Multi-Cue Unit: An independent device and actuator of a wearable system for gait-support in Parkinson patients

Impairment of gait and freezing are common symptoms in patients with Parkinson´s disease (PD). In this paper, a device to improve these symptoms by delivering auditory and somatosensory external stimuli (so-called cues) is presented. The device can be not only used independently but also as actuator of a wearable system to offer situation-dependent cueing during Freezing-episodes. Furthermore, it is possible to individually choose from a variety of settings and wearing-positions. An experiment, where the Multi-Cue Unit (MuCU) was tested and evaluated with six Parkinson-patients was set up and carried out. According to the results of the self-assessment, the MuCU is light weight and also very easy to operate. Moreover, four out of all six patients experienced a shorter FOG - episode with the wearable device and preferred the situation-dependent cueing.