Medtec News: new pen helps Parkinson’s diagnosis

Manus Neurodynamics has created a sensory pen that can analyse voluntarily movements for the presence of Parkinson's disease and essential tremor.

Parkinson's affects around 4 million people across the world. A research group used a simple diagnostic test that entailed patient completion of writing and drawing tasks on an adapted tablet computer. 

The pen device uses multiple sensors which allow the system to record multiple measurements from 3D finger, hand and limb movements. The sensors measure the magnitude of the tiny tremors present while patients are undertaking fine motor tasks. Collated readings are then analysed by a software system via diagnostic algorithms and can be viewed either on the diagnostic platform or via a remote, secure medical communications system.

This sensor technology is relatively simple but according to managing director Rutger Zietsma, the clever part is developing algorithms to interpret the data from the sensor.

“The pen is a unique piece of medical technology that links ten years experimentation with sensor systems and developing data analysis methods with the key features of Parkinson's,” said Zietsma.

Currently, Parkinson's disease is diagnosed via a DaTSCAN, which is only available in a hospital setting and requires scanning equipment as well as highly trained staff. This compares with the sensory pen, which, says Manus Neurodynamics offers a low cost, non-invasive test that can be used with minimal training, according to the developers.