Wearable Tremor Damping Device Using Tuned Mass Resonators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for treating hand tremors are often bulky, intrusive, uncomfortable, difficult to adjust, and unsatisfactory, while drug therapies can be expensive and have adverse side effects.
Innovation Solution
A wearable device equipped with damping mechanisms such as tuned mass dampers and frictional damping, which can be adjusted by the user and calibrated to account for tremor variations, providing vibrational damping and reducing tremor amplitude.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electro-mechanical and mechanical devices are used to treat tremor, then tremor reduction is achieved, but the devices become bulky, intrusive, heavy, and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple independent resonator units that can be distributed around the wrist, rather than concentrating all damping components in a single bulky housing. This segmentation allows the tremor treatment function to be distributed across lightweight modular elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible wearable components and thin-film structures to create a lightweight form factor that conforms to the wrist anatomy. This replaces traditional rigid mechanical housings with adaptable, minimal-mass structures that provide the same damping function without the bulk.
2Reliability
If traditional mechanical devices are used to treat tremor, then tremor amplitude is reduced, but the devices become difficult to adjust and unsatisfactory
Solution Approach 1:
The resonators are designed with adjustable natural frequencies that can be dynamically tuned to match the user's specific tremor frequency. This dynamic adjustability allows the device to adapt to individual tremor patterns and changes over time, making it easy to customize and maintain effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates mechanisms to change key parameters such as resonator mass, spring constant, and damping coefficient to optimize performance for different users and tremor conditions. These parameter adjustments enable the device to maintain high effectiveness across varying tremor amplitudes and frequencies without requiring complex mechanical reconfiguration.
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 wearable device effectively counteracts and reduces hand tremor amplitude, improving the quality of life for patients by making daily activities easier and more convenient, with adjustable damping mechanisms to accommodate individual tremor patterns.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of resonators may be configured to destructively interfere with the tremor movement in the outer extremity
Implementation Method 2
The plurality of resonators may be configured to destructively interfere with the tremor movement in the outer extremity
Implementation Method 3
The frictional damping mechanism may be coupled to the wearable base and be configured to damp movement of the distal moving region relative to the proximal fixed region in response to tremor movement in the outer extremity
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods are provided to treat tremor in an outer extremity, typically a hand, of a subject. A wearable base or glove is provided with one or more tremor damping mechanisms, which can be of different or the same types, in the case of a plurality of tremor damping mechanisms. One or more frictional damping mechanisms can be provided and/or one or more tuned mass damping mechanisms can be provided. The frictional dampening mechanism can simply be the viscoelastic material of the wearable base that deforms and interferes with tremor movement. The frictional dampening mechanism can be one or more tension elements provided within the body of the wearable base. The tuned damping mechanism may comprise one or more resonators held within a housing coupled to the wearable base. The tremor damping mechanisms can be self-adjusting and/or adjustable by the wearer.