Communications of the ACM
Handheld Testing: New Application For Iphone May Support Monitoring and Research on Parkinson's Disease
GTRI research scientists Robert Delano (left) and Brian Parise developed iTrem as a tool that could potentially benefit people with Parkinsons disease. It takes advantage of accelerometers built into the iPhone.
Photo courtesy of Gary Meek
Researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) have developed iTrem, an iPhone application designed to enable Parkinson's disease patients to use an iPhone to collect data on hand and arm tremors and send that information to medical personnel.
The app would permit more frequent patient monitoring without costly visits to medical facilities. "We expect iTrem to be a very useful tool for patients and their caregivers," says GTRI's Brian Parise.
ITrem uses the iPhone's accelerometer to collect data on a patient by tracking tremor information in real time, which can be processed and transmitted to doctors. The app also offers a social function that enables users to share stories, pictures, and data. The GTRI team plans to continue to develop iTrem's interface with input from doctors and patients.
In the future, the researchers want to develop more Parkinson's-related tests, working with University of South Florida researchers. "Even factoring in the cost of an iPhone, using iTrem is likely to be more convenient and less expensive for patients than office visits, and the data are accurate and abundant," says GTRI's Robert Delano.
From Georgia Tech Research News
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