Development of an Active Cancellation of Tremor (ACT) System for Human Assistance

描述(申请人提供)：基本震颤(ET)是最常见的一种运动障碍，仅在美国就有1000万人受到影响。由于与这种疾病相关的衰弱肌肉运动，患有ET的人在日常活动中有困难，如吃和喝。其结果是，许多人在社会上变得孤立，并被迫从疾病发病前从事的职业退休。不幸的是，目前的药物治疗在减轻震颤方面的效果有限，而且外科手术可能是昂贵的和侵入性的。为了解决这个问题，Lynx Design正在研究一种成本效益高、重量轻的手持稳定装置，称为ACT(Active Cancel Of Tremor)系统。在第一阶段的工作中，开发并测试了最先进的手持原型，展示了将震颤干扰减少高达80%(1-2厘米)。这一结果超过了第一阶段的技术可行性目标，并显示了未来应用的前景。拟议的第二阶段工作将集中于通过临床研究和研发相结合来进一步开发ACT系统。主要开发将集中在：1)展示/表征该技术的有效性；2)改善控制和长期可靠性；3)设计用于日常活动的系统(基于患者的反馈)。在不断增长的辅助设备市场上将ACT系统商业化的详细计划已经到位，并将在第二阶段工作之后执行。由此产生的ACT技术的分布将影响日益增长的ET患者人口，对他们的生活质量产生积极影响。 与公共健康相关：Lynx Design建议开发一种主动震颤消除技术并将其商业化，该技术将帮助受运动障碍影响的个人，如基本震颤。初步研究既证明了该技术的可行性，也证明了患者对该技术的强烈需求。拟议的系统将用于方便日常生活，减少社会孤立，并重新使受影响的公众能够参与在疾病发作时失去的活动和职业。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Essential Tremor (ET) is the single most common motion disorder, affecting 10 million people in the US alone. Due to the debilitating muscle movements associated with this disease, people with ET have difficulty in performing daily functions such as eating and drinking. As a result, many people become socially isolated and are also forced to retire from occupations held before the disease onset. Unfortunately, current pharmacological treatments have limited effectiveness in abating tremor, and surgical procedures can be expensive and invasive. To solve this problem, Lynx Design is investigating a cost-effective, lightweight, hand- held stabilization device called the ACT (Active Cancellation of Tremor) system. During Phase I work, a state- of-the-art hand-held prototype was developed and tested, demonstrating a reduction of tremor disturbances by up to 80% (for 1-2 cm). This result exceeded Phase I goals for technical feasibility and showed promise for future applications. Proposed Phase II work will focus on developing the ACT system further through a combination of clinical research and R&D. Key developments will focus on: 1) demonstrating/characterizing the technology's efficacy 2) improving control and long-term reliability and 3) designing the system for general use in daily activities (based on patient feedback). Detailed plans to commercialize the ACT system in the growing assistive device market are in place and will be executed after the Phase II work. The resulting distribution of the ACT technology will impact the growing population of ET sufferers, positively impacting their quality of life. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Lynx Design proposes to develop and commercialize an active tremor cancellation technology that will assist individuals affected by motion disorders such as Essential Tremor. Preliminary studies have demonstrated both feasibility of the technology and a strong unmet demand among suffering patients. The proposed system will be used to facilitate daily living, reduce social isolation, and re-enable the affected public to participate in activities and occupations that were lost upon disease onset.