Takei Yusuke, PhD
Competition Sponsor: Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
We propose a patch-type sensor for early detection of frailty, which evaluates muscle quality (muscle mass, muscle strength, muscle fatigue, muscle contraction speed) from a mechanomyogram generated when muscles are contracted by electrical stimulation. This sensor is expected to extend the healthy life expectancy and improve the QOL of the elderly by early detection of frailty, a gradual decline in muscle strength in the elderly, and quantitative evaluation of the process of improving frailty through muscle strength training.
Our proposal uses electrical stimulation to induce highly reproducible muscle contractions, and the contraction is measured by a mechanomyogram. Mechanomyogram is a pressure wave generated by deformation and vibration of muscle contraction. Since it is a mechanical signal, it does not interfere with electrical stimulation signals. This proposal will integrate this sensing mechanism into a patch-type shape with a diameter of less than 5 cm. The realization of this device will enable people to regularly measure and record their muscle quality not only in hospitals but also at home and is expectedto contribute to the healthy super-aging society.
This proposal aims to (1) clarify the physical mechanism of how muscle sound changes depending on muscle mass and muscle strength, (2) develop a prototype device for evaluating muscle quality based on the needs of medical institutions, and (3) conduct a demonstration experiment using the prototype device to confirm that it is possible to measure the improvement or decay of muscle strength over two years from 2020 to 2021.