DIGITAL BIOMARKERS FOR MUSCULAR DISABILITIES

Abstract

A method of assessing a muscular disability and, preferably, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in a subject is disclosed. A performance parameter is determined from a dataset of pressure measurements of the individual finger strength from the subject using a mobile device and is compared to a reference whereby the muscular disability and, preferably, SMA is assessed.

Claims

1. A method of assessing spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in a subject, comprising: a) determining at least one performance parameter from a dataset of pressure measurements of individual finger strength from said subject using a mobile device; and b) comparing the determined at least one performance parameter to a reference; and c) assessing SMA.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said SMA is SMA1 (Werdnig-Hoffmann disease), SMA2 (Dubowitz disease), SMA3 (Kugelberg-Welander diseases) or SMA4.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one performance parameter is a parameter indicative for muscle hypotonia in an individual finger.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the dataset of pressure measurements of the individual finger strength include data from the measurement the maximal pressure which can be exerted by a subject with an individual finger or for the capability of exerting pressure with an individual finger over time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the dataset includes data indicative of axial motor function and/or central motor function.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is configured to carry out on the subject one or more force measurements.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the mobile device is a smartphone, smartwatch, wearable sensor, portable multimedia device or tablet computer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference is at least one performance parameter derived from a dataset of pressure measurements of the individual finger strength from the subject at a time point prior to the time point when the dataset of pressure measurements referred to in step a) has been obtained from the subject.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a worsening between the determined at least one performance parameter and the reference is indicative for a subject with SMA.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference is at least one performance parameter derived from a dataset of pressure measurements of the individual finger strength obtained from a subject or group of subjects known to suffer from SMA.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a determined performance parameter being essentially identical to the reference indicates a subject with SMA.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference is at least one performance parameter derived from a dataset of pressure measurements of the individual finger strength obtained from a subject or group of subjects known not to suffer from SMA.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a determined at least one performance parameter being worse compared to the reference indicates a subject with SMA.

14. A mobile device comprising a processor, at least one pressure sensor, a database and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having embodied thereon computer-executable instructions, which when executed cause the mobile device to perform the method according to claim 1.

15. A system, comprising: a mobile device having at least one pressure sensor; and a remote device operatively linked to the mobile device, the remote device having a processor, a database and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having embodied thereon computer-executable instructions which when executed cause the mobile device to perform the method according to claim 1.

16. A method of assessing spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in a subject, the method comprising: a) collecting with a mobile device pressure measurements corresponding to predetermined activity performed by the subject; b) forming a dataset from the collected pressure measurements; c) using the mobile device to determine from the dataset a performance parameter of individual finger strength of the subject; d) comparing the determined performance parameter to a reference; and e) assessing SMA of the subject.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the predetermined activity corresponds to finger pressure exerted by the subject on a touchscreen of the mobile device and read by a pressure sensor included in the mobile device.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the mobile device is a smartphone, smartwatch, wearable sensor, portable multimedia device or tablet computer.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the mobile device has a display configured to produce images that guide the subject in collecting the pressure measurements.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the images are selected from the group consisting of: ring-a-bell, carry-the-egg, squeeze-a-shape and draw-a-shape.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein dataset includes data on the maximal pressure which can be exerted by a subject with an individual finger or for the capability of exerting pressure with an individual finger over time.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0203] The above-mentioned aspects of exemplary embodiments will become more apparent and will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0204] FIGS. 1A-1B show the results from a computer-implemented ring-a-bell test. The percentage of maximum pressure was correlated to the results of the daily activity (DA) score of the patients (FIG. 1A). Moreover, patients with high DA scores also showed strong results in the ring-a-bell test, while those with low DA scores showed only weak ring-a-bell test results (FIG. 1B).

[0205] FIGS. 2A-2B show the results from a computer-implemented carry-the-egg test. The percentage of maximum touch pressure required for performing the task was correlated to the results of the daily activity (DA) score of the patients (FIG. 2A). Moreover, patients with high DA scores also showed strong results in the carry-the-egg test, while those with low DA scores showed only weak carry-the-egg results (FIG. 2B).

