MULTIMODAL AUTOMATED SENSORY TESTING SYSTEM

• US 20110082384A1
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Inventors: Kruger, Grant H., Clauw, Daniel, Harte, Steven E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,307,906 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/557
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0053 by applying pressure, e.g. compression, indentation, palpation, grasping, gauging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4824 Touch or pain perception evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4827 assessing touch sensitivity, e.g. for evaluation of pain threshold

Abstract

A computer-controlled sensory testing system is disclosed that can be used to further pain research and aid in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of pain syndromes. The system includes actuators to deliver pressure/deformation (strain), auditory, olfactory, and other stimuli to a subject. The system includes software to control the delivery of the stimuli. The system is further operable to receive feedback regarding the stimuli received.

Claims

1. A stimulator system for stimulating a portion of a subject comprising:

a housing having,

a stimulation site accessible through an aperture and passage in the housing;

a transducer member associated with a drive system, wherein the transducer is moveable by the drive system at least toward the stimulation site through a drive aperture in the housing, wherein the transducer member is positioned to at least apply pressure on at least the portion of the subject and bias the portion of the subject against the stimulation site;

a power source coupled to the drive system;

a controller operably coupled to the drive system;

a communication system coupled to the controller;

an input system on the housing for sending at least one signal to the controller.

2. The stimulator system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display located on the surface of the housing or remote from the housing for displaying signals provided by the controller.

3. The stimulator system of claim 1, further comprising:

a central processor operable to communicate with the controller in the housing;

wherein the central processor is operable to send signals via the communication system to automatically apply pressure to the portion of the subject according to a pre-determined procedure.

4. The stimulator system of claim 3, further comprising:

a memory system including stored software incorporating the pre-determined procedure;

wherein an operator is able to access the memory and select the stored software.

5. The stimulator system of claim 3, further comprising:

at least one of an auditory stimulator, an appendage stimulator, a chew stimulator, an olfactory stimulator, and a visual stimulator;

wherein the least one of the auditory stimulator, the appendage stimulator, the chew stimulator, the olfactory stimulator, and the visual stimulator is operable to receive a signal from the central processor to stimulate the subject in addition to or alternatively to the transducer member.

6. The stimulator system of claim 1, wherein the drive system comprises:

an electric motor powered by a battery housed within the housing; and

a rack and pinion assembly that converts rotational movement of the electric motor to linear movement;

wherein the transducer member is associated with the rack and pinion system.

7. The stimulator system of claim 1, wherein the communication system is wireless.

8. The stimulator system of claim 1,

wherein the portion of the subject is a digit of the subject;

wherein the housing is portable by a user and graspable by a single hand of the subject with the digit of the subject at the stimulation site.

9. A method of measuring pain of a subject, comprising:

providing a processor operable to execute instructions to apply a stimulus to a subject;

accessing and executing a stored program by the provided processor to transmit a signal to a stimulator system;

initiating operation the stimulator system;

operating the stimulator system, after the initiation of the stimulator system, automatically and based on the executed program and signal transmitted to the stimulator system; and

receiving feedback from the subject based on operation of the stimulator system.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

providing the stimulator system as a pressure/strain stimulator system having a housing that is designed to be gripped by a hand of the subject; and

placing at least one digit of the hand on a digit placement site defined by the housing;

wherein applying the stimulus includes applying a stimulus to the digit, including;

moving a transducer member with a drive system, wherein at least toward the digit placement site through a drive aperture in the housing, wherein the transducer is positioned to apply pressure/strain on at least a portion of the digit and bias the digit against the digit placement site;

receiving a signal with a pressure stimulator system receiver from the processor based on the executed instructions; and

operating the drive system with a controller that is coupled internally to control the drive system.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a wireless communication link coupled to the a pressure stimulator system receiver, wherein receiving a signal with a pressure stimulator system receiver is receiving a wireless signal; and

executing instructions with a drive system controller based on the wirelessly received signal to move the transducer member according to the signal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

inputting signals from the subject having the digit in the digit placement site in response to the movement of the transducer member.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein inputting signals from the subject includes recording the onset of pain as indicated by the subject.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

sensing a force applied to the digit with the transducer member including sensing a resulting stimulation side deformation; and

sending a signal based on the sensed force to the processor.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing the processor in the housing; and

providing a user input system located on a surface of the housing for inputting the signal from the subject.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

driving the transducer member with the drive system; and

applying pressure/strain to the digit;

wherein the pressure/strain is applied substantially automatically according to the executed program.

17. The method of claim of claim 9, further comprising:

applying a stimulation to a subject with the stimulator system including at least one of a pressure/strain stimulus, an auditory stimulus, a visual stimulus, and an olfactory stimulus;

receiving feedback from the stimulation system regarding the applied stimulus; and

receiving feedback from the subject regarding the applied stimulus.

18. The method of claim of claim 9,

applying a stress to stimulation location of the subject;

and

monitoring strain of the stimulation location as a result of applying a pressure stimulus;

wherein monitoring strain is operable to account for variability between a first subject that is different from a second subject including different skin parameters, nail geometry, and nail thickness.

19. A pressure stimulator system for a digit of a human user, comprising:

a housing configured to be held in a single hand of the human user with a digit placed against a digit placement surface, wherein the housing defines an aperture through an exterior wall of the housing to allow access to the digit placement site, wherein the exterior wall and the digit placement surface are substantially fixed relative to one another;

a drive system operable to be powered with a power source, wherein both the drive system and the power source are within the housing;

a transducer member coupled to the drive system, wherein the transducer member is moveable by the drive system at least toward the digit placement surface through a drive aperture in the housing, wherein the transducer member is positioned to apply pressure on at least a portion of the digit of the human user and bias the digit against the digit placement surface;

a local controller to control the drive system; and

an input system located on a surface of the housing for inputting a signal from the human user.

20. The pressure stimulator system of claim 19, further comprising:

a central processor and a central processor wireless communication system; and

a local controller wireless communication system;

wherein a signal is operable to be sent between the central processor and the local controller with the central processor wireless communication system and the local controller wireless communication system.

21. The pressure stimulator system of claim 20, further comprising:

a force sensor to sense the amount of pressure or deformation applied to the digit;

wherein the amount of pressure is the signal.

22. The pressure stimulator system of claim 20, wherein the signal includes at least a first signal and a second signal;

wherein the first signal is a signal communicating a test procedure to the local controller for operating the drive system; and

wherein the second signal is the signal from the human user input with the input system, wherein the second signal is operable to indicate an onset of pain in the human user.

23. The pressure stimulator system of claim 20, wherein the drive system includes an electric motor and the power source is a battery;

wherein the electric motor drives a rack and pinion assembly to drive the transducer assembly; and

wherein the force sensor senses the force applied with the transducer assembly.