Novel device to detect extreme temperatures and prevent injuries in patients suffering from peripheral neuropathy

摘要

Over 42 million people suffer from peripheral neuropathy: deterioration of the nerves in the peripheral nervous system which controls the flow of information from the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) to other parts of the body, especially the extremities. Peripheral neuropathy may be caused by autoimmune diseases, metabolic and endocrine disorders, diabetes, cancer, chemotherapy, alcoholism, and more. One symptom of peripheral neuropathy is a lack of ability to sense temperature especially in the extremities such as fingers and toes. If a peripheral neuropathy patient's finger is entered into a high temperature unsafe zone, the patient does not have the quick reaction to move away from the heat source. This makes even simple daily activities such as cooking and operating machinery dangerous as patients are highly susceptible to injury like burns and frostbite, leading to ulcers and more complications.