Pain diagnosis system for neuropathic pain based on virtual reality

Abstract

The present invention relates to a virtual reality-based pain diagnosis system for neuropathic pain, and the purpose thereof is to accurately diagnose intractable neuropathic pain in which even if there is no direct skin contact or there is extremely slight skin contact, it is possible to feel severe pain or to cause a reflex pain response due to a psychological shadow. Namely, the present invention configures a pain diagnosis system for neuropathic pain on the basis of virtual reality, in which virtual pain is applied to a patient in a non-contact manner in a fully immersive state on the basis of augmented reality, and the response to the stimulation of the virtual pain is measured. Therefore, the present invention has an effect of accurately diagnosing intractable neuropathic pain in which a patient can feel severe pain even without direct skin contact or even with extremely slight skin contact, or a reflex pain reaction due to a psychological shadow occurs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a pain diagnosis system for neuropathic pain based on virtual reality, and more specifically, to a pain diagnosis system for neuropathic pain based on virtual reality that applies stimulation to patients with intractable neuropathic pain who experience hyperesthesia, paresthesia, and reflexive pain responses in a fully immersive state based on extended reality (XR), and measures their responses. The system aims to accurately diagnose physical pain caused by skin contact, as well as intractable neuropathic pain where even extremely slight skin contact can cause severe pain or reflexive pain responses due to psychological trauma.

[0002] On the other hand, the pain diagnosis system for neuropathic pain based on virtual reality of the present invention includes: a pain detection imaging unit that images the pain caused by the detected virtual stimulation applied by the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit so that the diagnostician can visually confirm it; a contact virtual stimulation pain analysis unit that compares and analyzes the pain detected by the pain detection unit with the stimulation applied by the contact virtual stimulation unit; a non-contact immersive virtual stimulation pain analysis unit that receives and analyzes the pain induced by the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation applied to the diagnostician by the pain detection unit; and a pain diagnosis unit and a pain trend prediction unit that compare and analyze the pain induced by the virtual stimulation applied by the contact virtual stimulation unit and the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit, and can perform deep learning analysis on the pain and trend caused by the stimulation to the diagnostician. The detailed objective of the present invention is to diagnose and analyze the pain and pain trend caused by skin contact and non-contact stimulation to the diagnostician through deep learning. Background Technology

[0003] Generally speaking, neuropathic pain refers to neuralgia caused by damage or functional abnormalities of the nervous system, developing from peripheral pain through central sensitization into intractable chronic pain. This is a pain syndrome whose chronic and persistent nature significantly reduces the quality of life for patients suffering from it. This includes not only the pain itself, but also emotional disorders such as sleep disturbances and depression, as well as social problems such as reduced productivity due to decreased social adaptability.

[0004] This type of neuropathic pain is caused by nerve damage due to injury or medical problems, and the cause is unknown.

[0005] The diagnostic methods for neuropathic pain mentioned above include the McGill Pain Questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADL Scale), Neuropathic Pain Scale, neurological examination, sensory nervous system examination, and various functional examinations of brain neurographs. Most of these are diagnostic methods that involve direct contact with the skin.

[0006] Previous diagnostic methods for neuropathic pain primarily relied on direct skin contact with mechanical or electrical stimulation. However, mechanical stimulation may be impossible to apply to patients with neuropathic pain. Intractable neuropathic pain, in particular, can cause severe pain even without direct skin contact or with extremely slight skin contact, or may involve reflexive pain responses due to psychological trauma, making accurate diagnosis currently challenging.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need to develop a diagnostic technique that utilizes immersive, non-contact mixed reality stimulation to create the illusion that patients are actually being stimulated, even without direct skin contact.

[0008] Existing technical documents Patent documents Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2019-0050833 Summary of the Invention

[0009] In this regard, the present invention aims to solve the problem that non-contact mixed reality stimuli cannot be used to correctly diagnose intractable neuropathic pain, in which severe pain is felt even without direct skin contact or with extremely slight skin contact, or in which a reflexive pain response is generated due to psychological trauma.

