Georgia researchers develop Parkinson's iPhone app
Researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) have developed iTrem, an app that lets those with Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions use their iPhone to collect data on hand and arm tremors and relay the results to clinicians.
The application could replace subjective tests now used to assess the severity of tremors, while potentially allowing more frequent patient monitoring, according to the researchers. iTrem will undergo a clinical study at Emory University in Atlanta and must receive any required approvals from the FDA.
iTrem utilizes the iPhone's built-in accelerometer to collect data on a patient in his or her home or office, GTRI stated in a release. “The application directly tracks tremor information currently, and in the future will use simple puzzle games to record tremor data, which will then be processed and transmitted.”
The researchers stated they expect the clinical trial to show that data gathered by the program would allow physicians to remotely monitor the degree of disability, progression and medication response among patients with tremor-related conditions.
Future developments will include the addition of several other Parkinson's-related tests and investigation of gait analysis in a joint effort with the University of South Florida and the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa, Fla, GTRI added.
The application could replace subjective tests now used to assess the severity of tremors, while potentially allowing more frequent patient monitoring, according to the researchers. iTrem will undergo a clinical study at Emory University in Atlanta and must receive any required approvals from the FDA.
iTrem utilizes the iPhone's built-in accelerometer to collect data on a patient in his or her home or office, GTRI stated in a release. “The application directly tracks tremor information currently, and in the future will use simple puzzle games to record tremor data, which will then be processed and transmitted.”
The researchers stated they expect the clinical trial to show that data gathered by the program would allow physicians to remotely monitor the degree of disability, progression and medication response among patients with tremor-related conditions.
Future developments will include the addition of several other Parkinson's-related tests and investigation of gait analysis in a joint effort with the University of South Florida and the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital in Tampa, Fla, GTRI added.