H.24 CAPESKIN: Convenient Auto PressurE StocKINgs

Title:

CAPESKIN: Convenient Auto PressurE StocKINgs

Specialty:

Cardiology

Problem:

Patients have difficulty putting on their compression stockings, which decreases their compliance despite physician recommendations, leading to consequences such as lower extremity (read: leg) edema, development on varicose veins, serving as a nidus for infections and complications such as cellulitis, and even sepsis / amputation / death in extreme cases.

Background:

Compression stockings come in various shapes and forms, and the general consensus is that by increasing the external pressure on the lower extremities of a patient, one increases the venous blood return in the fight against gravity back into the right side of the heart, the central pump of the human body. The issue lies in patients having difficulty with choosing which stockings to purchase, some requiring tailoring to fit their specific anatomy, along with other factors that make the process confusing for patients who just want a simple convenient “one-size-fits-all” solution to their chronic medical problem.

Target population:

Any patient that has issues with lower extremity swelling

Symptoms treated/Indications:

Congestive heart failure

Lymphedema

Varicose veins

Deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities

Pregnancy

Athletes

Current methods:

From Healthline.com: https://www.healthline.com/health/compression-socks-benefits

• Graduated compression stockings
• Anti-embolism stockings
• Non-medical support hosiery

Stockings can come in various shapes and forms (knee-high, thigh-high, etc.). They also come in various advertised compression pressures (i.e. at least 20 mmHg recommended clinically).

Clinical vision:

To create a compression stocking that is extremely convenient for patients to use on a daily basis, that incorporates some form of auto-detection system to titrate pressure accordingly, potentially using electricity as a modality of intervention.