in your ankle, bypassing those damaged by diabetes. The brain receives the signal, and you can feel the ground beneath your feet again.
Simple, right? No. I would say definitely not, considering that it took five years of research toETH in Zurich to get there. But now we're there: The launch is scheduled for 2027 in the United States.
The problem that no one sees
Diabetic neuropathy affects approximately 280 million people in the world. We're talking about half of the 560 million diabetics worldwide. The mechanism is ruthless, we all know it: high blood glucose levels progressively damage the nerves and the vessels that nourish them. The first to fail are the longest ones, which start from the spinal cord and extend to the sole of the foot. When these nerves stop transmitting, the foot becomes a sensory dead zone.You no longer feel the heat, the cold, the pressure. You don't notice a blister, a cut, or an ulcer forming. When you finally see it, it's often too late.
The consequences? First, numerous falls, because balance depends on feedback from the feet. Wounds that degenerate into serious infections. In the worst cases, painful amputations. A study published in Nature Communications. It has shown that the loss of mobility caused by neuropathy creates a vicious cycle: you move less, your diabetes worsens, and complications increase. A way to break this spiral is needed.
How the Nerve Bypass Sock Works (Here: I've already given away a spoiler)
<strong>The Eurobursar</strong> Mynerva, the spin-off of theETH in Zurich driven by Greta Preatoni, spent five years developing this technology. The basic idea is to circumvent the damage rather than repair it. Are the nerves in the calf damaged? Very good, we stimulate the ones higher up, at ankle height, which still work. The sock incorporates pressure sensors on the sole that detect where and how hard your foot hits the ground while walking. An AI processor in the shaft of the sock converts this data in real time into personalized electrical signals. Electrodes sewn into the fabric send these impulses directly to healthy nerve pathways.
The brain interprets these artificial signals as if they were natural. Magnetic resonance imaging studies have confirmed that the brain areas activated by the stimulation of the sock are the same ones that light up with natural touch.
For the user, the sensation is intuitive: you feel the pressure of your heel when you land, you sense the balance when you shift your weight. Nothing artificial or mechanical.
Each sock is individually calibrated for the patient. The system learns the degree of nerve damage and adjusts the intensity of the impulses accordingly. It's not a one-size-fits-all product: it's a custom-made neuroprosthesis that's worn like a normal garment.
The detail that makes the difference
There is one aspect that often goes unnoticed but that changes everything: the reduction of neuropathic painMany patients with diabetic neuropathy experience not only numbness, but also chronic burning pain. The targeted electrical stimulation of the Leia sock triggers the release of neurotransmitters that block the transmission of pain. According to Dr. PreatoniMany patients seek alternatives to powerful painkillers to avoid side effects and addiction. This sock could be that alternative.
The name Read, among other things, has a curious history. The first prototypes had two cushions sewn into the fabric that recalled the braids of the princess of Star Wars"It's a funny anecdote that keeps the team together," Preatoni says with a laugh. In his office, there are three plastic boxes containing all the prototypes: from the rigid, wired shoe of the first versions to the current elegant design that looks like a normal athletic sock.
When will the AI sock arrive (and how much will it cost)
Mynerva won in June 2024 Grand Prize at the Venture Award, which will cover the costs of patents and approval of the Food and Drug Administration American. If all goes according to plan, the soft launch in the US is scheduled for 2027. After the United States, the team aims to conquer Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East. As we reported in a previous article, wearable technology for therapy is rapidly evolving from a simple monitoring tool to an active medical device.
The price hasn't been officially announced yet, but given that it's an FDA-certified medical device with high-tech components, it's reasonable to expect a cost in the thousands of euros. However, when compared to the healthcare costs of neuropathy complications (hospitalizations for infections, surgeries, amputations), the investment could prove sustainable for healthcare systems.
The first long-term study will begin this fall to test whether the Leia sock can prevent foot ulcers by improving gait. Scientific literature suggests that continuous electrical stimulation may even improve nerve blood flow and partially restore function to damaged nerves.
“It would be a dream to prove that Leia can do this,” Preatoni says, his eyes shining.
The future at your feet
The real question is not whether the technology works (preliminary data confirms this), but whether it will scale. On the Mynerva website You can already sign up to receive updates on the device. There's interest. It remains to be seen whether the healthcare system will be ready for such a solution on a large scale.
Because a sock with a computer inside isn't exactly what you expect to find at the pharmacy: but maybe it's exactly what 280 million people need to feel where they're putting their feet again.
