Nearly 1 in 4 adults in America suffers from arthritis, making it a major
cause of disability in the country. The related pain, stiffness, and
compromised mobility impose a foreboding burden on quality of life, limiting
people's ability to work, exercise, and even perform everyday activities.
Despite this prevalence, patients struggle to obtain timely or routine checks
on their condition since doctor consultations are oftentimes weeks or months
apart. This leaves physicians poorly informed with up-to-date information and
patients unsupported during flares, causing unnecessary complications.
This is why we want to construct KneeSense, a new intersection of wearable
technology and digital medicine that makes arthritis care a real-time,
data-driven process.
KneeSense is a smart arthritis knee support paired with a smartphone app that
provides immediate feedback regarding knee health. The support uses
lightweight, nonintrusive sensors that monitor key parameters such as
inflammation, joint stability, and movement patterns. These are input to both
patient and doctor, creating a closed loop for enhanced monitoring, earlier
intervention, and reduced reliance on serial clinic visits.
Unlike the majority of knee braces that are now on the market and provide
mechanical support alone, KneeSense fuses structural support with advanced
monitoring. Our unique feature is bringing hardware and software together in
one device: the synergy of a wearable brace and real-time health data
collection.
As it advances, KneeSense can be adapted to other high-stress joints that are
often affected by arthritis, such as the wrist, elbow, and shoulder. This
creates the potential for an expandable product line treating a range of
disability relating to joints. The long-term vision is developing an
ecosystem of wearable aid that not only reduces physical stress but also
actively informs care decisions through real-time monitoring.
We will target both the clinical and consumer markets. From the consumer
viewpoint, KneeSense offers patients and caregivers an engaged solution to
more effectively manage arthritis in the home environment, reducing
unnecessary visits to the office and providing users with confidence. From
the clinical viewpoint, orthopedic clinics and rheumatology offices can tap
into our platform to enhance monitoring, reduce administrative inefficiency,
and enhance patient engagement. Through a subscription model, we can make
cost more accessible and ensure that technology remains sustainable and
scalable.
Accuracy, safety, and privacy are central to our mission. We will collaborate
with physicians and biomedical engineers to test the accuracy of our sensors
and algorithms, and patient information will be encrypted and anonymized
securely in line with HIPAA and relevant medical standards.
Our plans for the future include clinical trials of the brace, app
development, and expansion of joint support products to additional joints.
With KneeSense, we are transforming arthritis care with the combination of
wearable support and real-time health data, which allows patients to live
more freely, independently, and with confidence.
Email: akhilanalladimma@gmail.com
Project Owner
Akhila Nalladimma