Transcript Parkinson`s Test Device Development

Parkinson’s Test
Device Development
Tiffany Feltman
Erin Sikkel
Parkinson’s Disease
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A disorder of the brain that occurs when the neurons
in the substantia nigra die or become slightly impaired.
These neurons usually produce the chemical dopamine
which allows for smooth, coordinated functioning of
the muscles in the body.
Some of the main symptoms are tremors, slowness of
movement, rigidity, and difficulty with balance.
These problems can lead to a deeper state of the
disease which includes small handwriting, stiff facial
expression, shuffling walk, muffled speech, which all
lead to depression.
Parkinson’s Disease
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Affects 1.5 million Americans
Affected after the age of 65, but roughly 15% are
diagnosed under the age of 50.
According to these demographics, the market size for
this project is great.
The market size for this product would be high since
it will give a greater insight into the brain stimulation
and allow doctors and researchers to find out more
about the disease and how to treat it.
Competition
 Activa Tremor Control System
 Delivered by an implanted medical device similar to
cardiac pacemakers, that uses electrical stimulation to
block the brain signals that cause tremors.
 Stimulates targeted cells in the thalamus through
surgically implanted electrodes in the brain and are
connected to a neurostimulator implanted near the
collarbone.
 The electrical stimulation can be non-invasively
adjusted to fit the patient’s needs.
Competition
 Ventro-intermediate
thalamus
(Vim) nucleus of
Common target for the treatment of tremors as it is
suggested to play an important role in the
occurrence of disease.
 By using conventional MR imaging, metabolic
alterations of the contralateral thalamus can be seen.
 It reduces the tremors associated with Parkinson’s
Disease, but unable to help with other symptoms
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Competition
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Pallidotomy
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The Globus pallidus is a pale-appearing spherical area in the
brain. It is part of the lentiform nucleus, which is part of the
striate body, a component of the basal ganglia, which is the
large mass of gray matter at the base of the cerebral
hemispheres of the brain.
This part of the brain is lesioned, and has been shown that
this may improve the symptoms of tremor, rigidity, and
bradykinesia. They believe this is achieved by interrupting
the neural pathway between the globus pallidua and the
striatum or thalamus.
Problem: Original devices are hard
for patients to use
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Too confusing
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Too hard to use
Primary Objective
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Create a device that is easier to use for people
with motor disorders
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Have a device that is compatible with the
software being used for diagnosis
Solution Description
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IRB filed to interact with patients and see their
needs
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Research joysticks and what would be the best
option
Proposed Hardware
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Using one of the joysticks that is currently
used, it needs to be redesigned in order to
make it easier to use
Timeline
Short Term Goals
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Research into the different joysticks that can
be used
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Meet with the graduate students we’re working
with
Ultimate Project Goals
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Quantify ways in which Parkinson’s patients respond to
stimulation therapy.
Create a software program for use with a laptop
computer that a doctor could bring to the clinic or
operating room in which we have a patient use a joystick to track an object on the screen that moves
around and measures the time it takes to follow that
object around the screen.
Able to output that timed response in some sort of
excel file etc.