JTremor3D

Parkinson’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disease manifested through tremors, which start with a limb and then gradually spreads across entire body. Globally, there are about 7-to-10 million patients of Parkinson's Disease. While this disease has no permanent cure, medication and surgery are two means employed to keep tremors in check. However, the overall dosage management involves a lot of “trial-and-error” approach. I have observed that at times, in spite of medication, the tremors still show up in patients at different times of the day and dosage needs fine tuning. This delays getting the tremor-controlled life to patients, which is a problem. 

Another problem that I have observed is regarding re-tuning of brain pacemaker of patients of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery. Based of the changing tremor profile, the brain pacemaker needs to be retuned. This retuning is done by patient's caregiver purely based on gut feeling (unscientifically). This is another problem.

JTremor3D, the wearable tremor profiler for patients with Parkinson’s Disease, is the solution.

The device is made in the form of a glove or a strap that can be worn by any of the limbs. A controller communicates with each of the device to capture tremor data at a pre-configured interval of  1/10th of a second. I have also come up with JTremor Index, a single objective measure of tremor level (like say glucose level or cholesterol level) that represents all the parameters - intensity, duration and frequency of the tremor. Finally, since controller communicates with the cloud database in real time when networked, it can provide the insights to doctors on demand. 

 JTremor3D can assist neurologists during dosage planning by providing on demand tremor profile analysis of the patient. It can also provide recommendations to caregivers of patients who have undergone Deep Brain Stimulation surgery about re-tuning of brain pacemakers. 

This may get the patients a tremor-free life sooner. 

Following is the link to the presentation about details of device:

Presentation slides for the device details

Someday I want to try to use JTremor3D to auto-tune the brain pacemaker in real time.

My solution (JTremor3D). can directly affect the lives of patients of Parkinson's Disease. It can potentially help get tremor-controlled life to the patients sooner.

I have observed that at times, in spite of medication, the tremors still show up in patients at different times of the day and dosage needs fine tuning. This delays in getting the tremor-controlled life for patients. 

JTremor3D can provide insights (like the one shown in the attached images). Using this, doctors can can do analysis like: 1) how the medication is reducing the overall tremor level of patients 2) How are the average tremor levels during different times of the day. This can assists doctors during dosage planning process. This may result in a tremor-controlled life for patients sooner.

The patent-pending invention has been my creation, hence I am best suited to take it forward. Two patents are filed on the device. While it has not been tried on any patient yet (since I still need to apply for safety certification), it is very useful for patients based on my observation about the challenges faced by my uncle who got Parkinson's Disease at an early age of 42. Hence, I have observed his disease progression very closely for 9 years. It provided me a deeper understanding of the problems faced the patient of PD.

It has been recognized as a useful invention by several organizations:

1) It has been demonstrated to a few neurologists and Parkinson's patient support group and received positive feedback from them.

Appreciation letter from Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Society of India (one of the large patient support groups in India)

2) United Nations Development Program (UNDP) has added this invention to their Grass root innovation database.

Link to UNDP GRID page

3) The invention received Grand award (3rd place) at the Regeneron Internationals Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) organized by Society of Science, US

4) It received Science Seed Award from Shanghai Youth Science Education Society

5) A few national level awards as well (like the recent one from Prime Minister of India)

Throughout the design and implementation, I have been mentored by my mentors.
While the working prototype is ready, it will need to be tested on real patients once the safety certification is received. In the meantime, I am keeping the patients engaged through my initiative called Beat-the-tremor foundation. This initiative is a virtual patient information aid through which I send out monthly newsletters to patient and families regarding the latest developments in the PD world, Lifestyle tips (diet, exercise, etc.) from the experts. You can get more details on:

www.beatthetremor.org

 Through this initiative, I have built a community of over 50 patients of Parkinson's Disease. This also is a means to keep in touch with patients and their families.

I am looking for following support through Solve:

1) Feedback and guidance from mentors and scientists

2) Guidance about regulatory norms for device launch in the US

3)Explore synergies with other "Solve" participants

4) Funding to support the development of the product into a world class offering

The solution is unique because:

1) There are not much solutions being currently used for data-to-day tremor analysis. There are solutions available for suppressing tremors, but no solution that can provide tremor profile on demand. 2 patents have been filed for this device to protect the IP. The 2 international and 3 National level awards that I received is testimony to device's potential and innovation.

2) JTremor Index (the quantitative measure for overall tremor level of a patient for a given period) can be useful in tracking, comparing and better controlling the tremors (One can not control what one can not measure).

3)  This device captures tremors of limbs with respect to the body. Also, the device can be programmed to detect and differentiate tremulous movements of limbs from non-tremulous movements. This makes it innovative.

4) The device can be extended to integrate other med devices like blood pressure monitor, and etc, so that data from those devices can also be made available to doctors on demand. This can be made into a complete solution for Parkinson's Disease.

5) This device is compact and affordable (the cost of building the prototype is less than $100 (both glove and controller).