[0010] That is, the present invention is characterized by a pain diagnosis system for neuropathic pain based on virtual reality, which applies non-contact virtual pain stimulation to a patient and measures their response in a fully immersive state based on extended reality.

[0011] The present invention is characterized in that a pain diagnosis system for neuropathic pain based on virtual reality includes: a virtual stimulation image data unit capable of storing virtual stimulation images for displaying virtual stimulation images for non-contact immersive virtual stimulation on an extended reality display unit of a non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit; a pain detection unit capable of detecting pain induced in a patient by virtual stimulation applied by the aforementioned non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit; a pain detection imaging unit capable of imaging the pain detected by the aforementioned pain detection unit so that a diagnostician can visually confirm it; an extended reality display unit capable of displaying the detected pain imaged by the aforementioned pain detection imaging unit in extended reality; and a non-contact immersive virtual stimulation pain analysis unit capable of comparing and analyzing the pain detected by the aforementioned pain detection unit with the stimulation applied by the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit; and a non-contact immersive virtual stimulation pain analysis unit capable of comparing and analyzing the pain detected by the aforementioned pain detection unit with the stimulation applied by the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit. The immersive virtual stimulation pain data unit can store pain data detected by the pain detection unit and analysis data analyzed by the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation pain analysis unit; the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation pain analysis unit can receive and analyze the pain induced by the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation applied to the diagnostician by the pain detection unit; the pain trend prediction unit can compare and analyze the pain induced by the virtual stimulation applied by the contact virtual stimulation unit and the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit to perform deep learning analysis on the pain trend caused by the diagnostician's stimulation; and the pain diagnosis unit can compare and analyze the pain induced by the virtual stimulation applied by the contact virtual stimulation unit and the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit to perform deep learning analysis on the pain caused by the diagnostician's stimulation and diagnose the pain.

[0012] The present invention is characterized by including: an image response calculation pain image selection unit, which provides virtual stimulus image related images to the diagnostician via an extended reality display unit, thereby selecting virtual stimulus images sensitive to the diagnostician's response sensitivity for stimulation of virtual stimulus images provided by a non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit, sensing changes in heart rate in the virtual stimulus image related images provided to the diagnostician, and extracting virtual stimulus images related to virtual stimulus images that increase the heart rate to the maximum to a virtual stimulus image data unit for provision to the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit.

[0013] Therefore, the advantage of the present invention lies in that, by including a non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit that induces virtual stimulation to a patient in an extended reality state using a non-contact method, a non-contact immersive virtual stimulation pain analysis unit that can receive and analyze the pain induced by the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation applied to the diagnostician by the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit through a pain detection unit, and a pain diagnosis unit and a pain trend prediction unit that can compare and analyze the pain induced by the virtual stimulation applied by the aforementioned contact virtual stimulation unit and non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit, and perform deep learning analysis on the pain and trend caused by the stimulation to the diagnostician, it is possible to correctly diagnose intractable neuropathic pain that can be felt even without direct skin contact or with extremely slight skin contact, or that can be caused by reflexive pain reactions due to psychological trauma. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 3 This is a virtual example diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 4 This is a demonstration example and signal processing flowchart of the present invention.

[0018] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures 110: Non-contact immersive virtual stimulation department 120: Virtual Stimulation Imaging Data Department 130: Pain Detection Department 140: Pain imaging unit 150: Extended Reality Display Unit 160: Non-contact immersive virtual stimulation pain data department 170: Non-contact immersive virtual stimulation pain analysis department 180: Image Response Calculation Pain Image Selection Section 200: Pain Trend Prediction Department 210: Pain Diagnosis Department Detailed Implementation

[0019] The following is a detailed description based on the accompanying drawings.

