Parkinson’s Test Device Development

Parkinson’s Test Device Development

Erin Sikkel and Tiffany Feltman

2/13/2006 Parkinson's Device Development 2

Project Description

• Quantify ways in which Parkinson’s patients respond to stimulation

• 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 joy-stick 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 into an excel file


Parkinson’s Disease

• 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

• 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.


Current Diagnosis

• There are currently no lab tests to diagnose Parkinson’s disease yet

• A systematic neurological exam will include:

• Testing reflexes • Muscle strength• Coordination• Balance• Details of movement


Primary Objective

• Create a device that is easier for people to use with motor disorders

• Have a device that is compatible with the software being used for diagnosis


Problem

• Too confusing• Too hard for

the patient to use

• Atari 2600 joystick, the one we will be manipulating

http://www.atariage.com/controller_page.html?SystemID=2600&ControllerID=1


Atari Joystick

\ 05 04 03 02 01 /

\ 09 08 07 06 /

Pin Joystick

Basic Atari Joystick Interface

1 Forward

2 Back

3 Left

4 Right

5 -

6 Button 1

7 + 5V

8 Ground

9 -


Atari Joystick

This is the Atari joystick circuit that we will be manipulating.

PC has only analogue joystick connector. This makes it impossible to connect a normal digital joystick to it. Thus with the Atari joystick, we will need to use an adapter circuit. This will allow us to use the Atari joystick with IBM PC joystick interface. The circuit will adapt the joystick connectors and then convert the digital joystick movement signals to analog signals

http://www.epanorama.net/documents/joystick/joystick_adapter.gif


Atari Joystick

• The joystick adapter can be built into a small plastic box like this prototype and fitted between the PC joystick adapter and the joystick

• Inside circuit picture that we will be manipulating

http://www.epanorama.net/documents/joystick/joystick_adapter.jpg

http://www.epanorama.net/documents/joystick/joystick_adapter_inside.jpg


Short Term Goals

• Find the progress on the IRB so that we can interact with patients to determine their specific needs for the design of the device so that actual design of the joystick can begin

• Determine how our design will coincide with the computer program

• Determine and figure out how their program will measure the diagnosis

• Look more into Fitt’s Law


Fitt’s Law

• It is a model of human psychomotor behavior

• It will measure the difficulty of the motor tasks, the index of performance, and the information capacity of the human motor system

• This will allow us to use a number method to diagnose Parkinson’s disease


Fitt’s Law

MT = a + b log2(2A/W + c)

MT = movement timea and b = empirically determined constants that are device

dependentc = a constant of 0, 0.5, or 1

A = the distance (amplitude) of movement from start to target center

W = the width of the target, which corresponds to “Accuracy”

The Index of Difficulty (ID) is:

log2(2A/W + c)

1/b is the index of performance (IP) which measures the information capacity of the human motor system


Fitt’s Law

• We will implement this law to help us determine the ratios and degrees to which we will quantify Parkinson’s Disease (current work)


Solution Description

• During the meeting with the grad students, the following needs were discussed:– Our progress– Their role in the project and what they need from us– Determine what the software will measure and how it

will help the doctors diagnose the severity of Parkinson’s Disease or other motor disorders

– Determine the progress of the IRB so that we can start interacting with the patients to determine their specific needs

• Finalizing the joystick selection • Continuing to discuss design ideas• Familiarizing ourselves with new research found


Proposed Hardware

• Atari Joystick previously explained• Extra steps in manipulating the

joystick– Make it easy for Parkinson’s patients

to use– Need to make it available to fasten to

the table because it was determined through practice that the patient moves it around the table

– Make it where it does not return to the center after letting the joystick go. This will require altering the resistance in the circuit in the back motion


Proposed Knobs

• Determining which knob will work best with the joystick and the patient’s needs


Tasks Accomplished

• Discuss with Dr. Konrad what exactly is needed in order to accommodate a person with Parkinson’s Disease (what design altercations need to be made in order to help)

• Finalize our design ideas and select a joystick to redesign, and design work can begin

• Go to Dr. Konrad’s office and test our device designs with the patient’s to see which one will best suit their needs

Parkinson’s Test Device Development

Documents

Transcript of Parkinson’s Test Device Development