Detection and Suppression of Parkinson's Disease Tremors Using Soft Robotics

Parkinson's Disease affects over 10 million people globally, causing various motor problems, including tremors. A prototype device has been developed to automate the detection and suppression of tremors using Soft Robotics and granular jamming. The device works by detecting vibrations from hand movements, analyzing the frequency to confirm the presence of a tremor, and triggering a wrist cuff filled with coffee grounds. The vacuum-induced rigidity of the coffee grounds creates a rigid exoskeleton-like structure around the trembling hand, arresting the tremor. The device was tested by simulating tremors on a skeletal hand, and out of 50 trials, there was a 92% tremor detection accuracy and 100% suppression activation accuracy. The device reduced tremor-induced movement by 84.6%, making it an effective and non-invasive alternative to costly and invasive treatments like surgery and drugs. This innovation can significantly improve PD patients' qualities of life at a low cost of under $25.