Magnetic Finger Stiffness Detection for Parkinson's Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for evaluating the severity of Parkinson's disease, such as keyboard tapping and optoelectronic camera systems, fail to accurately detect coordinated movement and stiffness of fingers, which are crucial for diagnosing the condition, and are either complex or costly.
Innovation Solution
A living body inspection apparatus using AC generation and detection coils to continuously measure the relative distance and movement between two body regions, employing AC currents, amplification, demodulation, and low-pass filtering to record and display data, allowing for quantitative analysis of motor function.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an optoelectronic camera system is used to detect finger movement, then analog data about the degree of stretching can be collected, but data processing becomes complicated and takes much detection time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optoelectronic camera system with a magnetic field-based detection system. An oscillation coil generates an AC magnetic field that interacts with a magnetic response member on the finger, and a detection coil measures the induced electromotive force. This substitution eliminates the need for complex image processing while enabling continuous analog detection of finger stretching degree through electromagnetic induction principles.
2Measurement precision
If an optoelectronic camera system is used to detect finger movement, then analog data can be collected, but the system becomes large and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex optoelectronic camera system with a compact electromagnetic detection system consisting of an oscillation coil, detection coil, and frequency detection circuit. This substitution uses electromagnetic induction to directly measure finger movement, eliminating the need for cameras, image processing units, and associated complexity, thereby reducing system size and cost while maintaining analog measurement capability.
3Ease of operation
If a frequency detection circuit is used to detect finger position, then binary information of ON and OFF can be obtained, but it cannot sufficiently decide stiffness of movement of fingers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from binary ON/OFF information to continuous analog signals by measuring the frequency and amplitude of the induced electromotive force from the detection coil. This allows the system to detect not only finger position but also the degree of stretching and stiffness characteristics through continuous parameter variation, providing the necessary precision for Parkinson's disease diagnosis.
4Ease of operation
If keyboard tapping method is used to evaluate movement, then simple evaluation of ON/OFF movement is possible, but coordinated movement and degree of stretching cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the simple keyboard tapping method with an electromagnetic detection system that can measure continuous analog parameters. The oscillation coil and detection coil configuration enables simultaneous detection of finger position, degree of stretching, and coordinated movement between multiple fingers through electromagnetic field interactions, providing the necessary precision for assessing Parkinson's disease severity while maintaining ease of operation.
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
Enables continuous, quantitative measurement of coordinated movements, effectively determining the motor function associated with cerebropathies like Parkinson's disease by providing detailed insights into finger movement and stiffness.
Implementation Method 1
an oscillation coil which passes the AC current output from the converting means, a detection coil which detects an AC magnetic field generated from the oscillation coil
Implementation Method 2
a detection coil which detects an AC magnetic field generated from the oscillation coil
Data Source
AI summary
A living body inspection apparatus including an oscillation coil which passes an AC current, a detection coil which detects an AC magnetic field generated from the detection coil, an amplification circuit which amplifies a voltage generated by the magnetic field induced by the detection coil, a detecting unit for detecting the output signal of the amplification circuit, a low pass filter to which the output signal of the detecting unit is input, a unit for setting the oscillation coil and detection coil in first and second regions of the living body, a recording unit for recording the output of the low pass filter while the first region and the second region of the living body are moving and a displaying unit for displaying the data recorded in the recording unit or results of analysis of the recorded data.