Parkinsonian Hand Tremor Mitigation with Enhanced Wearable Device

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease affecting over eight million people globally. Among its symptoms is an involuntary rhythmic tremor in the body that manifests in the hands. These hand tremors affect one’s ability to perform basic motor functions, often leading to frustration, social anxiety, and isolation. Approaches to mitigating these tremors generally involve surgery or medications. Those approaches that are non-invasive are often still expensive or conspicuous. The goal of this research is to make a wearable, non-invasive, mechanical device that can significantly diminish hand tremors. The device is targeted to be accessible to large populations through low cost, ease of use and care, and adjustability for individual needs. The research builds from an ongoing study where a simplified proof of concept was established that reduced tremors in some instances by over 70%. In this study, novel kinematic mechanisms have been introduced to optimize the range of effectiveness while reducing the size and weight of the device by more than 20%. Prototyping and testing have been performed on a mechanical test hand, and initial testing shows quantifiable improvements in size, weight, and effectiveness.