Project B9 - Magnetoelectric Sensors for Movement Detection and Analysis
Neurological diseases associated with pathological movements (NDPMs) such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and multiple sclerosis affect millions of people worldwide. The evaluation of these diseases is typically performed by medical professionals in a clinic or doctor’s practice using qualitative or, at best, semi-quantitative approaches.
Two quantitative movement assessment techniques have already found their way into clinical research and, at least with pilot systems, into clinical management: complex stationary lab assessments and inertial measurement units (IMUs). Complex stationary lab assessments are extremely accurate and allow detailed, timesynchronized, comprehensive analyses of movement patterns. Disadvantages are high cost and relatively inflexible and time-consuming assessments. In contrast, IMUs, most often based on acceleration assessment with accelerometry and angular measurement with gyroscopes, have the advantage of flexible application. Disadvantages are data synchronization difficulties and time-related signal drift. Moreover, these techniques do not provide a comprehensive picture of body movements, neither in a global coordinate system nor in relation to a specific part of the body, e.g. the lower back.
We propose here an entirely novel movement detection strategy based on magnetoelectric (ME) sensors (combined with IMUs) that has the potential to combine almost all advantages of the movement detection techniques currently in use (e.g. flexible use, relatively cheap, unobtrusive, exact, and objective), while overcoming most of the respective disadvantages (e.g. not bound to a specific environment). This system will substantially add to our general understanding of physiological and pathological human movement under supervised and unsupervised conditions. It will eventually add to the quality of treatment evaluation of NDPMs (significant reduction of drift, improved localization performance).
Involved Researchers
Person | Role | |
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Prof. Dr. Walter Maetzler Medicine Neurology |
Project lead | |
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Schmidt Electrical Engineering Digital Signal Processing |
Project lead | |
M.Sc. Johannes Hoffmann Electrical Engineering Digital Signal Processing and System Theory |
Doctoral researcher | |
Dr. Clint Hansen Medicine Neurology |
Postdoc |
Role within the Collaborative Research Centre
Close cooperation is planned with the following partners:
Collaborations | |
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B1, Z2 | B9 will benefit from B1 and Z2 adapting system frontends and small sensor arrays to the requirements of B9. In turn, we will communicate test results back to B1/Z2 to facilitate the development of suitable measurement systems after transfer of mature sub-systems to Z2. |
B2, B10 | The project will use the same real-time framework as projects B2 and B10. Thus, all extensions made in either one of the projects will benefit the other and immediately speed up development. |
B10, T1 | All study participant management and data acquisition procedures will be shared with project B10 and T1. |
T1 (Transfer project – Individualized Deep Brain Stimulation) | T1 and B9 will recruit PD patients jointly and evaluate at least 2 patients together. |
Z1 (MEMS Magnetoelectric Sensor Fabrication) | This project is closely interlinked with the ME-sensor projects, especially those that operate in resonance. Such sensors are mainly produced in Z1. |
Project-related Publications
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