A new tremor balance-transducer.
A new tremor-measuring device has been developed. It is constructed as a beam balance and measures principally in a vertical direction. Both arms of the beam contain a ceramic crystal; one of the arms has an extension that rests on the object to be measured. In this way, problems associated with mounting the transducer to the object are eliminated. The balance-transducer performs a well defined rotational movement in contrast to the frequently used transducers with a single sensor which are mounted to the object. The tremor movement of the limb and/or inadequate mounting causes unknown variation in the influence of the gravity component on the sensor; this can cause substantial errors. This tremor-transducer eliminates this problem. The static load of the balance-transducer on the object can be adjusted to less than 0.5 X 10(-3) kg(0.005 N). Even in the case of finger tremor, the balance-transducer does not influence the tremor phenomenon significantly. The principle of the balance-transducer is suited to measurements of postural, intention and limited action tremor of the finger, hand, forearm and jaw.
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005385:Fingers / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014159:Transducers; D014202:Tremor / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology