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Wang K, Wu M, Sun Z, Huang Q. Spatial Augmented Reality for Expanding the Reach of Individuals with Tremor beyond Their Physical Limits. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:5405. [PMID: 39205099 PMCID: PMC11360467 DOI: 10.3390/s24165405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Tremor is a prevalent neurological disorder characterized by involuntary shaking or trembling of body parts. This condition impairs fine motor skills and hand coordination to varying degrees and can even affect overall body mobility. As a result, tremors severely disrupt the daily lives and work of those affected, significantly limiting their physical activity space. This study developed an innovative spatial augmented reality (SAR) system aimed at assisting individuals with tremor disorders to overcome their physical limitations and expand their range of activities. The system integrates eye-tracking and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, enabling users to smoothly control objects in the real world through eye movements. It uses a virtual stabilization algorithm for stable interaction with objects in the real environment. The study comprehensively evaluated the system's performance through three experiments: (1) assessing the effectiveness of the virtual stabilization algorithm in enhancing the system's ability to assist individuals with tremors in stable and efficient interaction with remote objects, (2) evaluating the system's fluidity and stability in performing complex interactive tasks, and (3) investigating the precision and efficiency of the system in remote interactions within complex physical environments. The results demonstrated that the system significantly improves the stability and efficiency of interactions between individuals with tremor and remote objects, reduces operational errors, and enhances the accuracy and communication efficiency of interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zhi Sun
- School of Art and Design, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China; (K.W.)
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2
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Fujikawa J, Morigaki R, Yamamoto N, Nakanishi H, Oda T, Izumi Y, Takagi Y. Diagnosis and Treatment of Tremor in Parkinson's Disease Using Mechanical Devices. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 13:life13010078. [PMID: 36676025 PMCID: PMC9863142 DOI: 10.3390/life13010078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parkinsonian tremors are sometimes confused with essential tremors or other conditions. Recently, researchers conducted several studies on tremor evaluation using wearable sensors and devices, which may support accurate diagnosis. Mechanical devices are also commonly used to treat tremors and have been actively researched and developed. Here, we aimed to review recent progress and the efficacy of the devices related to Parkinsonian tremors. METHODS The PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for articles. We searched for "Parkinson disease" and "tremor" and "device". RESULTS Eighty-six articles were selected by our systematic approach. Many studies demonstrated that the diagnosis and evaluation of tremors in patients with PD can be done accurately by machine learning algorithms. Mechanical devices for tremor suppression include deep brain stimulation (DBS), electrical muscle stimulation, and orthosis. In recent years, adaptive DBS and optimization of stimulation parameters have been studied to further improve treatment efficacy. CONCLUSIONS Due to developments using state-of-the-art techniques, effectiveness in diagnosing and evaluating tremor and suppressing it using these devices is satisfactorily high in many studies. However, other than DBS, no devices are in practical use. To acquire high-level evidence, large-scale studies and randomized controlled trials are needed for these devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joji Fujikawa
- Department of Advanced Brain Research, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-Cho, Tokushima-Shi 770-8503, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Ryoma Morigaki
- Department of Advanced Brain Research, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-Cho, Tokushima-Shi 770-8503, Tokushima, Japan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-Cho, Tokushima-Shi 770-8503, Tokushima, Japan
- Parkinson’s Disease and Dystonia Research Center, Tokushima University Hospital, 2-50-1 Kuramoto-Cho, Tokushima-Shi 770-8503, Tokushima, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-88-633-7149
| | - Nobuaki Yamamoto
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-Cho, Tokushima-Shi 770-8503, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nakanishi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-Cho, Tokushima-Shi 770-8503, Tokushima, Japan
- Beauty Life Corporation, 2 Kiba-Cho, Minato-Ku, Nagoya 455-0021, Aichi, Japan
| | - Teruo Oda
- Department of Advanced Brain Research, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-Cho, Tokushima-Shi 770-8503, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Yuishin Izumi
- Parkinson’s Disease and Dystonia Research Center, Tokushima University Hospital, 2-50-1 Kuramoto-Cho, Tokushima-Shi 770-8503, Tokushima, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-Cho, Tokushima-Shi 770-8503, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Yasushi Takagi
- Department of Advanced Brain Research, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-Cho, Tokushima-Shi 770-8503, Tokushima, Japan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokushima University, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-Cho, Tokushima-Shi 770-8503, Tokushima, Japan
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Reconfigurable Self-Sensing Pneumatic Artificial Muscle With Locking Ability Based on Modular Multi-Chamber Soft Actuator. IEEE Robot Autom Lett 2022. [DOI: 10.1109/lra.2022.3189154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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4D printing of soft orthoses for tremor suppression. Biodes Manuf 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42242-022-00199-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
AbstractTremor is an involuntary and oscillatory movement disorder that makes daily activities difficult for affected patients. Hand tremor-suppression orthoses are noninvasive, wearable devices designed to mitigate tremors. Various studies have shown that these devices are effective, economical, and safe; however, they have drawbacks such as large weight, awkward shape, and rigid parts. This study investigates different types of tremor-suppression orthoses and discusses their efficiency, mechanism, benefits, and disadvantages. First, various orthoses (with passive, semi-active, and active mechanisms) are described in detail. Next, we look at how additive manufacturing (AM) has progressed recently in making sensors and actuators for application in tremor orthoses. Then, the materials used in AM are further analyzed. It is found that traditional manufacturing problems can be solved with the help of AM techniques, like making orthoses that are affordable, lighter, and more customizable. Another concept being discussed is using smart materials and AM methods, such as four-dimensional (4D) printing, to make orthoses that are more comfortable and efficient.
