According to reports, more than 20 million people experience hand tremors globally. Still, they are one of the most under-reported and cured disorder. Many people avoid treatment till the tremors become uncontrollable and start impacting their daily activities. Hand tremors can also occur because of Parkinson’s disease, which is a neurological condition that can affect any part of your body’s movement.
On a positive note, the research team of UBC Okanagan has developed a wearable medical device to minimize uncontrolled hand tremors. The research team has demonstrated how this wearable device helps in controlling hand tremors caused by neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease.
Everything We Know About the Wearable Hand Brace
There is no permanent cure for hand tremors, as medical therapies provide relief for a particular period of time. However, these hand braces minimize the effect in real time and work on improving voluntary control. Researchers have claimed that this wearable device works without batteries or any invasive procedure, which makes it accessible for a large population.
After wearing the hand braces, users get more control over voluntary movement, minimizing involuntary tremors. This device does not completely control motions; instead, it uses a passive omnidirectional vibration-absorbing mechanism to counter the involuntary movements.
The research team conducted tests on a full-scale mannequin arm attached with a simulator that creates a similar tremor to human hands. Researchers noted there was 79% improvement in unidirectional tremors and 73% reduction in omnidirectional tremors.
Challenges and Future of the Wearable Hand Medical Device
While the published paper has created a strong buzz in the medical wearable devices market, there is a lot still to accomplish. Researchers still have to conduct clinical testing in which hand braces will be tested on human patients. Clinical testing will assure the effectiveness of the device; it will give results on various human aspects, like comfort and real-world performance.
Dr. Hadi Mohammadi, Professor in UBCO’s School of Engineering, said, “This work represents a meaningful step toward improving functional independence and quality of life for people living with hand tremors. We hope that this technology will soon be in the hands of patients in British Columbia and across Canada.”
Are Medical Wearables the Future of the Healthcare Industry?
Medical wearables are here to stay and create an era of AI-integrated devices, simplifying the complex medical processes. Medical wearables are revolutionizing through recovery with robotic exoskeletons, implantable chips, patches, and brain gears. Medical wearable devices are manual treatment process more efficient and less complex.
However, a high risk of errors comes along with the AI-integrated devices. Technical issues can lead to serious situations, which can only be minimized with in-depth testing and accurate metrics.
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