EP0535508A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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System and method for detecting tremors in particular those that result from Parkinson's disease
Assignee: Vitatron Medical BV
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Filing: 1992-09-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-09-22
Abstract
Abstract A system is provided with an accelerometer (20) for the determination of various movements, such as Parkinson's Disease. The movement signals are analyzed to determine whether they are in a predetermined frequency range, and whether there occurs an uninterrupted series of such movement signals within that frequency range. By determining if these two criteria are met, tremor signals are reliably discriminated from other activity signals. The system includes circuitry (21) for collecting and storing data related to the timing of tremor occurrences, the timing of other activity occurrences, and amplitude data related to tremor occurrences.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugenio Johannes W. Van Someren
- 👤 B.F.M. Vonk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:12
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/40; A61B5/4076; A61B5/4082; A61B5/103; A61B5/11; A61B5/1101; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/14; A61M5/168; A61M5/172; A61M5/1723; A61B5/68; A61B5/6801; A61B5/6802; A61B5/681
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for detecting a tremor of a patient, said system having detection means (20) for continuously obtaining signals representative of limb movement of said patient, characterized by storage means (21) for storing predetermined frequency and duration criteria applicable to the movements of a tremor to be detected, first means (21, 72, 73) for determining when said signals meet requirements of said predetermined frequency criterion, and second means (21, 74, 84) for determining when said signals meeting requirements of said frequency criterion continue substantially without interruption over a time period corresponding to said predetermined duration criterion, thereby indicating a tremor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system as described in claim 1, further characterized by threshold determining means (33, 40) for determining when signals being analyzed do not exceed a predetermined minimum amplitude, indicating a rest period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
The system as described in claim 1, further characterized by said storage means storing data representative of a range of signal periods (T h , T L ) characteristic of tremors, and a predetermined number (CSL) corresponding to a minimum number of uninterrupted repeating signals with periods in said range, said first determining means (72, 73) determining when said signal periods are within said range and said second determining means (74, 78) determining when said periods within said range repeat at least said minimum number of times without interruption.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system as described in claim 3, wherein said range of signal periods is within about 40-170 ms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system as described in claim 3, wherein said predetermined number is eight.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system as described in claim 1, further characterized by means (27) for generating and storing tremor histogram data from said signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as described in claim 1, further characterized by amplitude means (34) for determining the amplitude of said signals and for generating and storing amplitude data representative of said amplitudes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as described in claim 7, wherein said amplitude means comprises means (34) for generating peak amplitude data corresponding to said signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system as described in claim 1, further characterized by time means (85, 89) for generating and storing time signals corresponding to the time of detected tremors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system as described in claim 7, comprising treatment means (27) for indicating treatment as a function of said signal amplitude data.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system as described in claim 9, comprising treatment means (27) for indicating treatment as a function of said time signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system as described in claim 11, wherein said second treatment means (27) comprises means for determining data representative of normal patient activity and for indicating treatment as a function of the timing of tremors and the timing of normal patient activity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system as described in claim 1, further characterized by marker interface means (53) for enabling the patient to input time data into said system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as described in claim 1, further characterized by sound output means (50, 51) for outputting an audio signal representative of a detected condition of said system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system as described in claim 1, further characterized by storage means (21) for storing tremor data representative of tremor occurrences, a pump (28) for introducing a medicinal liquid into said patient for treatment of tremors, and means (27) responsive to said stored data for operating said pump.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system as described in claim 1, further characterized by programmable filter (32) for filtering said generating representative signals so as to pass only signal frequencies within a programmable range.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as described in claim 1, wherein said detection means comprises an accelerometer (20).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system as described in claim 3, further having rest means (70 - NO; 68) for determining when there is an interruption of signals having signal periods within said range, thereby indicating rest or inactivity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB2195543A
Cited
WO1986004802A1
Cited
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