Graphic abstract
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Zhou Y, Box D, Hardy KG, Jenkins ME, Garland J, Naish MD, Trejos AL. Survey-based identification of design requirements and constraints for a wearable tremor suppression device. J Rehabil Assist Technol Eng 2022; 9:20556683221094480. [PMID: 35548101 PMCID: PMC9083043 DOI: 10.1177/20556683221094480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Parkinsonian tremor has severely impacted the lives of 65% of individuals with Parkinson’s disease, and nearly 25% do not respond to traditional treatments. Although wearable tremor suppression devices (WTSDs) have become a promising alternative approach, this technology is still in the early stages of development, and no studies have reported the stakeholders’ opinions on this technology and their desired design requirements. Methods An online survey was distributed to affected Canadians and Canadian movement disorder specialists (MDS) to acquire information on demographics, the current state of treatments, opinions on the WTSDs, and the desired design requirements of future WTSDs. Results A total of 101 affected individuals and 24 MDS completed the survey. It was found that both groups are generally open to using WTSDs to manage tremor. The most important design requirement to end users is the adaptability to lifestyle, followed by weight and size, accurate motion, comfort, safety, quick response, and cost. Lastly, most of the participants (65%) think that the device should cost under $500. Conclusions The findings from this study can be used as guidelines for the development of future WTSDs, such that the future generations could be evaluated and accepted by the end users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhou
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Devin Box
- School of Kinesiology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Kenneth G Hardy
- Ivey Business School, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Mary E Jenkins
- Movement Disorders Program, Clinical Neurological Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jayne Garland
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Michael D Naish
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Ana Luisa Trejos
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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Tiboni M, Borboni A, Vérité F, Bregoli C, Amici C. Sensors and Actuation Technologies in Exoskeletons: A Review. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:884. [PMID: 35161629 PMCID: PMC8839165 DOI: 10.3390/s22030884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Exoskeletons are robots that closely interact with humans and that are increasingly used for different purposes, such as rehabilitation, assistance in the activities of daily living (ADLs), performance augmentation or as haptic devices. In the last few decades, the research activity on these robots has grown exponentially, and sensors and actuation technologies are two fundamental research themes for their development. In this review, an in-depth study of the works related to exoskeletons and specifically to these two main aspects is carried out. A preliminary phase investigates the temporal distribution of scientific publications to capture the interest in studying and developing novel ideas, methods or solutions for exoskeleton design, actuation and sensors. The distribution of the works is also analyzed with respect to the device purpose, body part to which the device is dedicated, operation mode and design methods. Subsequently, actuation and sensing solutions for the exoskeletons described by the studies in literature are analyzed in detail, highlighting the main trends in their development and spread. The results are presented with a schematic approach, and cross analyses among taxonomies are also proposed to emphasize emerging peculiarities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Tiboni
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze, 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (M.T.); (C.A.)
| | - Alberto Borboni
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze, 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (M.T.); (C.A.)
| | - Fabien Vérité
- Agathe Group INSERM U 1150, UMR 7222 CNRS, ISIR (Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robotics), Sorbonne Université, 75005 Paris, France;
| | - Chiara Bregoli
- Institute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy (ICMATE), National Research Council (CNR), Via Previati 1/E, 23900 Lecco, Italy;
| | - Cinzia Amici
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze, 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (M.T.); (C.A.)
