Subsurface Tissue Imaging for Early Pain Onset Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting early pain onset are subjective and rely on surface measurements, which are delayed and non-linear due to sweat reabsorption, making them ineffective for timely and accurate pain assessment.
Innovation Solution
The method involves analyzing representations of subsurface tissue, such as microwave or thermal images, to detect pain features indicative of pain onset, allowing for quicker and more sensitive detection of pain before it reaches the skin surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If surface tissue measurement is used to detect pain onset, then the measurement can be performed at the skin surface, but the detection is delayed due to sweat reabsorption and non-linear response
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of measuring sweat at the skin surface (conventional approach), the patent inverts the measurement location to subsurface tissue. By using imaging techniques to detect sweat gland activity beneath the skin surface, the system captures pain-related physiological changes before sweat reaches the surface and undergoes reabsorption, thereby eliminating detection latency and non-linear response issues.
2Reliability
If electrodes are used for electrodermal activity measurement, then objective pain measurement can be achieved, but the device complexity increases and requires direct skin contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical electrode-based measurement system with an optical/imaging-based system. Instead of using electrodes to measure electrodermal activity, the invention uses imaging techniques (such as optical coherence tomography or other subsurface imaging methods) to visually detect and measure sweat gland activity and subsurface tissue changes, thereby eliminating the need for electrodes and direct skin contact while maintaining objective measurement capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If self-report questionnaires are used for pain assessment, then the measurement method is simple, but the measurement is subjective and cannot be performed continuously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the tissue to 'self-report' its physiological state through naturally occurring sweat gland activity and subsurface tissue changes that occur in response to pain. By imaging these self-generated physiological markers, the system obtains objective pain measurement data without requiring the subject to actively report or interact with the measurement device, thereby combining simplicity with objectivity.
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
This approach enables rapid detection of pain onset, potentially before the subject feels pain, and eliminates the need for electrodes, providing a more reliable and efficient method for pain assessment.
Implementation Method 1
analysing a representation of subsurface tissue of the subject
Implementation Method 2
analysing a representation of subsurface tissue of the subject, such as microwave or thermal images
Data Source
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AI summary
Proposed concepts thus aim to provide schemes, solutions, concept, designs, methods and systems pertaining to indicating onset of pain in a subject. In particular, embodiments aim to provide a method for indicating onset of pain in a subject. This can be achieved by analysing a representation of subsurface tissue of the subject to detect one or more pain features indicative of onset of pain in the subject. From the one or more pain features, an indication of (past, present, or future) pain onset in the subject can be determined.