Mechatronic Device for Multimodal Suppression of Parkinsonian Tremor

震颤是帕金森病（PD）最严重的致残症状之一，严重影响患者的生活。传统药物通常是无效的，手术是高度侵入性和风险的。一种控制震颤的新方法包括使用包括通过执行器（例如，施加力的电机）进行机械抑制或电抑制（使用调制的电信号来刺激产生震颤的肌肉）的设备。不幸的是，文献中提出的设备对于患者的日常使用来说太笨重，而且目前还没有商业化的设备。在我们之前工作的基础上，这个项目的目标是开发一种可以通过结合机械抑制和电刺激来抑制震颤运动的设备。与其他仅使用机械抑制的设备相比，该设备预计尺寸更紧凑，重量更轻，电池寿命更长。与单独使用电刺激的设备相比，该设备有望更好地抑制并减少疼痛和不适。为了开展这项工作，我们将设计适应患者耐受电刺激能力的智能控制系统。我们将使用智能材料设计新的执行器。我们将研究如何在结合机械抑制的情况下电刺激肌肉。最后，将对PD患者进行验证实验，以确定该设备用于临床使用的可行性。该项目的预期结果将是震颤抑制装置的第一个原型，该装置有效地结合了机械抑制和电刺激。这项新技术将大大有利于那些因手腕和手指颤抖而残疾的患者，并有望显著提高他们进行日常生活活动的能力。

Tremor, one of the most disabling symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), significantly affectsthe lives of patients. Traditional medicines are often ineffective and surgery is highly invasiveand risky. A new approach to managing tremor includes using devices that involve eithermechanical suppression via actuators (e.g., motors that apply forces), or electricalsuppression (using a modulated electrical signal to stimulate the muscles involved ingenerating tremor). Unfortunately, the devices that have been presented in the literature aretoo heavy and cumbersome for daily use by patients and none are currently commerciallyavailable.Building on our previous work, the objective of this project is to develop a device that cansuppress tremor motion by combining both mechanical suppression and electrical stimulation.Compared to other devices that use mechanical suppression alone, this device is expected tobe more compact in size, lower in weight, and offer an extended battery life. Compared todevices that use electrical stimulation alone, this device is expected to be able to suppressmotion better and to decrease pain and discomfort.To conduct this work, we will design smart control systems that adapt to the patients ability totolerate electrical stimulation. We will design new actuators using smart materials. We willinvestigate how to electrically stimulate muscle when combined with mechanical suppression.Finally, a validation experiment will be performed on individuals with PD to determine thefeasibility of the device for clinical use.The expected outcome of this project will be a first prototype of a tremor suppression devicethat effectively incorporates both mechanical suppression and electrical stimulation. This newtechnology will be greatly beneficial to patients who are disabled by tremor of the wrist andfingers and is expected to significantly improve their ability to perform activities of daily living.