The fibers have the potential to charge technological devices as they have the capacity to generate electricity.
Researchers in the National Nanotechnology and Research Center (UNAM) at Bilken University, have developed next-generation technology in the form of shoes with fiber sensors that have the potential to diagnose many health problems from gait disorders to Parkinson’s, and has implications for use in orthopedics.
Mustafa Ordu, PhD, who pioneered the development of this technology, stated that he developed the “flexible fibers that can generate electricity” in his laboratory at UNAM. The fiber sensors, which can continuously monitor heartbeat and body temperature, can be integrated into clothing by knitting them as fabric thread.
In trying to measure the walking patterns of people with the sensors, “Flat feet are common in many people, and tailor-made insoles are not widely used because they are too expensive,” said Ordu. “We work in partnership with doctors to develop personalized insoles by determining how much weight is given to which part of the foot with different sensors that we place in a shoe. We plan to eliminate walking problems over time by making personalized insoles.”
He went on to state that, thanks to the UNAM team’s efforts to enable smart phone integration, the sensors can also be used in the early diagnosis of neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s by detecting gait differences over time in those at risk. In addition, when placed under the shoes, the fibers have the potential to charge technological devices such as phones, as they have the capacity to generate electricity.
