GARDE: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Accommodate Fine Motor Control Disorders

建议编号：1133992提要本课程提案描述了研究书写过程中手-笔-纸相互作用的基本方面的活动，以及引起不必要的振荡(震颤)的运动障碍。这些努力将导致适应这种障碍的策略，并作为回报，提高运动性震颤患者的写作能力。运动性震颤是一种功能障碍，在美国有1000-1200万帕金森氏症、原发性震颤和肌张力障碍患者。我们的建议的新颖性是跨学科的、基于工程的方法；我们用以下问题来描述这个问题：-给定一组手腕振动，笔柄/笔的力学条件是什么，会导致“意外笔迹”(即，笔滑在纸上)？如何才能主动或被动地提高书法水平？为了解决这个复杂的问题，我们首先在人的因素和最终用户的绩效指标(PM)的背景下框架写作能力。老年目标人群将通过与波士顿医疗中心的神经科医生合作确定。然后，我们建立了笔在不同条件下被手摆动的动力学模型，并使用控制理论方法来适应笔上的摆动。最后，我们将实施这些方法，并将其构建为“智能笔”，在最终用户群上进行测试。改进的设计还将包括握力和摩擦的3D接触力学模型，以及使用一系列传感器和执行器的本科生高级设计团队在原型方面的努力。智力价值这项活动很重要，因为它不仅仅是制造一支“更好的笔”，它还试图充分定义研究人员可以在其中工作的设计空间，以适应运动障碍对写作的影响。这个问题很容易解决，因为我们已经召集了接触力学(职业奖获得者)、控制、人为因素和神经学方面的专家。我们相信这项工作可以改变这一领域，因为其他研究人员可以访问我们的建模数据，并使用指南来探索进一步的治疗概念。此外，这项工作还将促进“计算设计”的概念。我们已尽一切努力使推力正确、协同、相关，并在制定的计划范围内，并将利用NU的现有资源(包括启动赠款)购买必要的设备。更广泛的影响这个项目的研究生助理(S)将接触到一系列高度跨学科的科学研究，创造一个全面的基础，具有强大的社会视角。PI和预期的本科生参与者代表了一系列的人口统计数据，包括来自怒族S少数民族项目的支持。具体的宣传活动是雄心勃勃和无处不在的，将通过研讨会和讨论直接面向老年人，利用私营部门的项目BELLA(将教育和终身学习带给成年人)。工科本科生将使用设计标准来构建实际的原型设备。结果、设备和传播将是非常有利和增强能力的，特别是对老年人，因为它将为他们提供一种非侵入性的手段，使他们在以后的生活中保持独立。这项工作的其他可能用途包括健康受试者和/或震颤患者拿着装满液体的杯子，拿着器皿，操纵操纵杆，操作机械，在精密手术或振动环境中拿着敏感设备。

PI: Sipahi, R.; Frank, S.; Gouldstone, A.; and Jaeger, B. K.Proposal Number: 1133992 Synopsis This GARDE proposal describes activities to investigate fundamental aspects of hand-pen-paper interaction during writing, with a movement disorder that causes undesired oscillation (tremors). Efforts will lead to strategies to accommodate such a disorder, and in return improve writing ability of those suffering from kinetic tremor - a type of impairment found in 10-12 million people in the US with Parkinson's Disease, Essential Tremor, and Dystonia. The novelty of our proposal is the interdisciplinary, engineering-based approach; we frame this problem in terms of the following questions: -Given a set of wrist vibrations, what are the pen grip/pen mechanics conditions that would cause "unintended penmanship" (i.e., pen slip on paper)? How can penmanship be improved actively or passively? To address this complex problem, we first frame writing ability in the context of human factors and performance metrics (PM) on end-users. The elderly target population will be established via collaboration with a neurologist at Boston Medical Center. We then build dynamic models of a pen being oscillated by the hand, under various conditions, and use a control theory approach to accommodate oscillations, on the pen. Finally, we will implement and construct these approaches into a "Smart Pen" that will be tested on an end-user population. Design refinements will also include 3D contact mechanics models of grip and friction, and undergraduate Senior Design team efforts in prototypes, using a series of sensors and actuators. Intellectual Merit This activity is important, in that beyond simply making a "better pen", it seeks to fully define the design space within which researchers can work to accommodate the effects of a movement disorder upon writing. The problem is tractable, as we have assembled experts in contact mechanics (CAREER awardee), controls, human factors and neurology. We believe this work could transform the field, as other researchers can access our modeling data and use guidelines to explore further therapeutic concepts. In addition, this work will promote the concept of "computational design." We have made every effort to make the thrusts correct, synergistic, relevant and within the scope of the devised program, and will leverage existing resources at NU (including startup grants) to purchase necessary equipment. Broader ImpactThe graduate assistant(s) in this program will be exposed to a highly interdisciplinary set of scientific studies, creating a well-rounded base, with strong societal perspective. The PI's and expected undergraduate participants represent a range of demographics, including support from NU?s minority programs. Specific dissemination activities are ambitious and pervasive, and will leverage the PIs' projects BELLA (Bringing Education and Lifelong Learning to Adults) through seminars and discussions directly to the elderly population. Undergraduate senior engineering students will use the design criteria to build actual prototype devices. The results, devices and dissemination will be highly enabling and empowering, particularly to the elderly, as it will provide them with a non-invasive means to maintain independence later in life. Other possible uses for this work include healthy subjects and/or tremor patients holding a cup filled with liquid, holding a utensil, manipulating a joystick, operating machinery, holding a sensitive device in precision surgery or in a vibratory environment.