Smart Strap to Detect and Mitigate Parkinson’s Tremors

Almost 10 million worldwide have Parkinson’s disease. There is no known cure for the disease, and very few treatments can target the physical implications of this disease, specifically the tremors experienced by people with Parkinson’s.

Whole-body vibrational therapy has become a heavily researched topic, as it is believed to help mitigate the tremors caused by Parkinson’s. Vibrational therapy is believed to act as white noise in the brain, blocking this sensory feedback loop to mitigate the symptoms of this disease. However, treatment is costly, not easily accessible, and not customized to an individual’s needs.

Seeing my great aunt suffer from Parkinson’s and the impact it had on activities that she loved to do, like knitting and crocheting, sparked my curiosity and served as an inspiration to research this further. Using the concept of vibration therapy, I developed a non-invasive, portable strap that can detect the onset of tremors and customize the vibrations to mitigate tremors. The data on vibration intensity and frequency of vibration can be collected and, through an Android phone, can be sent to caregivers and medical professionals for further evaluation.

With the help of the Dallas Area Parkinson Society and its members, I was able to test my device and prove that the device helped improve the dexterity and handwriting of tremor patients. I am grateful for the opportunity to present my research in several national and international science conferences and competitions. I have filed for a patent and published my research in the International Journal of Emerging Science & Engineering.