A wireless sensor system for motion analysis of Parkinson's disease patients

We describe the initial design, implementation and testing of a wearable sensor system employed for human motion analysis. Our proposed system is part of an ongoing investigation aimed at efficiently timing the self-administration of prescription drugs in Parkinson's disease patients by using wireless sensors to capture distinctive motion patterns that indicate the onset of dyskinesia lapses as the prescription drug wears off. Our prototype incorporates three pairs of accelerometer/gyroscope sensors, each connected to a wireless node equipped with an IEEE 802.15.4 radio. Sensor data are transmitted to a computer that is employed for visualization. We describe practical experience encountered during the initial development of our prototype, and outline the potential battery and bandwidth conservation benefits introduced by employing popular signal processing methods. © 2011 IEEE.