System and method for detection and quantification of Parkinson's disease

• US 5,772,611 A
• Filed: 01/30/1996
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Shraga Hocherman
• Original Assignee: Shraga Hocherman
• Inventors: Hocherman, Shraga
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINGOOD, PAMELA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US08/594,303
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 128/774, 128/782
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1101 Detecting tremor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4082 Diagnosing or monitoring movement diseases, e.g. Parkinson, Huntington or Tourette

Abstract

The invention provides a system for detection and quantification of Parkinson'"'"'s disease, including a substantially planar digitizer tablet fixedly mounted on a base plate and capable of translating graphic information into digital information displayable, via a computer, as graphic information on a monitor screen viewable by the subject to be tested, and a handle to be gripped and steered by the subject. The handle is fixedly attached to, and supported by, a guide providing the handle with two degrees of freedom in translation in a plane above, and substantially parallel to, the plane of the digitizer tablet. The system further includes a stylus moving together with the handle and adapted to produce signals sensible by the digitizer tablet, and means to produce on the monitor screen a model path of a predetermined shape and size, as well as a target to be tracked by the subject, the target moving at a predetermined speed along the model path. A method for detection and quantification of Parkinson'"'"'s disease is also described and claimed.

Claims

1. A system for detection and quantification of Parkinson'"'"'s disease, comprising:

a substantially planar digitizer tablet fixedly mounted on a base plate and capable of translating graphic information into digital information displayable, via computer means, as graphic information on a monitor screen viewable by the subject to be tested;

a handle to be gripped and steered by said subject, said handle being fixedly attached to, and supported by, guide means providing said handle with two degrees of freedom in translation in a plane above, and substantially parallel to, the plane of said digitizer tablet;

means for concealing said handle and the subject'"'"'s hand gripping it from the subject'"'"'s eyes, said concealing means being a top plate located above said base plate, projecting beyond said base plate in a direction towards said subject to a sufficient degree to conceal said handle in its positions above said digitizer tablet;

a stylus moving together with said handle and adapted to produce signals sensible by said digitizer tablet; and

means for producing on said monitor screen a model path of a predetermined shape and size, as well as a target to be tracked by said subject, said target moving at a predetermined speed along said model path;

whereby the quantification of Parkinson'"'"'s disease for said subject is effected by assessing the direction and speed of the subject'"'"'s response to said target.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top plate also serves as base plate for said monitor screen.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guide and supporting means is a mechanical linkage system comprising at least two bars articulated to one another, the free end of one of said bars being pivotable mounted on said base plate, and the free end of the other of said bars being attached to said handle.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said computer means is adapted to stop said moving target whenever said subject strays by a predetermined distance from said target to be tracked.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stylus is accommodated inside said handle.

6. A method for detection and quantification of Parkinson'"'"'s disease, comprising the steps of:

providing a substantially planar digitizer tablet fixedly mounted on a base plate and capable of translating graphic information into digital information displayable, via computer means, as graphic information on a monitor screen viewable by the subject to be tested;

a handle to be gripped and steered by the subject, said handle being fixedly attached to, and supported by, guide means providing said handle with two degrees of freedom in translation in a plane above, and substantially parallel to, the plane of said digitizer tablet;

means for concealing said handle and the subject'"'"'s hand gripping it from the subject'"'"'s eyes, said concealing means being a top plate in a direction towards the subject to a sufficient degree to conceal said handle in its position above said digitizer tablet;

a stylus moving together with said handle and adapted to produce signals sensible by said digitizer table, and means to produce on said monitor screen a model path of a predetermined shape and size, as well as a target moving at a predetermined speed along said model path;

having the subject grip said handle and track a target displayed on said monitor screen, which target moves at a controlled speed along a visible path;

having the subject grip said handle and trace a model path displayed on said monitor in said subject'"'"'s own time;

determining the number of times said moving target was lost during the tracking thereof;

determining the mean vectorial error occurring during the tracing of said model path;

determining the cumulative movement time with a vectorial error of a preset magnitude, and

comparing the results of said determinations with a set of available values, to determine the likelihood of said subject to suffer from Parkinson'"'"'s disease.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, comprising the further step of determining the minimal error.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, comprising the further step of determining the difference in speed between said target and the hand of said subject.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, comprising the further step of determining the speed of the subject'"'"'s hand.

10. The method as claimed in claim 6, comprising the further step of causing said moving target to stop whenever said subject, upon tracking said moving target, strays from said target by a predetermined distance.