Analysis and Classification of Tremor in Parkinsonian Disease in Two and Three Dimensional Space

摘要

Parkinsonian disease (PD) is caused by disorders in the information transfers among the brain structures responsible for body balance and execution of movements. Most frequently the tremor affects the upper limbs, head and also the lower parts of the persons face. The stage of PD and the motoric impairment are often assessed by subjective methods. In the paper the authors describe a methods for acquisition of information about characteristic features of the upper limbs tremor for patients with PD. The described method for registration of vibration time-dependence in two-dimensional space makes use of a digitizing tablet. The data collected by the above-mentioned method provide a basis for application of an original method of spectral analysis. An interpretation of the vibration signal has been also proposed, providing a possibility of objective classification, which can be applied to aiding the diagnosis. A new method for registration of vibrations in three-dimensional space has been also proposed, which employs three synchronized video cameras, and which does not require any particular activities of the patient, like writing or drawing. Such a registration method allows the elimination of any disturbances caused by the wrist resting on the plane as well as registration of the parameters of rest tremor.