Wearable device to prevent freezing of gait in Parkinson's
A Novel Instrument to Address Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Patients
This project builds a small wearable that detects freezing of gait in people with Parkinson's and provides personalized cues to help them start walking again.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Barron Associates, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11194250 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would wear a tiny ParkinSense device on your glasses or under a cap that continuously senses your head and body movement. The device uses onboard motion sensors and algorithms to spot freezing episodes and then delivers an auditory, visual, or tactile cue designed to help you resume walking. Each device is calibrated to the individual because different cues work better for different people and situations. The team plans hands-on fitting and testing with adults who have Parkinson's to refine detection and cueing performance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (age 21+) with Parkinson's disease who experience freezing of gait and can wear a small device on glasses or a cap are the intended candidates.
Not a fit: People whose freezing is already well controlled by medications or surgery, those with severe cognitive impairment who cannot use the device, or those unable to wear glasses or a cap may not benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the device could reduce freezing episodes, improve mobility and independence, and lower the risk of falls.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies show that external cues often help people with FOG but results are mixed, and automatic, personalized detection-plus-cueing like this is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Charlottesville, United States
- Barron Associates, INC. — Charlottesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clark, Brian R — Barron Associates, INC.
- Study coordinator: Clark, Brian R
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.