Noninvasive Muscle Seizure Detection via Gaze and Activity Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for Parkinson's disease-related muscle seizures, such as peripheral nerve stimulation, are invasive, painful, and uncomfortable, lacking effective noninvasive alternatives to manage tremors and improve the quality of life for patients.
Innovation Solution
A device and system that detect muscle seizures through activity and gaze information, using a vibration unit to reduce tremors by generating a control signal, allowing for noninvasive and user-friendly treatment, potentially improving the quality of life for Parkinson's disease patients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If peripheral nerve stimulation is used to treat Parkinson tremor, then muscle seizure treatment effect is improved, but patient comfort and ease of operation deteriorate due to invasive attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/invasive peripheral nerve stimulator with an optical detection system (camera-based gaze tracking) and a non-contact vibration delivery system (smartphone vibration motor). This substitution eliminates the need for invasive attachment while maintaining treatment effectiveness through indirect detection and non-contact vibration stimulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a smartphone as an intermediary device that mediates between the patient and the treatment system. The smartphone captures gaze information through its camera, processes the data to detect muscle seizures, and delivers vibration treatment through its built-in vibration motor, thereby eliminating direct invasive contact with the patient's body.
2Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring of patient activity is implemented, then detection precision is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the multi-functionality of the smartphone, using its camera for gaze tracking, its processor for data analysis, and its vibration motor for treatment delivery. This universal device performs multiple functions (detection, processing, and treatment) without requiring separate specialized equipment, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high detection precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the smartphone's existing capabilities (camera, processor, vibration motor) to perform all treatment functions. The device serves itself by utilizing its own resources for detection and treatment, eliminating the need for additional external components and reducing system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively detects and reduces muscle seizures with minimal disruption to the user, providing a more comfortable and noninvasive solution for managing tremors, thereby enhancing the quality of life for patients with Parkinson's disease.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration unit (32) configured to vibrate in response to a control signal (20), generated by the device (10), in particular to reduce muscle seizure of a subject
Data Source
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Figure 3
Figure 4b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for detecting muscle seizure of a subject in a comfortable, non-invasive manner and user-friendly manner. The device comprises an activity input configured to obtain activity information related to a subject's activity when using a user device; a gaze input configured to obtain gaze information related to the subject's gaze when using the user device; a detection unit configured to detect a muscle seizure of the subject when using the user device by determining if the activity information indicates a reduction in the subject's activity using a user device and if the gaze information indicates that the subject's gaze is directed to the user device; and a control unit configured to generate a control signal, if the detection unit detects a muscle seizure of the subject configured to control a vibration unit attached to the subject and/or the user device to vibrate.