Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling the symptoms of repetitive nervous system malfunction in a person such as the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and other ailments which create unwanted movement of a part of the person's body. The apparatus includes a support member to be worn on or in close proximity to a part of a patient's body effected by malfunction. The support member includes an actuator array for applying output signals to the part of the patient's body to cancel out pulse signals caused by the malfunction, to at least reduce unwanted movement of the part of patient's body. The actuator array preferably includes skin contact devices. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a detector for detecting pulses produced by the patient and which create the unwanted movement. Processing means may be used to produce an output signal which cancels those pulses. A method of treating the symptoms of repetitive nervous system malfunction is also provided.

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First Claim