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，如饮食。因此，许多人在社会上变得孤立，并被迫从发病前从事的职业中退休。不幸的是，目前的药物治疗在减轻震颤方面的有效性有限，并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、重量轻的手持式稳定装置，称为ACT（主动消除震颤）系统。在第一阶段工作期间，开发并测试了最先进的手持式原型，证明震颤干扰减少高达80%（对于1-2 cm）。这一结果超过了第一阶段的技术可行性目标，并显示出未来应用的前景。拟议的第二阶段工作将侧重于通过临床研究和研发相结合进一步开发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和3）设计系统用于日常活动（基于患者反馈）。在不断增长的辅助器具市场上将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。ACT技术的分布将影响不断增长的ET患者人口，对他们的生活质量产生积极影响。 公共卫生相关性：Lynx设计公司提议开发并商业化一种主动震颤消除技术，该技术将帮助受运动障碍（如原发性震颤）影响的个人。初步研究已经证明了该技术的可行性和患者的强烈需求。拟议的系统将用于方便日常生活，减少社会隔离，并使受影响的公众能够重新参与疾病发生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.