US2006052720A1PendingUtilityA1

Evaluation of pain in humans

33
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Sep 3, 2004Filed: Aug 17, 2005Published: Mar 9, 2006
Est. expirySep 3, 2024(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:David RossGady Abramson
A61B 5/0053A61B 5/0057A61B 5/4035A61B 5/4528A61B 5/00A61B 5/4824A61B 5/4519
33
PatentIndex Score
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A method for evaluating pain experienced by a human is disclosed. The method includes applying a first noxious stimulus to a normative site on the human, wherein the first noxious stimulus is applied below a pain threshold of the human and logging a first information associated with the first noxious stimulus. The method further includes applying a second noxious stimulus to a source of the pain in the human, wherein the second noxious stimulus is applied until pain threshold is reached and logging a second information associated with the second noxious stimulus. The method further includes increasing the second noxious stimulus until pain tolerance is reached and logging a third information associated with the second noxious stimulus. The method further includes continuing to apply the second noxious stimulus until the human can no longer tolerate the second noxious stimulus and logging a fourth information associated with the second noxious stimulus.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for evaluating pain experienced by a human, comprising the steps of: 
 applying a first noxious stimulus to a normative site on the human, wherein the first noxious stimulus is applied below a pain threshold of the human;    logging a first information associated with the first noxious stimulus;    applying a second noxious stimulus to a source of the pain in the human, wherein the second noxious stimulus is applied until pain threshold is reached;    logging a second information associated with the second noxious stimulus;    increasing the second noxious stimulus until pain tolerance is reached;    logging a third information associated with the second noxious stimulus;    continuing to apply the second noxious stimulus until the human can no longer tolerate the second noxious stimulus; and    logging a fourth information associated with the second noxious stimulus.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 withdrawing the second noxious stimulus; and    executing all previous steps.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 determining whether the pain experienced by the human originates from biological, social or psychological factors, based on the first information, the second information, the third information and the fourth information.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first step of applying comprises: 
 applying a first noxious stimulus to a normative site on the human, wherein the noxious stimulus is applied below a pain threshold of the human and wherein the first noxious stimulus comprises any one of:    moving a portion of the human;    moving a limb of the human about a joint;    applying pressure to a portion of the human;    applying an electrical pulse to a portion of the human; and    allowing the human to push or pull with force using a portion of the human.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first step of applying is conducted for about one minute.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first information, the second information, the third information and the fourth information each comprise at least one of: 
 an angle of a portion or a limb of the human;    an amount of pressure applied to a portion of the human;    an amount of electricity applied to a portion of the human; and    an amount of pressure applied by a portion of the human.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first information, the second information, the third information and the fourth information each comprise at least one of: 
 a degree or radian value;    a first pounds-per-square-inch value;    an amperage and/or voltage value; and    a second pounds-per-square-inch value.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second step of applying comprises: 
 applying a second noxious stimulus to a source of the pain in the human, wherein the second noxious stimulus is applied until pain threshold is reached and wherein the second noxious stimulus comprises any one of:    moving a portion of the human;    moving a limb of the human about a joint;    applying pressure to a portion of the human;    applying an electrical pulse to a portion of the human; and    allowing the human to push or pull with force using a portion of the human.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second step of applying further comprises: 
 applying a second noxious stimulus to a source of the pain in the human, wherein the second noxious stimulus is applied until pain threshold is reached by observing a reaction of the human, wherein the reaction of the human includes at least one of:    a motor response;    a verbal response;    a vocal response;    a social response; and    efforts to conceal or suppress external signs of pain.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second step of applying is conducted for about five seconds.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of increasing comprises: 
 increasing the second noxious stimulus until pain tolerance is reached by observing a reaction of the human, wherein the reaction of the human includes at least one of:    a motor response;    a verbal response;    a vocal response;    a social response; and    efforts to conceal or suppress external signs of pain.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of increasing is conducted for about five seconds.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of continuing comprises: 
 continuing to apply the second noxious stimulus until observing a reaction of the human indicating the human can no longer tolerate the second noxious stimulus, wherein the reaction of the human includes at least one of:    a motor response;    a verbal response;    a vocal response;    a social response; and    efforts to conceal or suppress external signs of pain.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of continuing is conducted for about five seconds.  
     
