Effects of Closed-Loop Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation on Pathological Tremors
摘要
This study explores the phase-dependent effects of closed-loop transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) on the severity of tremors in patients with essential tremor (ET). Six ET patients (ages 53–80) were recruited to test a system integrating inertial measurement units and an Arduino microcontroller for phase-specific tSCS. The protocol included delivering tSCS at eight distinct phases of the tremor cycle and a no-stimulation condition. Results indicated a trend where tSCS applied in counterphase causes opposite effects (amplification vs reduction), though differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that precise timing of tSCS may modulate tremor, highlighting the potential for personalized neuromodulation therapies. Further research is needed to confirm these results and optimize treatment strategies.