Mechatronic Device for Multimodal Suppression of Parkinsonian Tremor

震颤是帕金森氏病(PD)最严重的致残性症状之一，严重影响患者的生活。传统药物往往无效，而手术具有极高的侵袭性和风险。一种管理震颤的新方法包括使用设备，包括通过致动器(例如，施力的马达)进行机械抑制，或使用电气抑制(使用调制的电信号来刺激参与产生震颤的肌肉)。遗憾的是，文献中介绍的设备对于患者的日常使用来说过于笨重和笨重，目前还没有商业化的设备。本项目的目标是在我们之前工作的基础上，开发一种结合机械抑制和电刺激来抑制颤动的设备。与仅使用机械抑制的其他设备相比，该设备有望更紧凑、更轻，并提供更长的电池寿命。与仅使用电刺激的设备相比，该设备有望更好地抑制烟雾，减少疼痛和不适。为了进行这项工作，我们将设计智能控制系统，以适应患者耐受电刺激的能力。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，将在帕金森氏症患者身上进行验证实验，以确定该装置用于临床的可行性。该项目的预期结果将是第一个有效结合机械抑制和电刺激的震颤抑制装置的原型。这项新技术将极大地有利于手腕和手指震颤致残的患者，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.