Method and system for quantifying movement disorder symptoms
Inventors
Giuffrida, Joseph P. • Heldman, Dustin A.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11363982-B1
Publication Date
2022-06-21
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system and method for scoring movement disorder symptoms comprises a movement measurement data acquisition system and processing comprising kinematic feature extraction and an algorithm trained using Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores from skilled clinicians. The movement data acquisition system, or “movement measuring apparatus,” may comprise sensors such as accelerometers or gyroscopes or may utilize motion capture and/or machine vision technology or various other methods to measure tremor, bradykinesia, dyskinesia, or other movement disorders in a subject afflicted with Parkinson's disease, essential tremor or the like. The method outputs, and system displays, a score that uses the same scale as the UPDRS but has greater resolution and lower variability. In some embodiments, the system is used to diagnose and/or treat the patient by providing recommendations for treatment and/or by supplying treatment in the form of pharmaceutical drugs and/or electric stimulus as part of a closed-loop system.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a system and method for objectively quantifying symptoms of a movement disorder of a subject having a body with limbs. It measures body motion corresponding to a specific or individual Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor exam test while the subject performs the test, using a movement measuring apparatus with a sensor unit that includes at least one accelerometer and at least one gyroscope adapted to be worn or attached on an upper extremity.
A processor processes the acquired movement data to extract at least two different kinematic features related to severity of at least one movement disorder symptom related to the UPDRS motor exam test. At least one of the kinematic features is directed to a measure other than magnitude of the sensor signal, and the processor calculates a score representative of severity of the movement disorder symptom based at least in part on the extracted kinematic features.
The calculated score is based at least in part on reference data comprising UPDRS scores given for motor exam tests scored by at least five trained clinicians, and the score is predictive of a score given by a skilled clinician for the specific or individual UPDRS motor exam test. The processor output includes the calculated score and/or treatment recommendations, and the output is used to adjust treatment parameters and provide treatment to the subject with a treatment delivery device.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover three inventive features centered on wearable upper-extremity sensing during a specific or individual UPDRS motor exam test, extraction of multiple kinematic features including a measure other than sensor-signal magnitude, and computation of a severity score predictive of a skilled clinician’s UPDRS score using reference data from at least five trained clinicians, with treatment output or delivery.
Upper-extremity sensor unit for UPDRS motor exam test movement data acquisition
A movement measuring apparatus with a sensor unit comprising at least one accelerometer and at least one gyroscope, adapted to be worn or attached on an upper extremity of the subject, for acquiring movement data corresponding to movement of the subject while the subject performs a specific or individual UPDRS motor exam test.
Kinematic feature extraction with a severity-directed score not based on sensor-signal magnitude alone
A processor adapted to process the acquired movement data to extract at least two different kinematic features related to severity of at least one movement disorder symptom related to the UPDRS motor exam test, and to calculate a score representative of severity based at least in part on the at least two kinematic features, wherein at least one feature is directed to a measure other than magnitude of the sensor signal.
Reference-data-based UPDRS-predictive severity score
The calculated score is based at least in part on reference data comprising UPDRS scores given for motor exam tests scored by at least five trained clinicians and is predictive of a score given by a skilled clinician for the specific or individual UPDRS motor exam test.
Processor output including calculated score and/or treatment recommendations
A processor output comprising the calculated score and/or treatment recommendations based at least in part on the calculated score.
Treatment delivery device receiving score and/or recommendations for providing treatment
A treatment delivery device adapted to receive the processor output and to provide treatment to the subject based at least in part on the calculated score and/or treatment recommendations, including adjustment of treatment parameters in the method claim form.
The claims collectively cover wearable upper-extremity acquisition of movement data during a specific or individual UPDRS motor exam test, extraction of at least two kinematic features including at least one measure other than sensor-signal magnitude, calculation of a severity score grounded in reference UPDRS scores from at least five trained clinicians and predictive of a skilled clinician’s score, and use of the score and/or treatment recommendations for output and treatment.
Stated Advantages
Improved objectivity in quantifying movement disorder symptom severity compared to clinician scoring.
Increased resolution of clinician-like UPDRS motor exam scoring through predictive score calculation based on reference data from trained clinicians.
Reduced variability of symptom severity quantification through model-based scoring predictive of a skilled clinician’s UPDRS score.
Documented Applications
Diagnosing and treating a subject having a movement disorder by having the subject perform an individual or specific UPDRS motor exam test, calculating a severity score, and using the score and/or treatment recommendations to adjust treatment parameters and provide treatment.
Providing treatment to the subject with a treatment delivery device based at least in part on the calculated score and/or treatment recommendations.
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