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

描述（由申请人提供）：特发性震颤（ET）是最常见的运动障碍，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性肌肉运动，ET患者难以执行日常功能，如进食和饮水。结果，许多人在社会上被孤立，也被迫从疾病发病前的职业中退休。不幸的是，目前的药物治疗在减轻震颤方面的效果有限，手术治疗可能昂贵且具有侵入性。为了解决这个问题，Lynx设计公司正在研究一种成本效益高、重量轻的手持稳定装置，称为ACT（主动消除震颤）系统。在第一阶段的工作中，一个最先进的手持原型被开发和测试，证明震颤干扰减少高达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希望。拟议的II期工作将侧重于通过临床研究和研发的结合进一步开发ACT系统。关键的发展将集中在：1)展示/表征该技术的功效2)改善控制和长期可靠性3)设计用于日常活动的系统（基于患者反馈）。ACT系统在不断增长的辅助器具市场商业化的详细计划已经制定，并将在第二阶段工作后执行。ACT技术的普及将对日益增长的ET患者人口产生影响，对他们的生活质量产生积极影响。

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.