fNIRS Pain Detection via Hemoglobin Concentration Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for detecting patient pain during medical procedures, especially under sedation, are inadequate due to the difficulty in administering precise anesthetic doses and the limitations of equipment like fMRI, which is costly and not always available.

Innovation Solution

The use of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) systems to monitor brain hemodynamic responses, specifically measuring changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in cortical regions, allowing for pain detection in non-responsive patients through imaging data analysis and comparison with predetermined pain patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If fMRI is used to capture brain activity associated with pain, then pain detection capability is improved, but equipment availability and operating cost worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain detection capabilityVSAvoidequipment availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses fNIRS as a simplified copy or alternative to fMRI for measuring brain activity related to pain. Instead of requiring complex magnetic resonance imaging equipment, the system uses near-infrared spectroscopy to measure hemodynamic changes in the brain, providing a comparable but more accessible solution for pain detection during medical procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The fNIRS system represents a cost-effective alternative to expensive fMRI equipment. The patent describes a portable, relatively inexpensive system that can be deployed in clinical settings without requiring the large, costly infrastructure of an fMRI scanner, making pain monitoring more widely accessible

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Measurement precision

If fMRI is used to capture brain activity associated with pain, then pain detection capability is improved, but equipment size and operating cost worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain detection capabilityVSAvoidequipment physical size

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the complex mechanical and electromagnetic system of fMRI with a simpler optical system (fNIRS). The near-infrared spectroscopy system uses light absorption properties of hemoglobin to measure brain activity, substituting the bulky superconducting magnets and RF coils of fMRI with compact optical sources and detectors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If patient behaviors such as grimacing, moaning, or movement are used to indicate pain, then pain assessment is possible, but reliability worsens under sedation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain assessment capabilityVSAvoidpain indicator reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary physiological measure (cerebral hemodynamic response) that mediates between the pain stimulus and the observable behavioral responses. By measuring changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in the brain, the system provides an objective indicator of pain processing that is not confounded by sedation-induced suppression of behavioral responses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces reliance on mechanical/behavioral responses (grimacing, moaning, movement) with a physiological measurement system (fNIRS) that directly measures brain activity. This substitution provides a more reliable indicator of pain that works independently of the patient's ability to exhibit or control behavioral responses, even under sedation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables continuous monitoring of pain during medical procedures, improving intraoperative comfort and reducing postoperative pain by providing a non-invasive, cost-effective, and portable method for pain assessment and anesthetic regimen adjustment.

Implementation Method 1

a functional near-infrared spectroscopy system is utilized as the imaging system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNear-infrared spectroscopy: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

measuring changes in the relative concentration of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in the cortex

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHemoglobin light absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS10806395B2Pain detection system and method utilizing near-infrared spectroscopy

Publication Date: 2020.10.20 CHILDRENS MEDICAL CENT CORP

AI summary

Disclosed is a pain detection system and method. Preferred methods include capturing imaging data from patient using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. In methods of the invention, pain may be assessed from a non-responsive patient. Preferred methods may further include measuring hemodynamic parameters using the optical imaging data and averaging the measured hemodynamic parameters to reduce background noise. Additionally, a pattern in the averaged hemodynamic parameters is identified and the pattern is compared to a predetermined associated with patient pain. The method further includes detecting, by the processor, a similarity between the pattern and the predetermined pattern and outputting a signal indicating patient pain.