[0020] This invention can accurately diagnose intractable neuropathic pain that can cause severe pain even without direct skin contact or with extremely slight skin contact, or that can cause a reflexive pain response due to psychological trauma. The terms or vocabulary used in this specification and claims shall not be interpreted in their conventional or dictionary sense. In order to best describe their invention, the inventors have adhered to the principle of appropriately defining the concepts of terms and they shall be interpreted in the sense and concept that are consistent with the technical idea of ​​this invention.

[0021] Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the structures shown in the accompanying drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all the technical ideas of the present invention. It should be understood that there are many equivalent solutions and modifications that can replace these in view of this application.

[0022] That is, the present invention has a pain diagnosis system for neuropathic pain based on virtual reality that can stimulate virtual pain and measure its response in a fully immersive state based on extended reality through a non-contact method.

[0023] The aforementioned virtual reality-based pain diagnosis system includes: a non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit 110, a virtual stimulation image data unit 120, a pain detection unit 130, a pain detection imaging unit 140, an extended reality display unit 150, a non-contact immersive virtual stimulation pain data unit 160, a non-contact immersive virtual stimulation pain analysis unit 170, an image response calculation pain image selection unit 180, a pain trend prediction unit 200, and a pain diagnosis unit 210.

[0024] The aforementioned non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit 110 can induce non-contact immersive virtual stimulation for the diagnostician through the extended reality display unit.

[0025] The aforementioned non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit 110 provides the diagnostician with phantom pain stimuli such as rubber hand phantom pain or hot grill phantom pain.

[0026] Furthermore, the aforementioned virtual stimulation image data unit 120 can store virtual stimulation images to display virtual stimulation images for non-contact immersive virtual stimulation on the extended reality display unit of the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit.

[0027] The aforementioned virtual stimulation image data unit 120 provides the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit with stored virtual stimulation images such as rubber hand phantom pain images or hot grill phantom pain images.

[0028] Furthermore, the pain detection unit 130 can detect pain induced in the patient by virtual stimulation applied through contact with the virtual stimulation unit.

[0029] The aforementioned pain detection unit 130 detects brain waves, cerebral blood flow, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and skin temperature at predetermined intervals.

[0030] The pain signal sensed by the pain detection unit 130 is adjusted through signal synchronization, noise cancellation, and output embedding.

[0031] Furthermore, the pain detection imaging unit 140 described above images the pain detected by the pain detection unit so that the diagnostician can visually confirm it.

[0032] Furthermore, the aforementioned extended reality display unit 150 can display the detected pain imaged by the pain detection imaging unit through extended reality display.

[0033] Furthermore, the aforementioned non-contact immersive virtual stimulation pain analysis unit 170 can receive and analyze the pain induced by the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation applied to the diagnostician by the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit through the pain detection unit.

[0034] Furthermore, the pain trend prediction unit 200 can compare and analyze the pain induced by virtual stimulation applied through contact virtual stimulation unit and non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit, and perform deep learning analysis on the pain trend caused by the diagnostician's stimulation.

[0035] Furthermore, the pain diagnosis unit 210 described above can compare and analyze the pain induced by virtual stimulation applied through a contact virtual stimulation unit and a non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit, and perform deep learning analysis on the pain caused by the diagnostician's stimulation to diagnose the pain.

[0036] On the other hand, in the implementation of the present invention, an image response calculation pain image selection unit 180 may be included, which provides the diagnostician with virtual stimulation image related images associated with virtual stimulation images through the extended reality display unit 150. For the virtual stimulation images of non-contact immersive virtual stimulation provided by the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit 110, virtual stimulation images that are sensitive to the diagnostician's response sensitivity are selected for stimulation, and the heart rate change of the virtual stimulation image related images provided to the diagnostician is sensed. The virtual stimulation images related to the virtual stimulation image related images that increase the heart rate to the maximum are extracted to the virtual stimulation image data unit 120 and provided to the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit 110.

