In the Nemo project, ZiuZ Medical is attempting to develop a computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) tool to help distinguish movement disorders from each other, in collaboration with the expertise centre for movement disorders of the UMCG. This is being done by recording patients with 3D video cameras, accelerometry and muscle activation sensors.
In February 2019, they started the first measurements for the pilot study, with the aim of optimising the data collection protocol. This data is also being used to develop and train a first algorithm. The first phase of the project was completed in mid-August. They analysed twelve healthy control subjects and fourteen patients with a movement disorder. The collected data provides an insight into the possibilities for the development of the CAD tool and the continuation of the data collection.
Meanwhile, they have started the next phase of the research. Before the end of this year, they will have measured a total of 60 patients with a movement disorder (myoclonus, tremor or dystopia), and 20 control subjects in order to further train the algorithm. In this phase, they will also make brain scans so that they can investigate whether certain movement disorders also cause changes in the brain. They have now examined eight patients and six control subjects. Parallel to these measurements, the algorithm will be developed and trained.
With this research, ZiuZ and the UMCG want to contribute to distinguishing three rare movement disorders that are difficult to distinguish from each other, so that the patient receives the best treatment.
NEMO is co-financed by grants from the European Union: European Regional Development Fund (via SNN) and the province of Friesland.