Development of a Wearable Wireless Sensing Device for Characterization of Hand Tremors Through Vibration Frequency Analysis

Abstract

Purpose To monitor the progression of diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) or essential tremor (ET), there is a growing interest in understanding their side effects and continuously monitoring the deterioration or progress of patients’ health conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of a wearable monitoring device constructed from compact MEMS for robust tremor detection in the upper limb using three different storage and monitoring techniques. Method Four subjects (2 PD and 2 ET) with varying stages of disease and treatment willingly provided offline, online, and live modes of tremor data using a low-cost, miniaturized accelerometer and microelectromechanical device. Results The results demonstrated differences in voluntary and non-voluntary characteristics of various activities and the distinct separation between them in the vibration spectrum at the limit of 2 Hz. Online and live monitoring provided the best alternatives to continuous in-home tracking combined with extensive post-processing techniques to detect tremor segments. The findings also highlighted the emergence of noticeable peaks, in the range between 3 and 8 Hz, for the PD’s frequency response, compared to the ET case, where the broadband behavior dominates. Conclusion The possibility of using a dynamic tuned mass damper tuned with dominant peaks to be canceled opens opportunities for PD passive tremor suppression.

Design and efficiency evaluation of a new wearable device for multi-degree suppression of hand pathological tremor

“…The article includes a combination of data acquisition of tremors related to PD and ET (Yousef et al, 2022). First, a single-slot passive vibration absorber was developed by selecting a frequency of 4 Hz consistent with measured and reported tremor peaks from literature.…”

“…Previous investigations in the literature have approximately regarded the nonlinear pathological tremor response as a linear second-order system (Lu and Huang, 2021). Instead, the author's previous work of measuring tremors in PD and ET instances was used based on the preliminary work in data acquisition (Yousef et al, 2022). This approach varies from the methodology adopted in the literature that uses harmonic or sinusoidal input.…”

“…The difference in tremor classification between PD and ET becomes apparent when looking at the frequency spectrum. Voluntary motion is often classified between 1 and 2 Hz, while non-voluntary activity occurs above 2 Hz (O’Suilleabhain and Matsumoto, 1998; Yousef et al, 2022). Parkinsonian tremor is a common symptom that affects up to 75% of people with PD, often classified as rhythmic, oscillatory movements with a relatively stable frequency most visible by the “pill-rolling” motion (Elble, 2017; Puschmann and Wszolek, 2011).…”

Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) Sensors for Hip Implant: A Numerical and Computational Feasibility Investigation Using Finite Element Methods

“…Impulse response helps to identify the mechanical and electrical behaviour of the SAW device made on the piezoelectric substrate. Many researchers have used this approach for SAW sensor modelling [32,33]. The impulse response model gives the first-order approach to modelling the sensor.…”

“…Additional components (harmonics) in the frequency spectrum suggest a loose prosthesis. In a variety of applications, including implants and other biomedical applications, there is a need for a sensor that can operate passively and wirelessly [33,34]. The implanted temperature sensor requires an external regulator to maintain a voltage below 5 V, as high-power consumption might affect temperature readings owing to the heat created by the telemetry circuit and eddy currents.…”