Technology was developed with Michael J. Fox Foundation and also aims to understand disease behavior
IBM scientists invented a small, portable, wireless device that uses artificial intelligence and sits at the fingertips of patients. The pioneering "nail sensor" prototype developed by IBM Research continuously measures the way a person's nail bends and moves in daily activities, an important indicator of hand grip strength (grip strength of hand movement) . The movement of the nail is imperceptible to the eye, occurring on a micron scale - a thousandth of a millimeter. Among other indications, the metric is associated with the effectiveness of the medication in individuals with Parkinson's, with the cognitive function in people with schizophrenia, with the state of cardiovascular health and with the causes of geriatric mortality.
Parkinson's is a chronic degenerative neurological disorder that affects one in 100 people over the age of 60. It is estimated that more than five million people have the disease worldwide, and the number is increasing with the current aging population *. Although characterized mainly by motor dysfunctions, including involuntary tremors and impaired movements, some patients also experience cognitive decline, behavioral problems and sleep disorders.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research has given IBM data access to better understand the disease and pave the way for more effective treatments. Through this partnership, the Michael J. Fox Foundation released its data from the Parkinson & #39; s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), a study that compiled anonymous longitudinal information from groups of patients with the same characteristics with Parkinson's.
How it works?
The small sensor presented by IBM Research consists of gauges connected to the nail and a small computer that samples the voltage and data values from an accelerometer present in the device that communicates with a smart watch. The clock, in turn, uses machine learning models to assess bradykinesia (slow movement, especially complex volunteers), tremor and dyskinesia (abnormal and involuntary movements), which are symptoms of Parkinson's.
The sensor also measures the movements of the nails and collects data that are studied by artificial intelligence algorithms to indicate patterns. This can give doctors a clearer view of grip strength over time and recommend personalized treatments.
Because it's important?
Currently, a method for measuring the progression of a disease is to connect sensors to the skin to capture movement, data on the health of muscles and nerve cells, or changes in sweat gland activity, which can reflect the intensity of a person's emotional state. But with older patients, these skin-based sensors can cause problems, including infection.
How did it originate? - People interact with objects using their hands. Through touch we feel temperature, surface textures and others. The IBM Research team realized that it would be possible to obtain interesting signs of nail movements and how they bend during the day, as we use our fingers to interact with the environment.
One of the functions of human nails is to orient the fingertip on the object being manipulated. It turns out that our nails can be deformed - they bend and move - when we use them to grab or when we flex and extend our fingers. This deformation is usually on the order of microns - thousandth of a millimeter - of a single digit and is not visible to the naked eye.
From this information, IBM scientists harnessed the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning to obtain, analyze and understand valuable data on disease progression.
Results - With the sensor, it is possible to obtain information about the patient's health status in a new way. This work also served as inspiration for a new device modeled on the structure of the fingertip that could one day help quadriplegics to communicate.
* The Michael J. Fox Foundation: http://www.michaeljfox.org/understanding-parkinsons/living-with-pd/topic.php?causes
Parkinson's is a chronic degenerative neurological disorder that affects one in 100 people over the age of 60. It is estimated that more than five million people have the disease worldwide, and the number is increasing with the current aging population *. Although characterized mainly by motor dysfunctions, including involuntary tremors and impaired movements, some patients also experience cognitive decline, behavioral problems and sleep disorders.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research has given IBM data access to better understand the disease and pave the way for more effective treatments. Through this partnership, the Michael J. Fox Foundation released its data from the Parkinson & #39; s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), a study that compiled anonymous longitudinal information from groups of patients with the same characteristics with Parkinson's.
How it works?
The small sensor presented by IBM Research consists of gauges connected to the nail and a small computer that samples the voltage and data values from an accelerometer present in the device that communicates with a smart watch. The clock, in turn, uses machine learning models to assess bradykinesia (slow movement, especially complex volunteers), tremor and dyskinesia (abnormal and involuntary movements), which are symptoms of Parkinson's.
The sensor also measures the movements of the nails and collects data that are studied by artificial intelligence algorithms to indicate patterns. This can give doctors a clearer view of grip strength over time and recommend personalized treatments.
Because it's important?
Currently, a method for measuring the progression of a disease is to connect sensors to the skin to capture movement, data on the health of muscles and nerve cells, or changes in sweat gland activity, which can reflect the intensity of a person's emotional state. But with older patients, these skin-based sensors can cause problems, including infection.
How did it originate? - People interact with objects using their hands. Through touch we feel temperature, surface textures and others. The IBM Research team realized that it would be possible to obtain interesting signs of nail movements and how they bend during the day, as we use our fingers to interact with the environment.
One of the functions of human nails is to orient the fingertip on the object being manipulated. It turns out that our nails can be deformed - they bend and move - when we use them to grab or when we flex and extend our fingers. This deformation is usually on the order of microns - thousandth of a millimeter - of a single digit and is not visible to the naked eye.
From this information, IBM scientists harnessed the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning to obtain, analyze and understand valuable data on disease progression.
Results - With the sensor, it is possible to obtain information about the patient's health status in a new way. This work also served as inspiration for a new device modeled on the structure of the fingertip that could one day help quadriplegics to communicate.
* The Michael J. Fox Foundation: http://www.michaeljfox.org/understanding-parkinsons/living-with-pd/topic.php?causes
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