Leprosy damages the nerves in the feet, causing loss of sensation, muscle weakness, and gradual deformity of the foot shape over time. Patients with these deformities need specially designed footwear to protect their feet and prevent ulcers but getting accurate foot measurements in remote or resource-limited settings is difficult. Standard clinical measurement tools require trained staff and controlled conditions, which are often unavailable in field settings where leprosy patients live.

This project developed a smartphone-based tool that allows community health workers to photograph a patient’s feet and automatically generate precise foot measurements. The patient places a standard reference card next to their foot, and the app uses artificial intelligence to detect the foot outline, identify key anatomical points, and calculate measurements such as foot length, forefoot width, heel width, arch height, and foot circumference all from three simple photos taken in the field.

The system was designed with the realities of leprosy patients in mind. It handles severely deformed feet, missing or resorbed toes, flat arches, and uneven skin texture conditions that standard measurement tools were not designed for. When photo quality is poor or a measurement cannot be reliably calculated, the app flags the issue with a plain-language explanation and tells the community worker exactly what to retake.

Measurements are stored digitally, tied to the patient record, and can be used directly by orthotists and footwear specialists to fabricate protective custom footwear reducing the delay between assessment and footwear provision, and improving the fit for patients who need it most