[0037] The effects of applicable implementations of the present invention will be described below.

[0038] As described above, a virtual reality-based neuropathic pain diagnosis system is constructed that stimulates virtual pain and measures the response in a fully immersive state based on extended reality. This virtual reality-based neuropathic pain diagnosis system includes: a non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit 110, which induces virtual stimulation to the diagnostician through skin contact; a pain detection unit 130, which detects the pain induced in the patient by the virtual stimulation applied by the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit; a pain detection imaging unit 140, which images the pain detected by the pain detection unit so that the diagnostician can visually confirm it; an extended reality display unit 150, which displays the detected pain imaged by the pain detection imaging unit via extended reality; and a non-contact immersive virtual stimulation pain analysis unit 170, which receives the non-contact stimulation applied to the diagnostician by the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit via the pain detection unit. The invention includes a pain detection unit 120, which stores virtual stimulation images and displays them on an extended reality display unit for non-contact immersive virtual stimulation; a pain trend prediction unit 200, which compares and analyzes pain induced by virtual stimulation applied through the contact and non-contact immersive virtual stimulation units, and performs deep learning analysis on the pain trend caused by the diagnostician's stimulation; and a pain diagnosis unit 210, which compares and analyzes pain induced by virtual stimulation applied through the contact and non-contact immersive virtual stimulation units, performs deep learning analysis on the pain caused by the diagnostician's stimulation, and diagnoses pain. If this invention is implemented, deep learning can be used to diagnose and analyze pain and pain trends caused by skin contact and non-contact stimulation in the diagnostician.

Claims

1. A pain diagnosis system for neuropathic pain based on virtual reality, characterized in that, This constitutes a virtual reality-based pain diagnosis system for neuropathic pain, which applies virtual pain to patients in a fully immersive state based on extended reality and measures their response to the virtual pain stimulus.

2. The pain diagnosis system for neuropathic pain based on virtual reality according to claim 1, characterized in that, The virtual reality-based pain diagnosis system for neuropathic pain includes: The non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit can induce virtual stimulation in patients in an extended reality state through non-contact methods; The pain detection unit is capable of detecting pain induced in the patient by virtual stimulation applied through the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit; The pain detection imaging unit images the pain detected by the pain detection unit so that the diagnostician can visually confirm it. An extended reality display unit is capable of detecting pain by imaging the pain detection imaging unit through an extended reality display. The non-contact immersive virtual stimulation pain analysis unit is capable of receiving and analyzing the pain induced by the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation applied to the diagnostician by the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit through the pain detection unit. The non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit can induce non-contact immersive virtual stimulation to the diagnostician through the extended reality display unit. The pain trend prediction unit is capable of comparing and analyzing the pain induced by virtual stimulation applied through the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit, and performing deep learning analysis on the pain trend caused by the diagnostician's stimulation; and The pain diagnosis unit is capable of comparing and analyzing pain induced by virtual stimulation applied through the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit, in order to perform deep learning analysis on the pain caused by the diagnostic's stimulation and diagnose the pain.

3. The pain diagnosis system for neuropathic pain based on virtual reality according to claim 2, characterized in that, Also includes: The virtual stimulation image data unit is capable of storing virtual stimulation images for displaying on the extended reality display unit of the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit for the virtual stimulation.

4. The pain diagnosis system for neuropathic pain based on virtual reality according to claim 2, characterized in that, Also includes: The image response calculation pain image selection unit provides the diagnostician with virtual stimulus image related images through the extended reality display unit. For virtual stimulus images provided by the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit, it selects virtual stimulus images that are sensitive to the diagnostician's response sensitivity and senses changes in heart rate in the virtual stimulus image related images provided to the diagnostician. The virtual stimulus image related to the virtual stimulus image that increases the heart rate to the maximum is extracted to the virtual stimulus image data unit and provided to the non-contact immersive virtual stimulation unit.

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