Beuter A, de Geoffroy A, Cordo P
Department of Kinanthropology, University of Québec, Canada.
J Neurosci Methods. 1994 Jul;53(1):47-54. doi: 10.1016/0165-0270(94)90143-0.
Quantification of movement pathologies is an important challenge of the clinical and research laboratories today. Basically, two problems must be addressed. The first one is to find the appropriate technology; the second is to develop adequate measures from the raw data which will best discriminate between health and pathology. In this paper, we propose a simple method to record and analyse tremor and other microdisplacements of the upper extremities based on the recording of position by laser analog sensors. Any microcomputer equipped to perform analog-digital conversion is compatible for use with this system. The performance of the laser system is examined and compared with the performance of accelerometers. Finally, data recorded with a laser analog sensor from a patient with Parkinson's disease and a control subject are presented. This new laser-based quantitative method may prove to be an important tool in early and differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system.
