US5293879A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System an method for detecting tremors such as those which result from parkinson's disease
Assignee: Vitatron Medical BV
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Filing: 1991-09-23
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Granted: 1994-03-15
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Expires: 2011-09-23
Abstract
Abstract A system and method are provided for accurate determination of various tremors and movements derived from Parkinson's Disease and other causes. Movement signals are generated by an accelerometer, the movement signals being analyzed to determine whether they are in a predetermined frequency range, and when there occurs an uninterrupted series of such movement signals that are within the frequency range. By determining when these two criteria are met, tremor signals are reliably discriminated from other activity signals. The system includes circuitry for collecting and storing data concerning the timing of tremor occurrences, the timing of other activity occurrences, and amplitude data concerning tremor occurrences.
Inventors
- 👤 B. F. M. Vonk
- 👤 Eugenio Johannes W. Van Someren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:27
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: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A system for monitoring tremors in the limb of a patient, comprising means for detecting limb movements and for generating signals representative of said limb movements, analyzing means for analyzing said signals to determine signal periods, storage means for storing signal period criteria, said criteria comprising data representing a range of signal periods within about 40-170 ms and characteristic of tremors, and a number greater than zero corresponding to a minimum number of consecutive signals with periods in said range which repeat uninterruptedly without intervening periods, and determining means for determining when said signal periods of said signals are within said range and for determining when said signals with periods within said range repeat at least said minimum number of times without interruption, whereby tremor occurrences are detected.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
128 words
A system for monitoring tremors in the limb of a patient, comprising means for detecting limb movements and for generating signals representative of said limb movements, analyzing means for analyzing said signals to determine signal periods, storage means for storing signal period criteria, said criteria comprising data representing a range of signal periods within about 40-170 ms and characteristic of tremors, and a number greater than zero corresponding to a minimum number of consecutive signals with periods in said range which repeat uninterruptedly without intervening periods, and determining means for determining when said signal periods of said signals are within said range and for determining when said signals with periods within said range repeat at least said minimum number of times without interruption, whereby tremor occurrences are detected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system as described in claim 1, wherein said number is eight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system as described in claim 1, comprising means for generating and storing tremor histogram data from said signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as described in claim 1, comprising amplitude means for determining the amplitude of said signals and for generating and storing amplitude data representative of said amplitudes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system as described in claim 4, wherein said amplitude means comprises means for generating peak amplitude data corresponding to said signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system as described in claim 4, comprising treatment means for indicating treatment as a function of said signal amplitude data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as described in claim 1, comprising time means for generating and storing time signals corresponding to the time of detected tremors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system as described in claim 7, comprising treatment means for indicating treatment as a function of said time signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system as described in claim 8, wherein said treatment indicating means 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 activity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system as described in claim 1, further comprising marker interface means for enabling the patient to input time data into said system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system as described in claim 1, further comprising sound output means for outputting an audio signal representative of a detected condition of said system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system as described in claim 1, comprising storage means for storing tremor data representative of said tremor occurrences, a pump for introducing a medicinal liquid into said patient for treatment of tremors, and means responsive to said stored data for operating said pump.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as described in claim 1, comprising a programmable filter for filtering said generated representative signals so as to pass only signal frequencies within a programmable range.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system as described in claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprises an accelerometer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system as described in claim 1, comprising storage means for storing tremor data representative of said tremor occurrences, computer means for processing said tremor data, and linking means for linking said stored tremor data to said computer means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as described in claim 1, comprising threshold determining means for determining when signals being analyzed do not exceed a predetermined minimum amplitude, indicating a rest period.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system as described in claim 1, wherein said determining means comprises rest means for determining when there is an interruption of signals having signal periods within said range, thereby indicating rest or inactivity.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of detecting a tremor of an ambulatory patient, comprising establishing frequency and duration criteria applicable to the movements of a tremor to be detected, continuously obtaining signals representative of limb movement of said patient, determining when said signals meet said frequency criterion, and determining when said signals meeting requirements of said frequency criterion continue substantially without any intervening periods over a time period corresponding to said duration criterion.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of detecting a tremor of an ambulatory patient, comprising establishing frequency and duration criteria applicable to the movements of a tremor to be detected, continuously obtaining signals representative of limb movement of said patient, determining when said signals meet said frequency criterion, and determining when said signals meeting requirements of said frequency criterion continue substantially without any intervening periods over a time period corresponding to said duration criterion.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
87 words
A system for detecting a tremor of a patient, said system having means for continuously obtaining and analyzing signals representative of limb movement of said patient, characterized by means for storing frequency and duration criteria applicable to the movements of a tremor to be detected, first means for determining when said signals meet requirements of said frequency criterion, and second means for determining when said signals meeting requirements of said frequency criterion continue substantially without any intervening periods over a time period corresponding to said duration criterion.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
87 words
A system for detecting a tremor of a patient, said system having means for continuously obtaining and analyzing signals representative of limb movement of said patient, characterized by means for storing frequency and duration criteria applicable to the movements of a tremor to be detected, first means for determining when said signals meet requirements of said frequency criterion, and second means for determining when said signals meeting requirements of said frequency criterion continue substantially without any intervening periods over a time period corresponding to said duration criterion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system as described in claim 19, comprising accumulating means for accumulating determined duration time.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-03-14 | 1997-09-13 | 1998-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-03-14 | 2001-09-13 | 2002-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-03-14 | 2005-09-13 | 2006-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |