Kaná: IMSS Device Boosts Blind Mobility by 38%

The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) has developed and patented Kaná, a smart device designed to assist individuals with visual impairments. Initial trials indicate significant improvements in users' quality of life and mobility, with a 38% increase in walking speed and no accidents reported after one month of use.

“Data from a quality of life survey shows a 51% improvement in users' overall well-being,” says Dr. Ana Gabriela Gallardo Hernández, investigator, IMSS’s Unit of Medical Research. Gallardo explains that the device’s effectiveness was measured in two key areas: walking speed and quality of life. Kaná employs an ultrasonic sensor that attaches to a white cane, enabling users to detect obstacles above waist height—limitations traditional canes cannot address. This innovation reduces collisions and boosts users' confidence, allowing them to walk independently, Gallardo adds.

Kaná’s sensor can detect various objects, such as tree branches, balconies, and light meters, identifying obstacles as small as 4 centimeters in diameter. The device also features a voice system that provides users with updates on its status, battery level, and detection settings.

IMSS collaborated with the National Center for Research and Training for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DIF) in Coyoacán, Mexico City, and the Foundation Miradas de Esperanza A.C. in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, to evaluate and refine the technology.

The Kaná device has been tested and achieved a level nine on the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale, as recognized by NASA. The patent for the device was granted by the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI). Funding has been secured for the production of 150 prototype devices. With mass production, the cost of the device is expected to decrease, making it more accessible to a broader population of visually impaired individuals in Mexico. IMSS is now seeking a partner to commercialize the technology.