Neuromodulation Programming for Remote Pain Mapping Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pain management systems rely heavily on subjective patient reports, which can be constrained by cognitive abilities and vary intra-patient, making accurate pain assessment and therapy programming challenging, especially in ambulatory settings, and there is a need for remote, accessible solutions to overcome geographic barriers.
Innovation Solution
A computer-assisted pain management system using a programming aid device that enables communication between a patient, a software-based virtual agent, and human assistants for objective pain assessment and therapy adjustment, incorporating advanced computing and networking technologies to facilitate remote neuromodulation device control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If subjective patient reports are used for pain assessment, then the system is simple to operate, but the measurement precision and reliability are reduced due to cognitive constraints and intra-patient variation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system comprising a programming aid device, virtual agent, and human assistant that mediates between the patient's subjective experience and the objective pain assessment. The virtual agent acts as a software-based intermediary that guides patients through standardized assessment protocols, while human assistants provide supervisory oversight, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring direct complex clinical evaluation
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where pain assessment data is continuously collected, analyzed, and used to adjust therapy parameters. The programming aid device receives pain information from patients, processes it through the virtual agent, and provides feedback by adjusting neuromodulation settings, creating a closed-loop system that improves assessment accuracy through iterative refinement
2Ease of operation
If remote programming is implemented to overcome geographic barriers, then the ease of operation and accessibility are improved, but the reliability and safety may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The human assistant serves as a safety intermediary in the remote programming process. While the virtual agent handles routine programming tasks remotely, the human assistant supervises the process, reviews therapy parameters, and intervenes when necessary, thereby maintaining reliability and safety while enabling remote accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables patients to perform self-assessment of their pain levels through the programming aid device and virtual agent interface. This self-service capability allows patients to initiate therapy adjustments remotely without requiring direct clinician intervention for every change, improving accessibility while maintaining safety through the supervisory framework
3Measurement precision
If multiple parties (patient, virtual agent, human assistant) are involved in therapy programming, then the measurement precision and individualization are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The programming system is segmented into distinct functional components: the programming aid device for data collection, the virtual agent for automated processing and guidance, and the human assistant for supervisory oversight. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific tasks, improving overall precision while managing complexity through modular architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The programming aid device serves multiple functions: it collects pain assessment data, communicates with the neuromodulation device, interfaces with the virtual agent, and enables remote programming. This multi-functionality consolidates several operations into a single device, improving precision through integrated data collection while reducing overall system complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
This document discusses systems, devices, and methods for computer- assisted pain or paresthesia assessment and pain management in a subject. A system includes a programming aid device including a user interface, a transceiver circuit to receive information about pain management for the patient from one or more of a software-based virtual agent (SVA) or a human assistant other than the patient, and a controller circuit to initiate and manage information exchange session between the patient and one or more of the SVA or the human assistant, via the user interface, regarding pain or paresthesia sensation and pain management. Based on the information exchange, the controller determines a stimulation setting, and generate a therapy control signal to the neuromodulation device to initiate delivery of neuromodulation energy according to the determined stimulation setting.