A Portable Non-Contact Tremor Vibration Measurement and Classification Apparatus

Mohd Zarhamdy Md Zain,Ali Zolfagharian,Mahdi Bodaghi,Moslem Mohammadi,Abbas Z Kouzani,Abd Rahim Abu Bakar

doi:10.3390/act11010026

Mohd Zarhamdy Md Zain, Ali Zolfagharian + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/act11010026

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Abstract

Tremors are the most common type of movement disorder and affect the lives of those experiencing them. The efficacy of tremor therapies varies according to the aetiology of the tremor and its correct diagnosis. This study develops a portable measurement device capable of non-contact measurement of the tremor, which could assist in tremor diagnosis and classification. The performance of this device was assessed through a validation process using a shaker at a controlled frequency to measure human tremors, and the device was able to measure vibrations of 50 Hz accurately, which is more than twice the frequency of tremors produced by humans. Then, the device is tested to measure the tremors for two different activation conditions: rest and postural, for both hand and leg. The measured non-contact tremor vibration data successfully led to tremor classification in the subjects already diagnosed using a contact accelerometer.

Highlights

Movement disorder is classified as a neurologic syndrome, and can manifest in two distinct forms: hyperkinetic movement or hypokinetic movement [1,2]
Tremor is the most often seen movement condition in clinical practice, and it is a kind of hyperkinetic movement disorder [6]
The aetiology of the tremor will have an effect on how the tremor behaves, such as how the tremor is activated, which body parts are affected, and how strong and how often the tremor is

Summary

Introduction

Movement disorder is classified as a neurologic syndrome, and can manifest in two distinct forms: hyperkinetic movement or hypokinetic movement [1,2]. Hyperkinetic movement is characterized by the presence of excessive movement that is not voluntarily performed and is uncontrollable [3]. Individuals who have this sort of movement disorder may notice that when some parts of their body move inadvertently, they are unable to control the movement, such as their hands shaking while carrying a cup of water. Most Parkinson’s disease patients usually experience hypokinetic movement, which is noticeable in their walk as the steps become shorter and slower [5]. Parkinson’s disease patients usually experience tremors of 4 to 6 Hz, activated in a resting condition; on the other hand, essential tremor patients will experience tremors of 4 to 11 Hz, activated in a postural condition [10]

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