BR102012025421A2 - UPPER MEMBERS 'EQUIPMENT FOR COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND STORAGE OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE CLASSICAL DATA - Google Patents

Abstract

WEARING EQUIPMENT IN THE HIGHER MEMBERS FOR THE COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND STORAGE OF QUANTITATIVE DATA OF THE CLASSIC TRIAD OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE. notably of a portable equipment (1) to wear on the upper limbs, with a diagnostic and / or treatment function, which may be in a single piece covering the shoulder, elbow and hand or in parts or set of parts (2), consisting of electronic circuits and sensors strategically positioned to capture and store data referring to instantaneous PD tremor patterns assisting diagnosis, or in the treatment function in which electrodes (3) placed in the forearm region (4) generate electrical signals that cancel the DP signals.

Description

“UPPER CLOTHING EQUIPMENT FOR COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND STORAGE OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE CLASSICAL DATA”

SHORT PRESENTATION

It deals with the present patent application for a new

TOP CLOTHING WEAR EQUIPMENT FOR PARKINSON CLASSICAL DISEASE QUANTITATIVE DATA COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND STORAGE ”, notably portable equipment that can be worn on the patients' upper limbs, which is equipped with electronic circuits, sensors and related components capable of capturing and storing data related to instantaneous tremor patterns and processing them by means of specific software, forming a database that makes it possible to evaluate by quantitative method, also having a set of electrodes that generate electric current to act actively in reducing tremors of Parkinson's disease.

PACKING

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic and degenerative disease that affects 1% to 2% of individuals over 60 years. Around 5 million people worldwide (Parkinson Foundation) projected to 20 40 million by 2020 (Morris ME. Movement disorders in people with Parkinsons disease: A model for Physical Therapy intervention. Phys Ther 2000,80: 578-597) , consequence of the aging of the population.

The classic triad represented by muscle stiffness, rest tremor and bradykinesia (slowness of movement) are the most compromising motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease patients' quality of life. more severe cases.

Currently, the methods used to evaluate this impairment are based on subjective data, such as clinical analysis and questionnaires, which are of paramount importance for the definition of the medication and the prognosis estimation.

Levodopa, the main medication used to treat DP1, causes side effects, on average 5 years after the start of use, such as late dyskinesia, which also compromises quality of life. In addition, patients' response to medications is quite variable, making it difficult to define a dosage pattern.

Therefore, the development of optimized techniques is imperative, so that the doses of medication are appropriate to each case, so there is no excessive and inadvertent use of drugs, which accelerates the appearance of side effects and worsens the prognosis of patients. .

TECHNICAL STATE

In the medical literature there are reports of equipment designed to acquire quantitative data for the purpose of capturing and storing patient movement and tremor information.

One of these methods is described in the article entitled “The bilateral reach

to-grasp movement of Parkinson's disease subjects ”available at HTTP: //brain.oxfordiournals.ora/content/120/593.full.pdf.

The above publication describes a system that uses two infrared cameras, fixed on a table and aimed at the patient. Upper limbs are fixed markers whose movements are identified by the cameras and mapped by the software. The patient is oriented to perform the movements and everything is recorded by the cameras, processed and stored by software, generating graphs that map and identify the tremors.

The described solution is a scientific experiment and is not a commercial equipment for the primary purpose of measuring tremors. The result is highly dependent on calibration, the particularities of which are described in the publication. Calibration itself depends on the intensity of Iuz in the environment in which the test is performed, which makes replication difficult in locations that are not specifically designed to do so. In addition, the proposal is based on 10 infrared cameras that have high cost, making the method less affordable. On the other hand, as cameras must be fixed to tables, it impairs the mobility and / or portability of the procedure.

ES 2338092 ATDevice and Method of Biometric Recognition Based on a Movement of the Hand in a Space with a Device that Integrates an Accelerometer ”- provides the capture and storage of information regarding patient movement and tremors. Basically it is an electromechanical apparatus controlled by the patient's hand or finger, thus recording their tremors.

One of the drawbacks of this equipment is the non portability, which imposes specific places to perform the evaluations.