6) This device can generate a lot of data that can help in knowing the disease better. If patient permits, the anonymized data can potentially help in training AI models that can help in classifying new cases based on the tremor pattern. It may also potentially predict the progression of disease for a patient. Use of this device can potentially be extended to other disorders that involve tremors (e.g. Epilepsy). It may help in understanding those disorders better.

7) This device may potentially be integrated some day to auto-tune the brain pacemaker of DBS surgery patients in real time based on the changing tremor profile of the patient. 

Following are my goals for the upcoming years:

Year 1: Make the device further compact, develop web app, mobile app

Year 2:  Safety certification, partner with clinics for tests, conduct tests and receive feedback, other regulatory compliances

Year 3: Finetune the device based on feedback. Mass produce and launch in India and the US. Also conduct research based on the gathered data

Year 4: Grow in India and the US. Explore partnerships with device company / pharma company for taking it to market. Continue research

Year 5: Explore other geographies and grow. Continue the research as well

Year 0  being the year of ideation, it included all of the following:

•  Defining the problem statement clearly (Done)
•  Exploring all existing solutions if any (Done)
•  Detailing the solution that includes:

1.     what to include, (Done) 
2.     what to exclude, (Done)
3.     how to go about doing it, (Done)
4.     what value it can bring to table, (Done) 
5.     get opinion from experts (Done)

• Filing the patent to protect the IP (Done)
• Building the working model (Done)

My uncle is a patient of Parkinson's Disease, who underwent Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery. I have seen the challenges faced by patients and their families due to tremors and frequent visits to the doctor. Several patients eventually get isolated from the society. Thus their is a huge cost of tremors.

JTremor3D can do thorough analysis of tremor and can make the tremor profile of the patients available to the doctor to assist in dosage planning. This can result in patient getting tremor-controlled life sooner there by lead a good life despite of the disease. 

No tremor means patient can continue to work and earn livelihood or at least remain independent to perform daily activities. This itself can be a huge achivement for the patient of PD.

The underlying technology involved includes:

- Hardware: Glove includes compact hardware that perform the functions of capturing the tremors (movement with respect to the controller) and sending the data to controller. Controller as well has an hardware to receive the data. Controller can be attached to the belt of patient. It has been configured to receive data at a frequency as low as every 1/10 sec. In case a patient is using multiple devices for capturing tremors (say one for hand, another for a leg), both the devices can be wirelessly connected to the same controller.

- Software: Controller has been programmed to process the received tremor data, store it locally on the controller. It also has programs that push the data to the cloud database whenever network is available.

- Cloud: Cloud is used to store the individual device specific tremor data of patients.  Cloud also has programs to build the tremor profile of the patient. It also will have APIs that will cater to the needs of the webapp and mobile app. Web UI would also be hosted on the cloud. 

Following is link to the product demo (unedited):

Product demo - unedited

I can as well give a live demo of the device. While the user interfaces are yet to be developed, I can show that the tremor data gets collected on to the cloud database.

Since I can query and check that the data has been written on the cloud, I know that the device works.

The intent behind this invention is to help patients of Parkinson's Disease in leading a good life despite the disease. This is likely to bring equality in the minds of patients, who, otherwise slowly start to feel a bit isolated from the society.

As for my team, at this time, diversity is covered since I am a young woman and my mentors are men. The most important ingredient that I look for is empathy. 

There are two business models possible:

1) Model 1: This device can be acquired by patient who can use it whenever there are tremors so that it can be captured. Tremor profile and other analysis will be made available on the mobile app / webapp. Patients can invite doctors to the webapp / mobile app to view the tremor profile. This may assist in dosage planning. Patients who have undergone Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)  Surgery can use this device and get recommendations on their mobile appabout retuning of brain pacemaker. 

2) Model 2: Doctors / Clinics can acquire the device and lease it to the patient whenever patient visits the doctor for the first time or when ever there are changes to tremor profile. Patient goes back home and uses the device till the next visit to doctor. During next visit, this device can be returned to the doctor, who can access the tremor analysis of the patient. This may assist doctors in dosage planning.

This device got good coverage from various media houses (close to million views all together). Received comments from several patients about their willingness to acquire this device. This helped me decide that Model 1 will surely fly!

The first priority is make the device ready to use (affordable). Then get it safety certified. Also complete any other regulatory step as required by law. Then give the devices to a few clinics to try it on a few patients and get their feedback. 

There two aspects I am / will working on to make it financially sustainable:

- Keep the cost of manufacturing as low as possible

- Sell the devices to various geographies. Business Model 1 (above) is the easiest one.  This is because several patients have shown interest to acquire such a device if and when it becomes available.

So far the device has not been launched commercially. Hence, financial sustainability has not been tested. 

However, keep the cost as low as possible will make it easy to sustain it financially.

Since I am a student, I don't have any source of earning to fund my work. So far I have funded my work through my savings. 

For the upcoming work, like building the web app, mobile app, making the device compact, getting it certified, making 20 devices, launching it commercially will need fund. Hence apart from guidance (specifically on regulatory requirements and business model), I am looking for funds that will support my work till it can be launched commercially.