MyoSock: Dynamic muscle function monitoring
As people age, loss and structural changes in skeletal muscle tissue and function occurs with muscle wasting starting as early as the fourth decade. Healthy muscle is essential not only for mobility, but also for cognitive function, metabolism, risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Axoband, developed by Axomics, is an electromyogram – electrodes for muscle activity measurement embedded into wearable bands.
About the project
As people age, loss and structural changes in skeletal muscle tissue and function occurs with muscle wasting starting as early as the fourth decade. Muscle changes are also seen in people with diseases such as cancer, liver disease and diabetes as well as following prolonged inactivity. Healthy muscle is essential not only for mobility, but also for cognitive function, metabolism, risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Currently there is no direct method/device that measures the health of the largest organ in the body – skeletal muscle. The company is commercialising a device, the MyoSock, that will be a low-cost easy to use method of measuring muscle health.
Product
MyoSock, is a smart sock with embedded sensors and a detachable electronics unit that records leg muscle and movement activity. Specialised software calculates muscle health indices, reflecting different qualities of muscle function. Based on this information, the user may be advised by their clinician / trainer / App to increase exercise or modify nutritional intake to improve muscle health. Additionally, the MyoSock will assist with drug development which will help increase muscle mass and function in people with muscle wasting. The potential market for MyoSock includes pharmaceutical companies, clinicians and the sports and exercise providers.