Quantitative Assessment of the Arm/Hand Movements in Parkinson's Disease Using a Wireless Armband Device.

We present an approach for quantitative assessment of the arm/hand movements in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), from sensor data acquired with a wearable, wireless armband device (Myo sensor). We propose new Movement Performance Indicators that can be adopted by practitioners for the quantitative evaluation of motor performance and support their clinical evaluations. In addition, specific Movement Performance Indicators can indicate the presence of the bradykinesia symptom. The study includes seventeen PD patients and sixteen age-matched controls. A set of representative arm/hand movements is defined under the supervision of movement disorder specialist. In order to assist the evaluations, and for progress monitoring purposes, as well as for assessing the amount of bradykinesia in PD, a total set of 84 Movement Performance Indicators are computed from the sensor readings. Subsequently, we investigate whether wireless armband device, with the use of the proposed Movement Performance Indicators can be utilized: (1) for objective and precise quantitative evaluation of the arm/hand movements of Parkinson's patients, (2) for assessment of the bradykinesia motor symptom, and (3) as an adequate low-cost alternative for the sensor glove. We conducted extensive analysis of proposed Movement Performance Indicators and results are indicating following clinically relevant characteristics: (i) adequate reliability as measured by ICC; (ii) high accuracy in discrimination between the patients and controls, and between the disease stages (support to disease diagnosis and progress monitoring, respectively); (iii) substantial difference in comparison between the left-hand and the right-hand movements across controls and patients, as well as between disease stage groups; (iv) statistically significant correlation with clinical scales (tapping test and UPDRS-III Motor Score); and (v) quantitative evaluation of bradykinesia symptom. Results suggest that the proposed approach has a potential to be adopted by physicians, to afford them with quantitative, objective and precise methods and data during clinical evaluations and support the assessment of bradykinesia.

Combined Vision and Wearable Sensors-based System for Movement Analysis in Rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Traditional rehabilitation sessions are often a slow, tedious, disempowering and non-motivational process, supported by clinical assessment tools, i.e. evaluation scales that are prone to subjective rating and imprecise interpretation of patient's performance. Poor patient motivation and insufficient accuracy are thus critical factors that can be improved by new sensing / processing technologies. OBJECTIVES: We aim to develop a portable and affordable system, suitable for home rehabilitation, which combines vision-based and wearable sensors. We introduce a novel approach for examining and characterizing the rehabilitation movements, using quantitative descriptors. We propose new Movement Performance Indicators (MPIs) that are extracted directly from sensor data and quantify the symmetry, velocity, and acceleration of the movement of different body/hand parts, and that can potentially be used by therapists for diagnosis and progress assessment. METHODS: First, a set of rehabilitation exercises is defined, with the supervision of neurologists and therapists for the specific case of Parkinson's disease. It comprises full-body movements measured with a Kinect device and fine hand movements, acquired with a data glove. Then, the sensor data is used to compute 25 Movement Performance Indicators, to assist the diagnosis and progress monitoring (assessing the disease stage) in Parkinson's disease. A kinematic hand model is developed for data verification and as an additional resource for extracting supplementary movement information. RESULTS: Our results show that the proposed Movement Performance Indicators are relevant for the Parkinson's disease assessment. This is further confirmed by correlation of the proposed indicators with clinical tapping test and UPDRS clinical scale. Classification results showed the potential of these indicators to discriminate between the patients and controls, as well as between the stages that characterize the evolution of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed sensor system, along with the developed approach for rehabilitation movement analysis have a significant potential to support and advance traditional rehabilitation therapy. The main impact of our work is two-fold: (i) the proposition of an approach for supporting the therapists during the diagnosis and monitoring evaluations by reducing subjectivity and imprecision, and (ii) offering the possibility of the system to be used at home for rehabilitation exercises in between sessions with doctors and therapists.

Surgery of condyloma acuminatum permagnum and permagnum recurrence after two years.

The authors in their paper show the case with the female patient D.S. 51 years old, which was surgically treated for genital condyloma in 1981, 1986, 1999, 2006 and 2008. Under registration number 3119/2006 was received at Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic in Banja Luka with the diagnosis of condyloma acuminatum permagnum. Patient suffered from a huge tumorous, cauliflower formation, which was located on the mons pubis, and down to the anus, laterally to the right of the gluteal region to the left thigh. Patient was operated-Vulvectomia simplex cum extirpatio tumoris reg glutealis l dex. We obtained pathohistological findings (no. 4876 / 06) which read: condyloma acuminatum permagnum. After two years patient was rehospitalized at Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic in Banja Luka, (registration number 1311/08) with almost identical findings in the same region under the diagnosis of condyloma acuminatum permagnum recidivans, St. post. vulvectomiam simplex et extitpationem tumoris glutealis reg l dex. All preoperative findings - laboratory analysis, X-ray of the lung and heart and ultrasound of the small pelvis were within the reference values. In this paper we describe the location of the tumor and how it is resolved - Extirpatio tumoris reg glutealis l. dex. et perianalis.Pathohistological findings confirmed previous diagnosis. In this paper we highlight our experiences regarding the operations of an unusually large tumors of genital condyloma and recurrent genital condyloma that were almost of the same size. Our experience could be useful to work on the education about sexually transmitted diseases, in order to improve the prevention of the viral diseases (vaccination), the treatment of these illnesses and to disseminate the warning that the regular check-ups with gynecologist are necessary.

Impact dynamics in biped locomotion analysis: two modelling and implementation approaches.

Stability during the biped locomotion and especially humanoid robots walking is a big challenge in robotics modelling. This paper compares the classical and novel methodologies of modelling and algorithmic implementation of the impact/contact dynamics that occurs during a biped motion. Thus, after establishing the free biped locomotion system model, a formulation using variational inequalities theory via a Linear Complementarity Problem then an impedance model are explicitly developed. Results of the numerical simulations are compared to the experimental measurements then the both approaches are discussed.