CNS Diseases Monitoring Using Wearable Devices. Monitoring Techniques based on Inertial Platforms for Patients Affected by Central Nervous System Diseases

Abstract

Central nervous system (CNS) diseases are a broad category of neurological disorders causing the reduction of motor capabilities. CNS diseases represent one of the major public health challenges: to help with their management, it is important for both doctors and patients to understand how their disease changes over time. The last decade has seen an increasing diffusion of wireless inertial platforms for medical and rehabilitation purposes. This thesis presents simple, wearable-based methods and algorithms oriented towards the monitoring of patients affected by CNS disorders. Applications range from the detailed analysis of particular diseases performed in supervised environments (e.g. hospital and clinics), to a more general evaluation of the physical performances, potentially adaptable to any movement disorder. Several analysis algorithms as well as a dedicated wearable platform were specifically designed to provide medical staff with objective and simple-to-use monitoring tools.