Multifunctional Smart Spoon for Parkinson's: Stability Enhancement and Diagnostic Tools

This paper presents the design and development of a multifunctional self-stabilizing spoon tailored for individuals with Parkinson's disease and other motor impairments. The innovative device integrates several advanced features, including a temperature sensor and an in-built Parkinson's tap test. The stabilizing mechanism utilizes a combination of gyroscope and accelerometer sensors to detect and counteract hand tremors, ensuring that the spoon's bowl remains stable regardless of the user's involuntary movements. This functionality significantly enables users to consume without support, thereby improving their quality of life. The temperature sensor embedded in the spoon provides real-time feedback and prevents consuming edibles in a very hot state, causing burns, which is crucial for users with reduced sensory perception. Furthermore, the Parkinson's Tap test, a diagnostic tool traditionally used to assess the severity of tremors and motor control, is incorporated into the device. This diagnostic feature allows for regular, automated assessments, capturing detailed patient motor function data over time. All the data are transmitted to healthcare providers via a connected mobile application, facilitating remote monitoring and timely medical intervention. The device features two interchangeable spoon heads for liquids and solids, thus providing versatility for different types of food. The device is designed to be cost-effective by using NodeMCU ESP-32S microcontroller and MPU6050 sensors. This approach makes the device affordable to a wider section of users. Hence, this multifunctional self-stabilizing spoon empowers individuals with motor impairments to perform daily activities independently and provides a valuable tool for ongoing medical assessment and care.