Motion camera system for measuring finger tapping in parkinson's disease

Abstract

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system and is exhibited by disturbances of motor function. The progress of Parkinson's disease is typically documented using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). One of the sections of the UPDRS includes finger tapping test. The objectification of the movement's tests needs an accurate measurement tool. We created a contactless 3-dimensional camera capture system with light passive (wireless) reflexive markers for motion measurement. The system consists of two industrial 60 Hz cameras with IR cutoff filters. The system is easy to use, space-saving, transportable, and needs just personal computer for data processing; appropriate solution in an outpatient clinic. The system provides 3-dimensional spherical or hemispherical markers in real-time. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.