[0206] FIGS. 3A-3B show the results of pressure measurements from a computer-implemented squeeze-a-shape (pinching) test. The measured finger pressure is correlated to the DA score (FIG. 3A). Moreover, patients with high DA scores also showed strong results in the squeeze-a-shape test, while those with low DA scores showed only weak results (FIG. 3B).

[0207] FIGS. 4A-4B show the results of pressure measurements from a computer-implemented draw-a-shape test. The measured drawing pressure is correlated to the DA score (FIG. 4A). Moreover, patients with high DA scores also showed strong results in the draw-a-shape test, while those with low DA scores showed only weak results (FIG. 4B).

[0208] FIGS. 5A-5D show computer-implemented versions of the ring-a-bell test (FIG. 5A), the carry-the-egg test (FIG. 5B), the squeeze-a-shape test (FIG. 5C), and the draw-a-shape test (FIG. 5D).

DESCRIPTION AND EXAMPLES

[0209] The embodiments and examples described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of this disclosure. The following Examples merely illustrate the invention. They shall not be construed in a way as to limit the scope of the invention.

Example 1

Pressure Dataset Acquisition Using a Computer Implemented Test for Determining Finger Strength (Ring-a-Bell Test)

[0210] A test for measuring pressure exerted by a finger was implemented on a mobile phone (iPhone); see FIG. 5A. The patients shall exert maximum pressure on the surface of the display such that the bell will ring. The test was adapted to measure pressure application by a finger of a patient. The patient needs to play a game aiming to obtain maximum pressure and the duration of maximum pressure application (ring-a-bell test). The test required calibration with respect to the maximum pressure which can be applied by a finger of the subject first. The results of the ring-a-bell test are expressed as a percentage of said maximum pressure.

[0211] FIG. 1 shows the correlation of the daily activity of a patient and the results from the ring-a-bell test. It is apparent that patients with high daily activity show good results in the ring-a-bell test while those with low daily activity, i.e., those which are usually hardly affected by SMA, show weak results in the ring-a-bell test. 8 out of 23 tested patients showed ceiling effects.

Example 2

Pressure Dataset Acquisition Using a Computer Implemented Test for Determining Finger Strength (Carry-the-Egg Test)

[0212] Another test for measuring pressure exerted by a finger was implemented on a mobile phone (iPhone), the so-called carry-the-egg test; see FIG. 5B. Patients shall carry the schematic egg shown in the display. If too much pressure is applied, the carrying monster will destroy the egg, if too low pressure will be applied, it will drop the egg. The test was configured to measure the ability to sustain a controlled amount of pressure via a finger over a defined period of time. The dataset acquired from such test allows identifying the oscillation of and a pressure profile over time. The test may require calibration with respect to a pressure level required to perform the task. Moreover, the test was configured such that the measurement is carried out below the sensor intrinsic saturation for pressure measurements.

[0213] FIG. 2 shows the correlation of the daily activity of a patient and the results from the carry-the-egg test. It is apparent that patients with high daily activity show good results in the carry-the-egg test, while those with low daily activity, i.e., those which are usually hardly affected by SMA, show weak results in the carry-the-egg test.

Example 3

Pressure Dataset Acquisition Using Computer-Implemented Tests Pinching and Drawing

[0214] Another test for measuring pressure exerted by a finger was implemented on a mobile phone (iPhone), the so-called pinching- or squeeze-a-shape test; see FIG. 5C. The patients shall pinch or squeeze the shape indicated on the display, e.g., a schematic drawing of a tomato. It was configured to measure the pressure of a finger expressed as standard deviation of the shape pressure (pinching gesture) during a pinching movement of the surface of the display. FIG. 3 shows the correlation of the daily activity of a patient and the results from the squeeze-a-shape test. It is apparent that patients with high daily activity show good results in said test, while those with low daily activity, i.e., those which are usually hardly affected by SMA, show weak results.

[0215] Similar results were obtained in a computer-implemented draw-a-shape test; see FIG. 5D and FIG. 4. The patient shall draw the shape depicted on the display. This test was configured to measure the momentum of the drawing, the drawing pressure and speed. The test result shows a differentiation of the patients regarding their capabilities for medium and strong patients. Weak patients could not perform the drawing test for all shapes.

[0216] While exemplary embodiments have been disclosed hereinabove, the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.