# Ring wearable sensor use for diagnosis and monitoring of Parkinson's disease in underserved rural populations

> **NIH NIH R43** · APPLIED UNIVERSAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION · 2024 · $287,580

## Abstract

Abstract
The objective of this project is to develop an innovative ring sensor system, to be worn on the finger, for the
diagnosis and monitoring of Parkinson's disease (PD) in underserved rural populations. Rural regions of the US
have been observed to be disproportionately impacted by PD due to higher rates of diagnosis, while also lacking
access to neurologists and other allied health professionals, who are overconcentrated in urban areas with
academic medical centers. As a result, rural PwPD may be diagnosed later in the disease process and have
fewer specialty care visits which leads to increased hospitalizations, morbidity and decreased quality of life. The
proposed inexpensive, easy-to-use ring can be worn daily, adjustable to any finger and used to support both
early diagnosis and ongoing symptom management. This ring could be used as a screening tool to detect PD
and alert primary care physicians (PCP) much earlier than typical. It could also be used as a tool to aid in the
remote management of PD as movement disorder specialists could use the data to assess medication timing
and management or deep brain stimulation (DBS) programming settings. The proposed system is designed with
a rural low-income user in mind. No Internet connection or smartphone/computer technology is required.
Wearable sensors for medical use in PD patients are plagued with usability concerns, many focused on the
stigma associated with wearing them in prominent locations. They also typically require a smartphone, app
and/or Internet connectivity which may limit their applicability for rural populations. There is therefore a need for
a discreet device without the need for Internet connectivity to be useful for rural PwPD. Newly available
ultraminiature high-capacity curved battery and IMU technologies make the proposed ring technically feasible at
this time.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11231422
- **Project number:** 7R43MD018218-02
- **Recipient organization:** APPLIED UNIVERSAL DYNAMICS CORPORATION
- **Principal Investigator:** GARY D HAVEY
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $287,580
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2024-09-21 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11231422

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11231422, Ring wearable sensor use for diagnosis and monitoring of Parkinson's disease in underserved rural populations (7R43MD018218-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11231422. Licensed CC0.

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