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Lora-Millan JS, Delgado-Oleas G, Benito-León J, Rocon E. A Review on Wearable Technologies for Tremor Suppression. Front Neurol 2021; 12:700600. [PMID: 34434161 PMCID: PMC8380769 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.700600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Tremor is defined as a rhythmic, involuntary oscillatory movement of a body part. Although everyone exhibits a certain degree of tremor, some pathologies lead to very disabling tremors. These pathological tremors constitute the most prevalent movement disorder, and they imply severe difficulties in performing activities of daily living. Although tremors are currently managed through pharmacotherapy or surgery, these treatments present significant associated drawbacks: drugs often induce side effects and show decreased effectiveness over years of use, while surgery is a hazardous procedure for a very low percentage of eligible patients. In this context, recent research demonstrated the feasibility of managing upper limb tremors through wearable technologies that suppress tremors by modifying limb biomechanics or applying counteracting forces. Furthermore, recent experiments with transcutaneous afferent stimulation showed significant tremor attenuation. In this regard, this article reviews the devices developed following these tremor management paradigms, such as robotic exoskeletons, soft robotic exoskeletons, and transcutaneous neurostimulators. These works are presented, and their effectiveness is discussed. The article also evaluates the different metrics used for the validation of these devices and the lack of a standard validation procedure that allows the comparison among them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio S. Lora-Millan
- Centro de Automática y Robótica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas – Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gabriel Delgado-Oleas
- Centro de Automática y Robótica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas – Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Ingeniería Electrónica, Universidad del Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Julián Benito-León
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Rocon
- Centro de Automática y Robótica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas – Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Abstract
This paper proposes a pneumatic artificial muscle based on a novel winding method. By this method, the inflation of silicone tubes is transformed to the contraction of muscle, whereas the expansion keeps on one side of the muscle, i.e., the expansion of the actuator does not affect the object close to it. Hence the muscle is great for wearable robots without squeezing on the user’s skin. Through necessary simplification, the contraction ratio model and force model are proposed and verified by experiments. The prototype of this paper has a maximum contraction ratio of 35.8% and a maximum output force of 12.24 N with only 5 mm thickness. The high compatibility proves it excellent to be the alternative for wearable robots.
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Nguyen HS, Luu TP. Tremor-Suppression Orthoses for the Upper Limb: Current Developments and Future Challenges. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:622535. [PMID: 33994975 PMCID: PMC8119649 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.622535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Pathological tremor is the most common motor disorder in adults and characterized by involuntary, rhythmic muscular contraction leading to shaking movements in one or more parts of the body. Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and biomechanical loading using wearable orthoses have emerged as effective and non-invasive methods for tremor suppression. A variety of upper-limb orthoses for tremor suppression have been introduced; however, a systematic review of the mechanical design, algorithms for tremor extraction, and the experimental design is still missing. Methods: To address this gap, we applied a standard systematic review methodology to conduct a literature search in the PubMed and PMC databases. Inclusion criteria and full-text access eligibility were used to filter the studies from the search results. Subsequently, we extracted relevant information, such as suppression mechanism, system weights, degrees of freedom (DOF), algorithms for tremor estimation, experimental settings, and the efficacy. Results: The results show that the majority of tremor-suppression orthoses are active with 47% prevalence. Active orthoses are also the heaviest with an average weight of 561 ± 467 g, followed by semi-active 486 ± 395 g, and passive orthoses 191 ± 137 g. Most of the orthoses only support one DOF (54.5%). Two-DOF and three-DOF orthoses account for 33 and 18%, respectively. The average efficacy of tremor suppression using wearable orthoses is 83 ± 13%. Active orthoses are the most efficient with an average efficacy of 83 ± 8%, following by the semi-active 77 ± 19%, and passive orthoses 75 ± 12%. Among different experimental setups, bench testing shows the highest efficacy at 95 ± 5%, this value dropped to 86 ± 8% when evaluating with tremor-affected subjects. The majority of the orthoses (92%) measured voluntary and/or tremorous motions using biomechanical sensors (e.g., IMU, force sensor). Only one system was found to utilize EMG for tremor extraction. Conclusions: Our review showed an improvement in efficacy of using robotic orthoses in tremor suppression. However, significant challenges for the translations of these systems into clinical or home use remain unsolved. Future challenges include improving the wearability of the orthoses (e.g., lightweight, aesthetic, and soft structure), and user control interfaces (i.e., neural machine interface). We also suggest addressing non-technical challenges (e.g., regulatory compliance, insurance reimbursement) to make the technology more accessible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoai Son Nguyen
- Group of Advanced Computations in Engineering Science, HCMC University of Technology and Education, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Trieu Phat Luu
- Noninvasive Brain-Machine Interface System Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
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Mo J, Priefer R. Medical Devices for Tremor Suppression: Current Status and Future Directions. BIOSENSORS-BASEL 2021; 11:bios11040099. [PMID: 33808056 PMCID: PMC8065649 DOI: 10.3390/bios11040099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Tremors are the most prevalent movement disorder that interferes with the patient’s daily living, and physical activities, ultimately leading to a reduced quality of life. Due to the pathophysiology of tremor, developing effective pharmacotherapies, which are only suboptimal in the management of tremor, has many challenges. Thus, a range of therapies are necessary in managing this progressive, aging-associated disorder. Surgical interventions such as deep brain stimulation are able to provide durable tremor control. However, due to high costs, patient and practitioner preference, and perceived high risks, their utilization is minimized. Medical devices are placed in a unique position to bridge this gap between lifestyle interventions, pharmacotherapies, and surgical treatments to provide safe and effective tremor suppression. Herein, we review the mechanisms of action, safety and efficacy profiles, and clinical applications of different medical devices that are currently available or have been previously investigated for tremor suppression. These devices are primarily noninvasive, which can be a beneficial addition to the patient’s existing pharmacotherapy and/or lifestyle intervention.
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