Portable Thermal Pain Quantification With Controlled Heat Waveforms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pain assessment techniques are subjective, inaccurate, or cumbersome, and require significant electrical power, necessitating a portable, battery-powered device that can quickly and accurately quantify pain perception.

Innovation Solution

A portable heat stimulation device using a thermoelectric unit (TEU) with a controlled temperature waveform, controlled by a thermocouple or thermistor, and an H-Bridge circuit to deliver precise thermal stimuli, optionally with a heat sink for efficient heat transfer and safety features like watchdog timers and self-checks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a portable, battery-powered device is used, then device portability and ease of operation are improved, but the ability to deliver precise thermal stimuli may be limited due to power constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice portabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The device employs periodic thermal stimulation waveforms (e.g., 10-second heating cycles followed by cooling periods) rather than continuous operation. This allows the battery-powered device to deliver sufficient thermal energy for accurate pain perception measurement while minimizing overall power consumption and enabling portable operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts thermal stimulation parameters (temperature amplitude, duration, frequency) based on power availability and measurement requirements. By optimizing these parameters, the device achieves accurate quantification of pain perception with minimal energy expenditure, resolving the contradiction between portability and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If a controlled thermal stimulus waveform is applied, then measurement precision of pain perception is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional control circuits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain perception quantificationVSAvoidcontrol circuit complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates feedback control where temperature sensors continuously monitor the actual thermal stimulus delivered, and the control circuit adjusts the heating power in real-time to match the desired waveform. This feedback mechanism ensures precise pain perception measurement without requiring overly complex open-loop control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control system uses the device's own temperature sensors and processing capabilities to automatically generate and regulate the thermal stimulation waveform without external intervention. This self-service approach simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If rapid temperature changes are applied to simulate pin prick sensation, then measurement speed is improved, but risk of harmful effects to patient increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassessment speedVSAvoidpatient safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device delivers rapid thermal stimuli that quickly reach peak temperature and are maintained for a brief period before cooling, simulating the transient nature of pin prick pain. This rapid cycle completes the measurement process quickly while the controlled duration prevents harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system incorporates safety features that preemptively prevent harmful temperature levels by monitoring and limiting the maximum temperature reached during stimulation. This prior cushioning approach ensures rapid assessment is performed within safe boundaries, preventing tissue damage while maintaining measurement speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 rapid, accurate quantification of pain perception by simulating a pin prick sensation, ensuring safety and efficiency with minimal power consumption, facilitating quick assessments and comparisons to normative data.

Implementation Method 1

a portable heating device for delivering a therapeutic dose of heat to the skin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

a temperature sensor, such as a thermocouple or thermistor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSeebeck effect: Seebeck Effect

Data Source

PatentUS12539077B1Apparatus and method for using a portable thermal device to quantify pain perception

Publication Date: 2026.02.03 WR MEDICAL ELECTRONICS

AI summary

A portable heat stimulation device that can generate a heat stimulus and deliver the heat stimulus to a patient in a manner that may be useful in quantifying the patient's perception of pain.