Sensor Based Portable Tremor Suppression Device for Stroke Patients

Abstract

Objective

Tremor is a clinically depicted commonly encountered neurological disorder which results after a stroke or brain injury like Parkinson's disease which causes rhythmic and reflex oscillatory movement of a body, particularly upper arm, which is difficult to diagnose and manage. Tremor is influenced by Physiological and Psychological factors which can affect any age group specifically in middle age and older persons. The modern treatment facilities and features available are very expensive and unreachable for rural people. Hence there arises a necessity to develop a portable device to overcome such situations.

Methods

This paper introduces a portable and wearable device using accelerometer sensor assisted with pneumatic mechanism for tremor suppression in the upper arm. This portable device may help to suppress tremor and improve muscle control and coordination in the upper arm. Once the device is connected with the patients arm, the pneumatic circuit supplies required air through the hand cuff to keep the arm on control with reference to the signal obtained from the accelerometer sensor.

The results

The performances of the device are measured in three different stages say before inflation, during partial inflation and full inflation. The results depicts 30% of improvement in tremor suppression at three different levels of tremor occurrence which is measured in terms of voltage between 1.6 and 2V at high, medium and low levels at different time intervals with frequency <10Hz.

Conclusion

This device is a cost effective and portable closed loop system which is exclusively designed to reduce the tremor without affecting the upper limb voluntary movements.