title: The measurement of tremor using simple laser systems.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinanthropology, University of Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beuter
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Geoffroy
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cordo
mesh_terms: D000703:Analog-Digital Conversion; D005385:Fingers / Q000503:physiopathology; D007834:Lasers; D008838:Microcomputers; D009043:Motor Activity; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D012146:Rest; D014202:Tremor / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014732:Vibration