Evaluation of a wearable orthosis and an associated algorithm for tremor suppression

Physiol Meas. 2007 Apr;28(4):415-25. doi: 10.1088/0967-3334/28/4/007. Epub 2007 Mar 20.

Abstract

We describe a wearable orthosis and an associated algorithm for the simultaneous assessment and treatment of essential tremor, one of the most common movement disorders in humans involving an overactivity of the olivo-cerebellar pathways. A motor providing effective viscosity is fixed on a wearable orthosis in the upper limbs. The motor is controlled by a personal computer with software processing in real time the position and rate of rotation of the joint detected by a chip gyroscope. The orthosis can be used in a monitoring mode and in an active mode. The range of tremor suppression of the signals above the orthosis operational limit ranges from about 3% (percentile 5) to about 79% (percentile 95) in relation to energy in the monitoring mode. Considering both postural and kinetic, the mean tremor energy decreased from 55.49 +/- 22.93 rad2 s(-3) in the monitoring mode to 15.66 +/- 7.29 rad2 s(-3) in the active mode. Medians of power reduction were below 60% for the wrist and the elbow. In addition to supplying new information on the interactions between kinematics, dynamics and tremor genesis, this non-invasive technique is an alternative to current therapies. This new approach will provide new insights into the understanding of motor control.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Algorithms*
  • Clothing*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Essential Tremor / diagnosis*
  • Essential Tremor / rehabilitation*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Monitoring, Ambulatory / instrumentation
  • Monitoring, Ambulatory / methods
  • Orthotic Devices*
  • Robotics / instrumentation*
  • Robotics / methods
  • Therapy, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation
  • Therapy, Computer-Assisted / methods*