Wearable Thimble-like Device for the Objective Follow-up and Therapy of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects more than 1 million people worldwide. Since there is no definitive treatment for the disease, the treatment plan for each patient should be updated regularly according to the current level of the disease. There are standard clinical tests, each with its own scoring scale, used to monitor the deterioration of upper and lower extremity functions of MS patients under the supervision of a neurologist and physiotherapist. However, non-objective scoring based on the opinion of the physiotherapist is open to erroneous assessments and may vary from person to person. In addition, clinical tests do not provide detailed information about the functional impairment of the patient. Unfortunately, an objective evaluation system has not yet been implemented all over the world, and the treatment plan is still determined according to the disease in neurological-based disabilities, such as MS, which is of vital importance. personal assessment. To address the aforementioned problem, the design and experimental evaluation of a wearable thimble-like device that can be substituted for the standard clinical tests to assess the follow-up of MS are presented. The device provides the measurement of high sensitivity and opportunity for objective assessment and allows patients of all ages to use it in any desired place during their treatment phase.

Keywords:

Multiple sclerosis, wearable device, sensor fusion, objective assessment rehabilitation.,

PDF

___

A. Guo, M. Grabner, P. S. R., J. Elder, M. Sidovar, P. Aupperle, and S. Krieger, "Treatment patterns and health care resource utilization associated with dalfampridine extended release in multiple sclerosis: a retrospective claims database analysis," ClinicoEconomics and Out¬comes Research: CEOR, vol. 8, pp. 177-186, 2016.
C. Asche, M. Singer, and M. e. a. Jhaveri, "All-cause health care utilization and costs associated with newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis in the united states," J Manag Care Pharm., vol. 16, no. 9, p. 703-712, 2010.
K. Grice, K. Vogel, V. Le, A. Mitchell, S. Muniz, and M. Vollmer, "Adults norms for a commercially available nine-hole peg test for finger dexterity," American Journal of Occupational Therapy, vol. 57, no. 3, p. 570-573, 2003.
J. Kurtzke, "Rating neurologic impairment in multiple sclerosis: An expanded disability status scale (edss)," Neurology, vol. 33, no. 1, p. 1444-1452, 1983.
R. Jebsen, N. Taylor, R. Trieschmann, M. Trotter, and L. Howard, "An objective and standardized test of hand function," Arch Phys Med Rehabil., vol. 50, no. 6, p. 311-319, 1969.
R. Kalb, Multiple Sclerosis: The Questions You Have-The Answers You Need, Demos Health. Demos Medical Publishing, 2011, ch. 2. How is multiple sclerosis treated, pp. 45-195.
O. Lambercy, L. Dovat, H. Yun, and et al., "Robotic assessment of hand function with the hapticknob," in International Convention on Rehabil¬itation Engineering and Assistive Technology, 2010, p. 33:1-33:4.
S. Gorniak, M. Plow, C. McDaniel, and J. Alberts, "Impaired object handling during bimanual task performance in multiple sclerosis," Mult Scler Int., vol. 4, no. 450420, 2014.
S. Jaric, C. Knight, J. Collins, and R. Marwaha, "Evaluation of a method for bimanual testing coordination of hand grip and load forces under isometric conditions," J Electromyogr Kinesiol., vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 556¬63, 2005.
S. Jaric, E. Russell, J. Collins, and R. Marwaha, "Coordination of hand grip and load forces in uni- and bidirectional static force production tasks," Neuroscience Letters, vol. 381, no. 1-2, pp. 51-56, 2005.
A. Hussain, S. Balasubramanian, I. Lamers, S. Guy, P. Feys, and E. Burdet, "Investigation of isometric strength and control of the upper extremities in multiple sclerosis," Rehabil Assist Technol Eng., vol. 3, no. 4, 2016.
V. Iyengar, M. Santos, M. Ko, and A. Aruin, "Grip force control in individuals with multiple sclerosis," Neurorehabil Neural Repair., vol. 23, no. 8, pp. 855-61, 2009.
T. Platz, C. Pinkowski, and F. e. a. van Wijck, "Reliability and validity of arm function assessment with standardized guidelines for the Fugl-Meyer Test, Action Research Arm Test and Box and Block Test: A multicentre study," Clin Rehabil, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 404-411, 2005.
R. Johansson and G. Westling, "Roles of glabrous skin receptors and sensorimotor memory in automatic control of precision grip when lifting rougher or more slippery objects," Exp Brain Res., vol. 56, no. 3, pp. 550-564, 1984.
J. Flanagan and A. Wing, "The stability of precision grip forces during cyclic arm movements with a hand-held load," Exp Brain Res., vol. 105, no. 3, p. 455-464, 1995.
V. Krishnan and S. Jaric, "Hand function in multiple sclerosis: force coordination in manipulation tasks," Clin Neurophysiol., vol. 119, no. 10, p. 2274-2281, 2008.
V. Krishnan, P. Barbosa de Freitas, and S. Jaric, "Impaired object manipulation in mildly involved individuals with multiple sclerosis," Clin Neurophysiol., vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 3-20, 2008.
J. Merlet, Parallel Robots. 2nd Edn. Springer, 2006.
T. Nilsen, M. Hermann, C. Eriksen, H. Dagfinrud, M. P., and I. Kjeken, "Grip force and pinch grip in an adult population: Reference values and factors associated with grip force," Scandinavian ournal ofOccupa-tional Therapy, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 288-296, 2012.