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Published on: January 20, 2019
Design and Simulation of a Passive Absorber to Reduce Measured Postural Tremor Signal
Sarah Gebai1, Gwendal Cumunel2, Mohammad Hammoud3
1Lab Navier, Univ Gustave Eiffel, ENPC, CNRS, Marne-la-Vallée F-77447, France; Structure Dynamics and Materials and LIBRA Research Groups, Department of Mechanical Engineering, International University of Beirut, Mazraa, Beirut 146404, Lebanon.
This study demonstrates that passive vibration absorbers, specifically tuned mass dampers (TMDs), can significantly reduce involuntary postural tremor (PT) amplitude. An optimized three-TMD system reduced tremor power by 83.1%, offering a side-effect-free treatment option.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Neurology
Background:
- Involuntary tremor, a common condition, is often managed with treatments causing adverse effects.
- Passive vibration absorbers offer a potential alternative for tremor symptom reduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of passive vibration absorbers in mitigating postural tremor (PT).
- To model and optimize a passive tuned mass damper (TMD) system for tremor reduction.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an inertial measurement unit (IMU) to capture patient forearm and hand tremor signals.
- Developed a numerical model of the upper limb excited by IMU data to simulate tremor.
- Modeled and optimized a passive tuned mass damper (TMD) system, validating its natural frequency and damping ratio experimentally and numerically.
Main Results:
- An optimized three-TMD system with a total effective mass of 28.64g was designed.
- The optimized TMD system achieved an 83.1% reduction in the power spectral density (PSD) of wrist joint angular displacement amplitude.
- The system demonstrated effective control of involuntary tremor excited by patient-specific signals.
Conclusions:
- Lightweight passive absorbers, like TMDs, show significant performance in controlling involuntary tremor.
- This approach presents a promising, non-invasive method for tremor management with potential for reduced side effects.
