Method and device to manage freezing of gait in patients suffering from a movement disorder

• US 8,409,116 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2010
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rush University Medical Center (Rush University)
• Original Assignee: Rush University Medical Center (Rush University)
• Inventors: Metman, Leonard Verhagen, Jovanov, Emil, Wang, Emily
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US12/764,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20100274304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 600/587, 600/595, 607/45, 607/48, 607/49
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4082 Diagnosing or monitoring movement diseases, e.g. Parkinson, Huntington or Tourette
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36031 using physiological parameters for adjustment

Abstract

The subject invention involves a device and method for treating patients with a movement disorder experiencing a sudden change in regularity of gait or akinesia, and comprising a device that detects the sudden change in regularity of gait or temporary akinesia and automatically issues a cue signal that restarts the movement.

Claims

1. A device for treating a human having a movement disorder comprising:

a sensor for sensing an akinetic episode of said human and

a receiver,

said gait sensor transmitting a signal to said receiver only upon detection of the akinetic episode of said human,

whereby in response to said received signal, said receiver automatically generates a cueing signal to trigger resumption of movement of said human.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises one or more accelerometers, or one of more gyroscopes or a combination of both.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said receiver comprises a wireless headset.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said receiver includes a wired or wireless headphones or earbuds.

5. A device for emitting a cue upon detecting of change of regularity of gait of a person comprising:

a sensor for detecting an akinetic episode of the person,

said sensor including a signal process,

said signal process sending a signal to a receiver only upon detection of the akinetic episode of the person,

said receiver, in response to said signal, causing a cue perceptible by the person to be emitted, to thereby aid in the restoration of movement of the person.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the cue is verbal, auditory, physical or tactile.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein the cue is auditory, tactile, vibratory, pressure, thermal, electric, or a combination thereof can be used.

8. The device of claim 5 wherein the receiver is a wireless headset.

9. The device of claim 5 wherein the sensor includes a gyroscope.

10. The device of claim 5 wherein the receiver includes a cue generator.

11. A method of managing a freezing gait disorder of a person, comprising the steps of:

sensing a change of regularity of gait of the person,

transmitting a signal to a receiver only upon sensing the change of regularity of gait,

automatically generating a cueing signal only upon reception of the signal by said receiver,

whereby said receiver restarts the gait of said person using single or multiple cues.

12. The method of claim 11 further including the step of transmitting said signal wirelessly.

13. The method of claim 11 including sending a signal wirelessly after sensing the change in regularity of gait of the person.

14. The method of claim 13 including the step of transmitting said signal to a remote location, said signal including an emergency contact and a personal health record.

15. The method of claim 13 including the step of transmitting said signal to a caregiver.

16. The method of claim 11 including the step of generating an auditory cue.

17. The method of claim 11 including generating a tactile cue.

18. The method of claim 11 including generating a verbal cue.

19. The method of claim 11 including transmission of information about FOG events and falls occurring after the FOG, comprising sending the information wirelessly to a caregiver and/or emergency contact, wherein the information includes a personal health record.