Gizmos & Gadgets: A Wearable Device To Help Diagnose Balance Issues

September 18, 2016 – If you are familiar with BPPV then you want to read this? Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is a vestibular (inner ear) balance problem caused by microscopic crystals normally embedded and affixed to a permanent position becoming dislodged and migrating to the semicircular canals where they cause the cilia all kinds of problems. For those who suffer from bouts of BPPV, my wife is one, the world seemingly can turn upside down. Fortunately there are exercises one can do to try and shift the crystals back to where they belong. BPPV accounts for 8% of those who suffer from chronic dizziness.

A new, inexpensive device, about the size of a bar of soap, has been invented by a team of computer-science students at University of Politechnica of Bucharest in Romania. Called the ENTy the device can be worn on the head or back. ENTy uses its built-in accelerometer, magentometer and gyroscope plus a software algorithm to gather data which is sent to a computer database using SQL. A patient straps on the device and performs a number of exercises commonly used by physicians to test balance. The patient keeps his or her eyes closed while doing the exercises. The device provides an accurate diagnosis of dizziness and can even be used to identify Parkinson‘s Disease.

The inventors recently were awarded $50,000 U.S. by Microsoft at a competition. The product should become available for limited distribution before the end of the year.