Application of high-sensitivity acceleration sensor detecting micro-mechanomyogram and deep learning for Parkinson’s disease classification

High-sensitivity acceleration sensors have been independently developed by our research group to detect vibrations that are > 10 dB smaller than those detected by conventional commercial sensors. This study is the first to measure high-frequency micro-vibrations in muscle fibers, termed micro-mechanomyogram (MMG) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PwPD) using a high-sensitivity acceleration sensor. We specifically measured the extensor pollicis brevis muscle at the base of the thumb in PwPD and healthy controls (HC) and detected not only low-frequency MMG (< 15 Hz) but also micro-MMG (≥ 15 Hz), which was preciously undetectable using commercial acceleration sensors. Analysis revealed remarkable differences in the frequency characteristics of micro-MMG between PwPD and HC. Specifically, during muscle power output, the low-frequency MMG energy was greater in PwPD than in HC, while the micro-MMG energy was smaller in PwPD compared to HC. These results suggest that micro-MMG detected by the high-sensitivity acceleration sensor provides crucial information for distinguishing between PwPD and HC. Moreover, a deep learning model trained on both low-frequency MMG and micro-MMG achieved a high accuracy (92.19%) in classifying PwPD and HC, demonstrating the potential for a diagnostic system for PwPD using micro-MMG.