Haptic Neurofeedback Device for Parkinson’s Patients

A method for the design and development of a feedback device for the treatment of focal dystonic symptoms of Parkinson’s patients is described in this work. This device utilizes haptic feedback produced via a soft pneumatic actuator incorporating zero-volume chambers and channels, to signal to the patient that they are falling into a dystonic pattern so that they themselves can manually break out of the pattern preserving and prolonging the use of the afflicted limb, in this case the hand. The system of detection for the dystonic symptoms is a conductive rubber stretch sensor that detects changes to the circumference of the forearm as the muscles begin to involuntarily contract. The signal from the sensor then feeds into a microcontroller that will activate the onboard pump that will in-turn pulse the soft pneumatic actuator producing a gentle but noticeable haptic sensation on the patient’s arm.