Parkinsonian hand Tremor Measurement device based on Fiber Bragg Grating sensor

Abstract

Hand tremor is an involuntary muscle movement, trembling, or shaking of the hands. Tremor most accurately refers to a small, rhythmic shaking movement that occurs in oscillatory pattern. Frequency amplitude analysis of the hand tremor can be an indicator of the subject being prone to Parkinson's disease. Parkinsonian tremors typically have a frequency of 4-6Hz when the hand is at rest. In this regard, a novel in-vivo dynamic Fiber Bragg Grating Tremor Measurement (FBGTM) device is developed based on a cantilever vibration method. The strain variations due to the hand tremors, created over the cantilever are acquired by the Fiber Bragg Grating sensor bonded over it. Frequency analysis of the recorded data will be an indicator towards the probability of the subject being prone to Parkinson's disease. The use of Fiber Bragg grating sensors brings potential advantages, such as insensitivity to electromagnetic interference, low fatigue, and ultra-fast response, making the proposed hand tremor measurement device an effective means for the evaluation of hand tremors in subjects.