Implementation of an iPhone wireless accelerometer application for the quantification of reflex response

The patellar tendon reflex represents an inherent aspect of the standard neurological evaluation. The features of the reflex response provide initial perspective regarding the status of the nervous system. An iPhone wireless accelerometer application integrated with a potential energy impact pendulum attached to a reflex hammer has been successfully developed, tested, and evaluated for quantifying the patellar tendon reflex. The iPhone functions as a wireless accelerometer platform. The wide coverage range of the iPhone enables the quantification of reflex response samples in rural and remote settings. The iPhone has the capacity to transmit the reflex response acceleration waveform by wireless transmission through email. Automated post-processing of the acceleration waveform provides feature extraction of the maximum acceleration of the reflex response ascertained after evoking the patellar tendon reflex. The iPhone wireless accelerometer application demonstrated the utility of the smartphone as a biomedical device, while providing accurate and consistent quantification of the reflex response.

[1]  M. Lebiedowska,et al.  Quantitative evaluation of reflex and voluntary activity in children with spasticity. , 2003, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[2]  A. Algra,et al.  Mayo and NINDS scales for assessment of tendon reflexes: between observer agreement and implications for communication , 1998, Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry.

[3]  M. Faist,et al.  Impaired modulation of quadriceps tendon jerk reflex during spastic gait: differences between spinal and cerebral lesions. , 1999, Brain : a journal of neurology.

[4]  Noriyuki Hori,et al.  Kinematic quantitation of the patellar tendon reflex using a tri-axial accelerometer. , 2007, Journal of Biomechanics.

[5]  Robert LeMoyne,et al.  Implementation of an iPod wireless accelerometer application using machine learning to classify disparity of hemiplegic and healthy patellar tendon reflex pair. , 2014, Journal of medical imaging and health informatics.

[6]  M. Hallett,et al.  Reliability of the NINDS Myotatic Reflex Scale , 1996, Neurology.

[7]  G Kamen,et al.  Conditioned patellar tendon reflexes in sprint- and endurance-trained athletes. , 1988, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[8]  J. Stam,et al.  Reliability of the clinical and electromyographic examination of tendon reflexes , 1990, Journal of Neurology.

[9]  Gary Kamen,et al.  CONDITIONED PATELLAR TENDON REFLEX CHARACTERISTICS IN SPRINT-TRAINED AND ENDURANCE-TRAINED ATHLETES , 1986 .

[10]  Gary Kamen,et al.  Conditioned patellar tendon reflexes in sprint- and endurance-trained athletes. , 1988, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[11]  W Z Rymer,et al.  Hyperactive tendon reflexes in spastic multiple sclerosis: measures and mechanisms of action. , 2000, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[12]  Warren S. Grundfest,et al.  FOURTH GENERATION WIRELESS REFLEX QUANTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR ACQUIRING TENDON REFLEX RESPONSE AND LATENCY , 2011 .

[13]  Robert LeMoyne,et al.  Wireless accelerometer reflex quantification system characterizing response and latency , 2009, 2009 Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.

[14]  I R Chambers,et al.  Monitoring of head injury by myotatic reflex evaluation , 2000, Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry.

[15]  Warren S. Grundfest,et al.  The Merits of Artificial Proprioception, with Applications in Biofeedback Gait Rehabilitation Concepts and Movement Disorder Characterization , 2009 .

[16]  Warren S. Grundfest,et al.  TENDON REFLEX AND STRATEGIES FOR QUANTIFICATION, WITH NOVEL METHODS INCORPORATING WIRELESS ACCELEROMETER REFLEX QUANTIFICATION DEVICES, A PERSPECTIVE REVIEW , 2011 .

[17]  Warren S. Grundfest,et al.  Quantified reflex strategy using an iPod as a wireless accelerometer application , 2012, 2012 Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society.

[18]  Gary Kamen,et al.  Contralateral influences on patellar tendon reflexes in young and old adults , 1989, Neurobiology of Aging.

[19]  Warren S. Grundfest,et al.  QUANTIFIED DEEP TENDON REFLEX DEVICE FOR RESPONSE AND LATENCY, THIRD GENERATION , 2008 .

[20]  Robert Charles LeMoyne.  Wireless quantified reflex device , 2010 .

[21]  P Zamparo,et al.  Quantitative evaluation of the stretch reflex before and after hydro kinesy therapy in patients affected by spastic paresis. , 1999, Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology.

[22]  J. Duysens,et al.  Biceps femoris tendon jerk reflexes are enhanced at the end of the swing phase in humans , 1996, Brain Research.