A Wearable to Handle Parkinson’s Motor Signs: Interview with Lucy Jung, CEO at Charco Neurotech

Charco Neurotech, a medtech firm based mostly in the UK, has developed CUE1, a non-invasive wearable that’s meant to help these with Parkinson’s illness to handle their motor signs. The machine is often affixed to the sternum, and supplies vibratory motion in a centered area of the physique. The know-how relies on the statement of a physician within the early 1800s, who seen that their sufferers’ motor signs had been considerably decreased once they traveled to their appointments over bumpy roads in a horse and carriage.

The know-how additionally makes use of cueing to help sufferers who is perhaps susceptible to ‘freezing’ to extend their mobility. As a drug-free, non-invasive remedy possibility, the know-how has loads of enticing options for sufferers who is perhaps prepared to strive it, and it’s presently out there within the UK, with plans for growth quickly.     

See a video beneath in regards to the CUE1 and the way it works:

Medgadget had the chance to talk with Lucy Jung, Co-founder and CEO at Charco Neurotech, in regards to the know-how.  

Conn Hastings, Medgadget: Please give us a primary overview of Parkinson’s illness.

Lucy Jung, Charco Neurotech: Parkinson’s is likely one of the world’s fastest-growing neurological issues, with greater than 10 million individuals dwelling with it worldwide. The signs of Parkinson’s, reminiscent of shaking, stiffness, and lack of stability and coordination, might be attributed to a lack of neurotransmitters within the mind, most notably dopamine.

The aforementioned signs are only a few examples – there are over 40 signs of Parkinson’s. These signs can have a big influence on the day-to-day high quality of life of individuals with Parkinson’s.

Medgadget: How do sufferers handle their signs at current? How is that this suboptimal?

Jung: The present symptom administration for Parkinson’s contains quite a lot of bodily workout routines, remedy and surgical procedure reminiscent of deep mind stimulation. As signs turn into extra extreme for these with Parkinson’s, they’re unable to freely transfer, which means their degree of bodily motion decreases. With visits to clinicians each 6 to 12 months, it may be troublesome to inform how one’s every day signs change, and as such, tips on how to regulate remedy regimes.

Medgadget: What impressed Charco Neurotech to develop applied sciences to deal with Parkinson’s? How did the thought for the CUE1 come about?

Jung: I’ve been researching long-term well being issues for over a decade now. In 2013, I met with a gentleman with Parkinson’s who was actually glad to see our group however couldn’t smile as Parkinson’s had taken away his smile. This led my co-founder and I to our mission to deliver smiles again to individuals with Parkinson’s by means of Charco.

The inspiration behind the CUE1 took place by speaking to individuals with Parkinson’s about how numerous stimulations may help day-to-day, and by delving deeper into the traits of those stimulations. From there, it was a steady strategy of prototyping and iterating with individuals with Parkinson’s on the forefront. Their suggestions has at all times been central to our growth of the CUE1.

Medgadget: When and the way was centered stimulation found as decreasing Parkinson’s signs? How does cueing work in helping Parkinson’s affected persons?

Jung: Within the early nineteenth century, Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot first seen that vibration might assist scale back signs for individuals with Parkinson’s as he discovered those that visited him by railroad or carriage had decreased symptom severity compared to these whom he visited. Latest research have proven that localized stimulation, as an alternative of full-body vibration, might be simpler in assuaging signs.

Cueing works by offering an individual with an exterior set off (a cue) for motion. It’s only for individuals who generally expertise freezing episodes, the place they could be unable to maneuver for a number of seconds or minutes at a time. The cues can then assist somebody time and set off their motion.

Medgadget: Please give us an outline of the CUE1, its function,s and the way it’s used.

Jung: The CUE1 is a non-invasive, wearable, medical machine which makes use of centered vibrotactile stimulation together with cueing to alleviate movement-based signs for individuals with Parkinson’s. Except for that, the machine also can present remedy reminders and symptom monitoring by means of using the CUE cellular software.

Medgadget: How does the CUE1 use centered stimulation and cueing to deal with Parkinson’s signs?

Jung: Worn generally on the sternum, the CUE1 supplies localized pulsed vibration to the person. The centered stimulation may help scale back the excessive beta frequency band exercise within the mind, resulting in the physique being in a extra ready-to-move state and decreasing stiffness and slowness. The cueing supplies these triggers for motion, which assist with smoother and freer motion. Together, the 2 therapies assist alleviate the movement-based signs, resulting in an improved day-to-day high quality of life.

Medgadget: What stage of growth is the machine at presently? When do you anticipate that it might be out there?

Jung: The machine is already out there within the UK with greater than 2,500 individuals utilizing it, and we’re within the strategy of scaling up our manufacturing. We’re additionally engaged on the preliminary, restricted EU and US growth of the CUE1 and are very enthusiastic about bringing extra smiles again to individuals with Parkinson’s.

Hyperlink: Charco Neurotech homepage…