2023-09-19 カーネギーメロン大学
◆このデバイスは、かゆみを軽減する薬の効果を研究する際に役立つ可能性があります。かゆみは皮膚科患者の主要な苦情であり、このデバイスは新薬の効果を正確に評価するために研究者に役立つでしょう。将来的には患者自身もこのデバイスを使用できるかもしれず、医療分野において連続的なモニタリングの有用性が増しているとされています。
<関連情報>
- https://www.cs.cmu.edu/news/2023/scratch-intensity-sensor
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-023-00345-2
ひっかきの強さを定量化するマルチモーダルセンシングリング A multimodal sensing ring for quantification of scratch intensity
Akhil Padmanabha,Sonal Choudhary,Carmel Majidi & Zackory Erickson
Communications Medicine Published:19 September 2023
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-023-00345-2
Abstract
Background
An objective measurement of chronic itch is necessary for improvements in patient care for numerous medical conditions. While wearables have shown promise for scratch detection, they are currently unable to estimate scratch intensity, preventing a comprehensive understanding of the effect of itch on an individual.
Methods
In this work, we present a framework for the estimation of scratch intensity in addition to the detection of scratch. This is accomplished with a multimodal ring device, consisting of an accelerometer and a contact microphone, a pressure-sensitive tablet for capturing ground truth intensity values, and machine learning algorithms for regression of scratch intensity on a 0–600 milliwatts (mW) power scale that can be mapped to a 0–10 continuous scale.
Results
We evaluate the performance of our algorithms on 20 individuals using leave one subject out cross-validation and using data from 14 additional participants, we show that our algorithms achieve clinically-relevant discrimination of scratching intensity levels. By doing so, our device enables the quantification of the substantial variations in the interpretation of the 0–10 scale frequently utilized in patient self-reported clinical assessments.
Conclusions
This work demonstrates that a finger-worn device can provide multidimensional, objective, real-time measures for the action of scratching.
Plain language summary
Chronic itch can be caused by many medical conditions including eczema and psoriasis. Itch leads to scratching behaviors that can affect a person’s sleep, productivity, mood, and overall well-being. We developed a ring device that can be placed on a person’s finger to measure the intensity of scratching. Different types and intensities of scratching behavior could be distinguished in human volunteers. Further development of this device should enable more consistent and comprehensive measurement of scratching behaviors and help doctors and patients to better understand, and treat, chronic itch.
