Personalized P4M Approach for Podiatry and Foot Problems

Major hospitals and clinics around the world are gradually becoming more and more adoptive and receptive to cellular and stem cell biologic / therapeutic approached in Podiatry. Both chronic and common foot problems can be now treated with autologus stem cell therapy with relatively better success rates than even 5 years back. Many of them such as - plantar fasciitis, osteoarthritis, Achilles tendonitis, and torn soft tissue, plus diabetic foot ulcers can be cured fully with personalized biologic approaches like stem cells, Platlet rich growth factors, IRAP, PRFM etc. Some of the main indications are-

• Plantar fasciitis – caused by pain and inflammation of the thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes.
• Osteoarthritis – a common joint disorder due to aging and wear and tear on the foot joints.
• Achilles tendonitis – tiny tears in the tissue and inflammation around the Achilles tendon, the tendon that connects the calf muscle to the heel bone.
• Torn soft tissue – when damage occurs to muscles, ligaments and tendons, commonly occurring as a foot or ankle sprain.

In the past, these conditions were treated with physical therapy or orthotic therapy, but didn’t achieve effective results and many patients struggled with continued foot pain. However, in the current approaches, the affected area is carefully measured beforehand so the stem cells are delivered directly with or without growth factors and biomaterials/. scaffolds into the specific location that needs the treatment. Most of these therapies/ biologics are either approved and regulated by the US FDA and constantly screened by medical professionals to eliminate the potential of any communicable diseases. The treatments require cGMP labs and validated clean rooms along with full OTs, to deliver high quality therapeutics. In India such offerings are being presented to clinicians and hospitals, with the help of DiponEd's cost effective Point of care, enclosed systems / devices for processing - bone marrow, fat, peripheral blood, etc. DiponEd presents an integrated Predictive Preventive Participatory and Personalized cure approach to such diseases.

General tools for tissue engineering and regeneration used for foot problems-

• PRFM-- Lower extremity ulcers (venous, diabetic) are often unresponsive to standard treatment. Various systemic and local cellular, vascular, and anatomical factors can result in nonhealing wounds that are refractory to normal healing processes and standard care. PRFM has been used to successfully treat severe venous leg ulcer (VLU), neuropathic diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), mixed arterial and Charcot-deformity associated foot ulcers. Merisis PRFM kit is available at a fraction of international kits costs can be used to treat foot problem like diabetic foot ulcers

• PRP--Both in Europe and the United States, there is an increasing prevalence of the use of autologous blood products to facilitate healing in a variety of applications. Recently, we have learned more about specific growth factors, which play a crucial role in the healing process. With that knowledge there is abundant enthusiasm in the application of concentrated platelets, which release a supra-maximal quantity of these growth factors to stimulate recovery in non-healing injuries. For 20 years, the application of autologous PRP has been safely used and documented in many fields including; orthopedics, sports medicine, dentistry, ENT, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, urology, wound healing, cosmetic, cardiothoracic, and maxillofacial surgery. Recently, there is emerging literature on the beneficial effects of PRP for chronic non-healing tendon injuries including lateral epicondylitis and plantar fasciitis and cartilage degeneration (Mishra and Pavelko, The American Journal of Sports Medicine 10(10):1-5, 2006; Barrett and Erredge, Podiatry Today 17:37-42, 2004). DiponEd's Merisis PRP kits are available in both Leukocyte Rich (L-PRP) and Leukodepleted (P-PRP) versions at unbeatable prices. These kits can be used as per the requirement and choice of the clinicians.

• Stem Cells-- In podiatry, stem cells are currently being used to treat foot and ankles injuries that involve damage to joints, ligaments, muscles and/or tendons. Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and other chronic foot injuries may respond to stem cell treatment. Sometimes when a bone is broken, the ends won't knit together -- a condition called non-union. A bone graft has been the standard of care, but stem cell injections seem to be effective in forming new bone and speeding the healing of the fracture. Physical therapy is also a part of stem cell therapy in podiatry, as the exercise promotes circulation and helps speed the regeneration process. At DiponEd we have launched POC enclosed Kits for Fat -SVF, Bone marrow - MNCs etc.

• 3D Printed Orthotics

Orthotics can be used in foot problems like 

• Painful heels
• Tired aching feet/flat feet
• Hallux valgus/bunions
• Corns / Calluses
• Ingrowing toe nails
• Thickened toe nails
• Dry skin
• Athletes Foot
• Chilblains
• Verrucae/warts
• Bacterial Infections
• Hammer Toes
• Morton's Neuroma
• Diabetic Concerns like DFU

DiponEd is involved in developing indigenous software , imaging codes and 3D printing processes for making personalized Orthotics for patients with above problems. The efforts are being carried over from funding support from Ministry of Health, and the IIT Hyderbad as a technology support and development partner.

HIGH ACCURACY DIGITAL FOOT SCANNING TECHNOLOGY.

• We use most advanced foot scanning technology to create a digital model of the patient foot. This high accuracy foot capture technology allows for every contour of the foot to be replicated in a computer model.

COMPUTER MODELED ORTHOTICS FOR THE PERFECT FIT.

• Take the power of world class engineering software to build the perfect orthotic. Our orthotic development process then uses the high accuracy digital foot scan to create a computer model of new orthotic. This helps us to create an orthotic that fits your foot perfectly. All of which means you'll have none of those aggravations that are commonplace with other orthotics.      3D PRINTED BECAUSE EVERY ORTHOTIC IS DIFFERENT.          Utilising the most advanced manufacturing process for customised orthotics. Each orthotic is individually manufactured to your unique requirements. 3D printing allows for every contour of your foot to be accurately replicated in your orthotic.

100% FOR YOU.

• No moulds, no guess work, no pre-made products. Our unique processing procedure ensures that your orthotics are 100% customised to you and your foot. Our 3D Orthotics it really is all about the individual / patient! We are also working on low weight and tissue friendly 3D printed prosthetics especially designed as per the patient's need.

DiponEd is a P4M (Predictive Preventive Participatory and Personalized medicine) company with focus on serving unmet medical and health care needs using modern technologies. We are striving towards developing Cure, Not-Treatment alone, for debilitating medical conditions.