Method and apparatus for objectively characterizing symptoms of Parkinson's disease

Abstract

A method and system are presented for objectively characterizing symptoms of Parkinson's disease through analysis of a patient's motor state, which can be one of the following: an OFF state, in which Parkinson's symptoms such as stiffness, tremor, and bradykinesia are present; an ON state, in which symptoms are significantly improved; or a DIS state, in which involuntary movements called dyskinesias are present. Voice analysis, facial analysis, tremor analysis, and movement analysis of the patient are used as symptom detection means, and an algorithm is provided that is adapted to use parameters of the detection means to determine the patient's motor state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for objectively evaluating the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and an apparatus for implementing the method.

Background Art

[0002] The present invention is part of the technical field of medicine, particularly neurology.

[0003] Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease with a high incidence rate after Alzheimer's disease. The diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is essentially clinical and is currently based on the objective and history-based identification of the characteristic signs and symptoms of the disease and the exclusion of atypical symptoms.

[0004] There are special diagnostic criteria developed over the years to standardize and systematize the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

[0005] These methods characterize the symptoms of Parkinson's disease objectively, but they do not integrate the analysis data of movement, tremor, face, and voice, and above all, they do not provide real-time data for monitoring the progression of the disease moment by moment.

[0006] Parkinson's disease patients may experience fluctuations in their motor state, transitioning from the off state where Parkinson's symptoms such as stiffness, tremor, and bradykinesia appear to the on state where these symptoms are significantly improved, and into a state characterized by involuntary movements called dyskinesia ( DYS ).

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a method and a system according to claims 1 and 2, respectively, which are suitable for characterizing the motor state of a patient.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] A method for objectively characterizing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, called characterization performed through the analysis of the movement state of Parkinson's disease patients, may be such that the movement state can be one of the following states: - An off state in which Parkinson's symptoms such as rigidity, tremors, and bradykinesia appear; - An on state in which the symptoms are significantly improved; - A state in which involuntary movements defined as dyskinesia appear DYS stage; The method uses voice analysis, face analysis, and analysis of the tremors and movements of the patient as parameters for detecting the symptoms, and provides an algorithm for determining the movement state of the patient using the detection parameters.

[0009] A system for objectively characterizing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease is: - An electronic bracelet equipped with an accelerometer, a magnetometer, and a three-axis gyroscope to collect continuous data on tremors and movements; - A camera that captures facial expressions, activated according to the patient's request; - A recorder that records the patient's voice, activated according to the patient's request; - A processing device equipped with appropriate software that uses a special algorithm to integrate movement, tremor, face, and voice data to identify the movement state (on, off, DYS ) of a patient with Parkinson's disease; - A display that displays the patient's movement state (on, off, DYS ).

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, the camera, the recorder, the processing device, the display, and the associated software are integrated into a palm top / smartphone, whereby the electronic bracelet directly transmits combined data of movement and tremor analysis to the palm top / smartphone, and the palm top / smartphone has a display capable of visualizing the patient's movement states on, off, DYS .

[0011] The preferred embodiments and non - obvious variations of the present invention form the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0012] The advantage derived from the use of the present invention lies in that it guarantees 24 - hour continuous monitoring and integrates motion data with face and voice analysis data.

[0013] As will be apparent immediately, numerous variations and modifications (for example, those related to shape, dimensions, arrangement, and parts having equivalent functionality) can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as appears from the appended claims.

[0014] It is understood that all the appended claims form an essential part of this description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] The present invention will be better described by way of preferred embodiments given as non - limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1

Figure 2

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a system (1) for the objective characterization of Parkinson's disease symptoms comprises the following: - An electronic bracelet (2) equipped with an accelerometer, a magnetometer, and a three - axis gyroscope and used to continuously collect data on tremors and movements; - A camera (3) for recording facial expressions, activated at the patient's request; - A recorder (4) for recording voice, activated at the patient's request; - Using a special algorithm to integrate movement, tremor, face, and voice data to determine the motion state (on, off,DYS A processing device (5) equipped with appropriate software for identifying - The motion state of the patient (on, off, DYS ) is displayed on a display (6).

[0017] This system is used to objectively characterize the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

[0018] The operation of the system (1) can be divided into the following steps. Step 1 - The electronic bracelet (2) continuously records data on the patient's movements (10) and tremors (11). Step 2 - When it is recognized that the patient is in the off state or has severe dyskinesia ( DYS ), the patient uses the camera (3) to take a facial expression photo and the recorder (4) to record the voice. Step 3 - The processing device (5) receives combined data on movements (10), tremors (11), facial images (12) and items (13) from the electronic bracelet (2), the camera (3) and the recorder (4), and through a motion state characteristic analysis algorithm, identifies the patient's motion state (14) and displays on, off, DYS on the display (6).

[0019] According to the preferred embodiment (1a) shown in Figure 2, the camera (3), the recorder (4), the processing device (5), the display (6) and the related software are integrated into a PDA / smartphone (7). For this purpose, the electronic bracelet (2) directly transmits the combined analysis data of movements (10) and tremors (11) to the PDA / smartphone (7), and the PDA / smartphone performs the analysis by applying a motion state characteristic analysis algorithm and displays the patient's motion state on, off, DYS on the display.

Claims

1. A system (1, 1a) for the objective characterization of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, which is a characterization resulting from the analysis of the movement state of a patient suffering from Parkinson's disease, wherein the movement state can be one of the following: - An off-phase in which Parkinson's symptoms such as rigidity, tremor, and bradykinesia appear; - An on-phase in which the symptoms are significantly improved; - A DYS phase in which involuntary movements called dyskinesia appear; The system (1, 1a) comprises - An electronic bracelet (2) equipped with an accelerometer, a magnetometer, and a three-axis gyroscope and used to continuously collect data related to tremors and movements; - A photo camera (3) for taking pictures of the patient's facial expressions, which is activated according to the patient's request; - A recorder (4) for recording the patient's voice, which is activated according to the patient's request; - A processing device (5) equipped with appropriate software that uses an appropriate algorithm to integrate data related to movement, tremors, face, and voice and identify whether the movement state of a Parkinson's disease patient is in the on-phase, off-phase, or DYS phase; - A display (6) on which the patient's movement state: whether it is in the on-phase, off-phase, or DYS phase, is displayed; A system (1, 1a) comprising the above.

2. A system (1a) for characterizing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease according to Claim 1, wherein the photo camera (3), the recorder (4), the processing device (5), the display (6), and the related software are integrated into a handheld computer / smartphone (7), and the electronic bracelet (2) directly transmits combined data (11) related to the analysis of movement and tremors to the handheld computer / smartphone (7), and the handheld computer / smartphone displays on the display the patient's movement state: whether it is in the on-phase, off-phase, or DYS phase.

Images