     
         15 . A system for evaluating pain experienced by a human, comprising: 
 a measuring apparatus for measuring information associated with a first and second noxious stimulus applied to a human, wherein the first noxious stimulus is applied to a normative site on the human below a pain threshold of the human, the second noxious stimulus is applied to a source of the pain in the human until pain threshold is reached, the second noxious stimulus is applied until pain tolerance is reached and the second noxious stimulus is applied until the human can no longer tolerate the noxious stimulus; and    a data storage device for storing a first information from the measuring apparatus when the first noxious stimulus is applied below a pain threshold, storing a second information from the measuring apparatus when the second noxious stimulus is applied at pain threshold, storing a third information from the measuring apparatus when the second noxious stimulus is applied at pain tolerance, and storing a fourth information from the measuring apparatus when the human can no longer tolerate the second noxious stimulus.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 an information processing system for determining whether the pain experienced by the human originates from biological, social or psychological factors, based on the first information, the second information, the third information and the fourth information.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the measuring apparatus is an inclinometer for measuring an angle of a portion or a limb of the human.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the first information, the second information, the third information and the fourth information each comprise an angle of a portion or a limb of the human.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the measuring apparatus is an algometer for measuring an amount of pressure applied to a portion of the human.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first information, the second information, the third information and the fourth information each comprise an amount of pressure applied to a portion of the human.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first information, the second information, the third information and the fourth information each comprise an amount of pressure applied by a portion of the human.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the measuring apparatus is an electric multi-meter.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the first information, the second information, the third information and the fourth information each comprise an amount of electricity applied to a portion of the human.  
     
     
         24 . An information processing system for evaluating pain experienced by a human, comprising: 
 a receiver for receiving a first information from a measuring apparatus for measuring information associated with a first and second noxious stimulus applied to a human, wherein the first noxious stimulus is applied to a normative site on the human below a pain threshold of the human, receiving a second information from the measuring apparatus when the second noxious stimulus is applied to a source of the pain in the human at pain threshold, receiving a third information from the measuring apparatus when the second noxious stimulus is applied at pain tolerance, and receiving a fourth information from the measuring apparatus when the human can no longer tolerate the second noxious stimulus;    a data storage device for storing the first information, the second information, the third information and the fourth information; and    a processor configured for determining whether the pain experienced by the human originates from biological, social or psychological factors, based on the first information, the second information, the third information and the fourth information.    
     
     
         25 . The information processing system of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 a display for displaying a result of the step of determining whether the pain experienced by the human originates from biological, social or psychological factors.    
     
     
         26 . The information processing system of  claim 24 , wherein the measuring apparatus is an inclinometer for measuring an angle of a portion or a limb of the human.  
     
     
         27 . The information processing system of  claim 26 , wherein the first information, the second information, the third information and the fourth information each comprise an angle of a portion or a limb of the human.  
     
     
         28 . The information processing system of  claim 24 , wherein the measuring apparatus is an algometer for measuring an amount of pressure applied to a portion of the human.  
     
     
         29 . The information processing system of  claim 28 , wherein the first information, the second information, the third information and the fourth information each comprise an amount of pressure applied to a portion of the human.  
     
     
         30 . The information processing system of  claim 28 , wherein the first information, the second information, the third information and the fourth information each comprise an amount of pressure applied by a portion of the human.  
     
     
         31 . The information processing system of  claim 24 , wherein the measuring apparatus is an electric multi-meter.  
     
     
         32 . The information processing system of  claim 31 , wherein the first information, the second information, the third information and the fourth information each comprise an amount of electricity applied to a portion of the human.

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