Improved Circulation for Diabetics

More than 100 million Americans now live with diabetes, and many are afflicted with neuropathy – a symptom of the disease that causes nerve damage in the body’s extremities. Although the condition cannot be treated, RMU engineering students found a way to mitigate its symptoms: An adjustable band that adjusts blood flow to the affected body part – such as a foot – in order to trigger the body’s own autoimmune response, which can improve blood circulation.

The band, made of a flexible substance called thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), also can monitor blood pressure to ensure patient safety. RMU students created a testable prototype on a budget of only $250.