Project Description:

Tremors caused by neurological conditions, such as essential tremor (ET) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), affect over 10 million individuals in the United States alone. These conditions result in the loss of fine motor function that can severely interfere with daily activities such as eating, drinking, and writing. Ultimately, diminishing the quality of life of the patient. While treatment options exist, they are often either invasive (deep brain surgery) or insufficiently effective making them difficult to integrate into everyday life. There do exist non-invasive solutions, which include treatments such as peripheral nerve stimulation devices, but they tend to be bulky, indiscreet, or non-adaptive, and frequently fail to meet the diverse needs of the affected population.

To address this gap, our team developed the TAPS Sleeve, a discreet, wearable and adaptable device designed to reduce tremors through Transcutaneous Afferent Patterned Stimulation (TAPS Therapy). The sleeve integrates adaptive electrical stimulation technology into a breathable, stretchable fabric housing medical-grade electrodes, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a galvanic skin response (GSR) sensor and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery controlled by a custom microcontroller. The device applies targeted stimulation to the radial and median nerves in real-time, actively stabilizing the user’s arm to reduce tremor amplitude.

We have filed an IRB with Emory University and conducted several rounds of prototyping and testing, verifying the tunability of stimulation parameters within ±1% accuracy and confirming the discretion and comfort of the design. An invention disclosure has also been submitted, which looks to protect the integration of adaptability, usability, and discretion into sleeve .

Ultimately, the TAPS Sleeve represents a innovation in the non-invasive treatment of tremors. It provides a financially accessible, comfortable, and effective alternative to current solutions, offering strong potential for clinical adoption and commercial success in a highly underserved market.