Finger and foot tapping sensor system for objective motor assessment

Milica  Djurić-Jovičić; Nenad  Jovičić; Sasa M Radovanovic; Milica  Ječmenica Lukić; Minja  Belić; Mirjana  Popović; Vladimir  Kostić

doi:10.2298/VSP150502323D

Milica Djurić-Jovičić University of Belgrade, Innovation Center School of Electrical Engineering
Nenad Jovičić School of Electrical Engineering
Sasa M Radovanovic Institute for Medical Research, Belgrade
Milica Ječmenica Lukić Institute for Medical Research
Minja Belić School of Electrical Engineering
Mirjana Popović University of Belgrade, School of Electrical Engineering, Institute for Medical Research
Vladimir Kostić University of Belgrade, Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia; Clinical Center of Serbia, Clinic for Neurology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/VSP150502323D

Keywords: parkinson disease;, muscle tonus;, neurophysiology;, toe phalanges;, hand;, fingers;, equpment and supplies;, serbia

Abstract

Background/Aim. Finger tapping test is commonly used in neurological examinations as a test of motor performance. The new system comprising inertial and force sensors and custom proprietary software was developed for quantitative estimation and assessment of finger and foot tapping tests. The aim of this system was to provide diagnosis support and objective assessment of motor function. Methods. Miniature inertial sensors were placed on fingertips and used for measuring finger movements. A force sensor was placed on the fingertip of one finger, in order to measure the force during tapping. For foot tapping assessment, an inertial sensor was mounted on the subject’s foot, which was placed above a force platform. By using this system, various parameters such as a number of taps, tapping duration, rhythm, open and close speed, the applied force and tapping angle, can be extracted for detailed analysis of a patient’s motor performance. The system was tested on 13 patients with Parkinson’s disease and 14 healthy controls. Results. The system allowed easy measurement of listed parameters, and additional graphical representation showed quantitative differences in these parameters between neurological patient and healthy subjects. Conclusion. The novel system for finger and foot tapping test is compact, simple to use and efficiently collects patient data. Parameters measured in patients can be compared to those measured in healthy subjects, or among groups of patients, or used to monitor progress of the disease, or therapy effects. Created data and scores could be used together with the scores from clinical tests, providing the possibility for better insight into the diagnosis.

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