Hareket Bozukluklarının Tanı ve Takibi İçin Kolay Taşınır Alternatif Bir Yöntem Geliştirilmesi

Abstract

Saglam, B., Developing an Easy Portable Alternative Method for Diagnosis and Prosecution of Movement Disorders, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Biophysics Master Thesis, Ankara, 2017. The motor system is an important element that provides the ability to synthesize relocation and synthesis of various complex movements in humans. Therefore, it is essential, for the human health, to monitor its development both quantitatively and qualitatively. The conventional methods serving the purpose, are bound by limitations such as immobility, cost of the devices and difficulty in evaluation of the results. In the present thesis work, the primary aim was to develop an intuitive, portable and cost-effective method capable of assessing the motor system quantitatively by using a prototype accelerometer device. The device, used in the study, has been designed and prototyped in our unit (Ilhan and Puralı 2010). It is essentially, a miniature three dimensonal acceleration measurement system. It has up to 6 channels, and has been downsized to easily fulfil its medical use. Its sensors can be attached to individual fingers and all extremities easily. The device is consisted of 4 main components: sensors, central processor, USB connection module and computer interface. In the present study, the effectiveness of the device was firstly tested on a peripheral neuropathy patient group. The acceleration responses in response to hand gesture protocols designed based on established anatomical and functional information, were recorded. The recordings were compared to those recorded in the control group and post-operation records of the patients. Analyses indicated that there is a statistically significant difference between the patient and control groups, especially when Protocol 2 responses were compared. This is a ground-breaking study. The results indicated that the novel method is capable identifying the differences between the patients and the healthy individuals in peripheral neuropathy cases though the number of patients was limited. The next steps will be improving the operation range and resolution power of the device, and using it on the other movement disorders and disease groups.