PATENT OBJECTIVES

Because it is compact, as well as making the exam a simple process to apply, not depending on specific locations / facilities, its main differential is that it provides objective and quantitative data on tremor frequency and characteristic for 24 hours or more. , which is essential for the evaluation of the efficacy of the therapeutic methods used, thus reducing the divergence between the published works, as it reduces the natural uncertainty resulting from the subjective evaluation currently practiced to verify these changes. In addition to the diagnostic system, the equipment can also be actively used to treat the disease by Functional Electrical Stimulation 5 (FES), in which electrodes placed in the forearm region generate an electrical current signal that nullifies those generated by PD.

The portability of the equipment in question follows a proposal similar to Holter-type exams performed for cardiac electrical assessment and ABPM for blood pressure assessment.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

> Versatility - In addition to assisting in the diagnosis by capturing data relating to instantaneous tremor patterns and processing them, the equipment effectively controls the tremor of Parkinson's disease;

> Allows the assessment of motor impairment is not

performed only by subjective and qualitative methods, but also by

based on a quantitative method capable of accurately measuring the intensity, frequency and timing of motor fluctuations;

> Portability - possibility of use for extended periods

(24h to 72h);

> Allows screening and monitoring of the efficacy of

drug treatments or therapeutic procedures of any nature, the variables of which are stiffness, tremor and bradykinesia (classic Parkinson's disease triad); > Capturing movement patterns over prolonged periods is useful for defining temporal aspects such as: medication time and response time, food, sleep, etc .;

> Possibility of data capture during periodic examinations in medical clinics to check instantaneous values of the involvement of the

patient;

> Indirectly enables the reduction of medication use;

> With tremor reduction allows simple tasks (writing, driving, drinking coffee and many others) can be performed by the carrier without assistance

of third parties;

> Uses weareble systems that interfere as little as possible in the patient's routine, such as gloves, elbow pads, shoulder pads, and others in which electronic circuits and sensors are placed, such as accelerometers, gyros, flexion sensors, torsion sensors, etc., without

interfere with the patient's routine DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be further explained by the following illustrative and non-limiting drawings:

Figure 1: Schematic view of the invented equipment depicted

by the jamb, elbow and glove, highlighting the central processing, transmission and storage;

Figure 2: Schematic view of equipment invented in the version in which treatment is effected by electrodes positioned in the forearm region;

Figure 3: Schematic view of the invented equipment depicted

for a glove; Figure 4: Schematic view of invented equipment represented by an elbow pad;

Figure 5: Schematic view of invented equipment represented by a jamb.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The “upper-body dressing equipment for the collection, treatment and storage of quantitative data from the classical parkinson's disease triad”; notably portable upper limb dressing equipment (1), with a diagnostic function or treatment, which may be in a single piece covering shoulder, elbow and hand or in parts or set of parts (2), consisting of electronic circuits and Sensors strategically positioned to capture and store data regarding instantaneous DP tremor patterns assisting diagnosis, or the treatment function where electrodes (3) placed 15 in the forearm region (4) generate electrical signals that nullify DP signals. .

More particularly, the equipment (1) claimed herein is of compact constructivity and wearable on the upper limbs of the person, and may be in one piece or in parts or set of parts (2) represented by shoulder pads (5), elbow pads (6 ) and gloves (7) in which electronic circuits and sensors are denoted, such as accelerometers (8), gyros (9), flexion sensors (10), twist sensors (11) and others capable of multi-sensing the parameters. function of the patient's motor process or potential patient with PD, as well as electrodes (3) in the forearm region (4) to treat PD by emitting electrical signals. Basically, the equipment 25 (1 and 2) can be divided into four modules, being a sensor module, a data capture and storage module, a captured information download and analysis module and a treatment module. Thus, accelerometers (8), gyros (9), bending sensors (10), torsion sensors (11) make up the sensor module for monitoring the displacement and gyration in the 5 x, y and z axes, flexion and extension movements. , supination, pronation, abduction and adduction of joints. For the capture module to be effective it is necessary to use amplifier circuits, noise treatment filters and A / D converters, so that the signals acquired in the sensors are converted to signals that are digitally treated by a microcontroller, 10 then converts it to information and transfers it to a computer via cable, USB technology, or wireless technology. The information captured and stored in a center (12) is made available in proprietary software, developed specifically for the work and graphical analysis of the data, in order to draw a profile of motor activity in groups of patients considered healthy 15 or sick. The system provides graphs, test results, patient history, and all other resources needed for PD-related medical activity.

