Pain assessment method and system
First Claim
1. A method for determining an effect of a drug on pain experienced by a patient, the method comprising:
- using a camera to capture positional information of at least one visible facial feature from the patient;
comparing, using a processor of a pain assessment system, the positional information of the at least one visible facial feature to predetermined data for the at least one visible facial feature to determine reference information that is indicative of a reference level of the pain experienced by the patient;
after administering the drug to the patient using the camera to capture second information indicative of the at least one visible facial feature from the patient;
comparing, using the processor, the second information to the predetermined data for the at least one visible facial feature to determine pain indicating information associated with a level of pain experienced by the patient after administering the drug to the patient;
comparing, using the processor, the pain indicating information with the reference information to determine the effect of the drug on the pain experienced by the patient; and
providing an alternative treatment to the patient for the pain experienced by the patient in response to determining that the effect of the drug is below a predetermined threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a method for determining an effect of a drug on pain experienced by a patient. The method comprises providing reference information concerning at least one visible and/or audible feature that is indicative of a level of the pain. The method further comprises capturing information indicative of the at least one visible and/or audible feature, respectively, from the patient comprising observing the patient directly or indirectly after administering the drug to the patient. In addition, the method comprises determining pain indicating information associated with a level of pain experienced by the patient using the captured information. The method also comprises comparing the pain indicating information with the provided reference information to determine the effect of the drug on the pain experienced by the patient.
22 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for determining an effect of a drug on pain experienced by a patient, the method comprising:
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using a camera to capture positional information of at least one visible facial feature from the patient; comparing, using a processor of a pain assessment system, the positional information of the at least one visible facial feature to predetermined data for the at least one visible facial feature to determine reference information that is indicative of a reference level of the pain experienced by the patient; after administering the drug to the patient using the camera to capture second information indicative of the at least one visible facial feature from the patient; comparing, using the processor, the second information to the predetermined data for the at least one visible facial feature to determine pain indicating information associated with a level of pain experienced by the patient after administering the drug to the patient; comparing, using the processor, the pain indicating information with the reference information to determine the effect of the drug on the pain experienced by the patient; and providing an alternative treatment to the patient for the pain experienced by the patient in response to determining that the effect of the drug is below a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A pain assessment system comprising:
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an interface for receiving positional information concerning at least one visible facial feature that is indicative of a reference level of pain, and for receiving second information indicative of the at least one visible facial feature of a patient after administering a drug to the patient, the at least one visible facial feature being capable of indicating a pain level experienced by the patient, wherein the positional information and second information indicative of at least one visible facial feature of the patient are captured using a camera; and a processor arranged to; compare the positional information to predetermined data for the at least one visible facial feature to determine reference information that is indicative of the reference level of the pain experienced by the patient, compare the received second information to the predetermined data for the at least one visible facial feature to determine pain indicating information associated with a level of pain experienced by the patient, compare the determined pain indicating information with the reference information such that an effect of the drug on the pain experienced by the patient can be determined, and determine an alternative treatment to the patient based on the determined effect of the drug on the pain experienced by the patient being below a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification