A smart pen prototype with adaptive algorithms for stabilizing handwriting tremor signals in Parkinson’s disease

Abstract This study presents a smart pen prototype designed to dynamically mitigate hand tremors, thereby enhancing writing quality and user comfort for individuals with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. The device employs an accelerometer for real-time tremor detection, a microcontroller for...

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Main Authors: Jéssica Cristina Tironi, Anita Fernandes, Renata Coelho Borges, Luis Augusto Silva, Wemerson Delcio Parreira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14196-5
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author Jéssica Cristina Tironi
Anita Fernandes
Renata Coelho Borges
Luis Augusto Silva
Wemerson Delcio Parreira
author_facet Jéssica Cristina Tironi
Anita Fernandes
Renata Coelho Borges
Luis Augusto Silva
Wemerson Delcio Parreira
author_sort Jéssica Cristina Tironi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study presents a smart pen prototype designed to dynamically mitigate hand tremors, thereby enhancing writing quality and user comfort for individuals with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. The device employs an accelerometer for real-time tremor detection, a microcontroller for rapid data processing, and a vibration motor to counteract tremor effects. Adaptive algorithms—including Fx-LMS, Fx-NLMS, a combined Fx-LMS/NLMS approach, RLS, and the Kalman Filter—were evaluated using signals from the NewHandPD dataset. Simulation results revealed that although the RLS algorithm achieved the lowest mean square error, the Kalman Filter converged approximately eight times faster, a finding that was confirmed through microcontroller tests and further validated on an orbital shaking table under constant and variable tremor conditions. These outcomes underscore the potential of the Kalman Filter as a non-invasive, adaptive solution for real-time tremor mitigation in assistive writing devices. Future improvements may include integrating additional sensors and further optimizing microcontroller performance to enhance overall adaptability and accuracy.
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issn 2045-2322
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publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-6ba73bb2d3d24263a5888fa51c57232c2025-08-20T03:05:18ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-14196-5A smart pen prototype with adaptive algorithms for stabilizing handwriting tremor signals in Parkinson’s diseaseJéssica Cristina Tironi0Anita Fernandes1Renata Coelho Borges2Luis Augusto Silva3Wemerson Delcio Parreira4Polytechnic School, University of Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI)Polytechnic School, University of Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI)Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering (PPGEB), Federal University of Technology – Paraná (UTFPR)Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Science, Universidad de SalamancaFaculty of Electrical Engineering, Polytechnic School, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas (PUC-Campinas)Abstract This study presents a smart pen prototype designed to dynamically mitigate hand tremors, thereby enhancing writing quality and user comfort for individuals with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. The device employs an accelerometer for real-time tremor detection, a microcontroller for rapid data processing, and a vibration motor to counteract tremor effects. Adaptive algorithms—including Fx-LMS, Fx-NLMS, a combined Fx-LMS/NLMS approach, RLS, and the Kalman Filter—were evaluated using signals from the NewHandPD dataset. Simulation results revealed that although the RLS algorithm achieved the lowest mean square error, the Kalman Filter converged approximately eight times faster, a finding that was confirmed through microcontroller tests and further validated on an orbital shaking table under constant and variable tremor conditions. These outcomes underscore the potential of the Kalman Filter as a non-invasive, adaptive solution for real-time tremor mitigation in assistive writing devices. Future improvements may include integrating additional sensors and further optimizing microcontroller performance to enhance overall adaptability and accuracy.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14196-5Kalman FiltersParkinson’s diseasePen prototypeTremor mitigationAdaptive control
spellingShingle Jéssica Cristina Tironi
Anita Fernandes
Renata Coelho Borges
Luis Augusto Silva
Wemerson Delcio Parreira
A smart pen prototype with adaptive algorithms for stabilizing handwriting tremor signals in Parkinson’s disease
Scientific Reports
Kalman Filters
Parkinson’s disease
Pen prototype
Tremor mitigation
Adaptive control
title A smart pen prototype with adaptive algorithms for stabilizing handwriting tremor signals in Parkinson’s disease
title_full A smart pen prototype with adaptive algorithms for stabilizing handwriting tremor signals in Parkinson’s disease
title_fullStr A smart pen prototype with adaptive algorithms for stabilizing handwriting tremor signals in Parkinson’s disease
title_full_unstemmed A smart pen prototype with adaptive algorithms for stabilizing handwriting tremor signals in Parkinson’s disease
title_short A smart pen prototype with adaptive algorithms for stabilizing handwriting tremor signals in Parkinson’s disease
title_sort smart pen prototype with adaptive algorithms for stabilizing handwriting tremor signals in parkinson s disease
topic Kalman Filters
Parkinson’s disease
Pen prototype
Tremor mitigation
Adaptive control
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14196-5
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