In treatment mode, the equipment (1) acts actively on the patient, where electrodes (3) positioned on the forearm (4) provide an equivalent amplitude signal, but out of phase with the impulses that cause PD tremors. This technology, widely used by physiotherapists, is known as Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES). Active noise control theory and practice aims to reduce the resulting interference in a system by generating a secondary cancellation signal that opposes the primary signal 25 from the disturbing source. This primary signal is constituted by the involuntary impulses generated in the muscular structures that originate the tremor of PD, and aims to construct a system capable of generating a secondary cancellation signal, the result of which is a method that enables the reduction of medication and, consequently, motor impairment, resulting in a better quality of life of the patient with PD and longer use of low doses of medication, which will certainly delay the onset of side effects.

Claims (9)

1. “UPPER UPPER CLOTHING EQUIPMENT FOR PARKINSON'S CLASSIC DISEASE QUANTITATIVE DATA COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND STORAGE”, single-piece (1) or parts or set of parts ( 2) in which electronic circuits and sensors are denoted for multi-sensing the functional parameters of the motor process of the patient or potential patient with PD, as well as electrodes (3) in the forearm region (4) with the function of treating PD by signal emission. electric 2. “UPPER CLOTHING EQUIPMENT FOR PARKINSON'S CLASSICAL DISEASE QUANTITATIVE DATA COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND STORAGE” according to claim 1, characterized in that it is divided into four modules; sensor module; data capture and storage module; download module and 15 analysis of captured information and a treatment module. 3. “UPPER UPPER CLOTHING EQUIPMENT FOR PARKINSON'S CLASSICAL DISEASE QUANTITATIVE DATA COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND STORAGE” according to claims 1 and 2 characterized by accelerometers (8), gyros (9), flexion sensors (10), twist sensors (11) make up the sensor module. 4. “UPPER CLOTHING WEAR EQUIPMENT FOR PARKINSON'S CLASSICAL DISEASE QUANTITATIVE DATA COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND STORAGE” according to claim 4, characterized by monitoring the displacement and rotation on the x, y and z axes, bending movements, extension, supination, pronation, abduction and adduction of joints. 4. UPPER MEMBERS 'EQUIPMENT FOR PARKINSON'S CLASSICAL DISEASE QUANTITATIVE DATA COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND STORAGE ”according to claim 1, characterized in that the use of amplifier circuits, noise filters and converters is required. A / D, so that signals acquired from sensors are converted to signals that are digitally handled by a microcontroller, which then converts them to information and transfers them to a computer via cable, USB technology or wireless technology. 5. UPPER MEMBERS 'EQUIPMENT FOR PARKINSON'S CLASSICAL DISEASE QUANTITATIVE DATA COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND STORAGE ”according to claim 1, characterized in that the information captured and stored in a central office (12) is made available through proprietary software. developed specifically for the work and graphical analysis of the data. 6. UPPER MEMBERS 'WEAR EQUIPMENT FOR PARKINSON'S CLASSICAL DISEASE QUANTITATIVE DATA COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND STORAGE ”according to claim 5 characterized by profiling motor activity in groups of patients considered healthy or infirm. 7. UPPER MEMBERS 'WEAR EQUIPMENT FOR PARKINSON'S CLASSICAL DISEASE QUANTITATIVE DATA COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND STORAGE ”according to claim 5 characterized by providing graphs, examination results, patient history and all other necessary resources medical activity related to PD. 8. “UPPER MEMBERS 'WEAR EQUIPMENT FOR PARKINSON'S CLASSICAL DISEASE QUANTITATIVE DATA COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND STORAGE” according to claim 1 characterized by acting actively on the patient, in which electrodes (3) are positioned on the Forearm (4) provide a signal of equivalent amplitude and out of phase with the pulses that give rise to PD tremors. 9. “UPPER CLOTHING EQUIPMENT FOR PARKINSON'S CLASSICAL DISEASE QUANTITATIVE DATA COLLECTION, TREATMENT AND STORAGE” according to claim 1, characterized in that the parts or set of parts (2) are represented by shoulder pads (5) , elbow pads (6) and gloves (7).