Pain migration tracking and display method

• US 6,529,195 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2000
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PatientsLikeMe, Inc. (UnitedHealth Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: James B. Eberlein
• Inventors: Eberlein, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAVAN, THU THAO
• Application Number:
  US09/658,466
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 345/440, 345/440.1, 345/440.2, 345/441, 345/442, 345/443, 345/473, 345/474, 600/407, 600/410, 600/425, 600/501, 600/607, 600/557, 600/587, 283/70, 283/115, 283/900, 283/441, 514/557, 514/568, 514/570
• US Class Current: 345/441
• 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 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4824 Touch or pain perception evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method of obtaining information from a user connected to a pain-tracking computer through a computer network is provided. A user graphically indicates pain intensity, the location of the pain, and provides input on selected information and/or questions and transmits it to the pain-tracking computer. The pain intensity and location information correspond to pain experienced by the user during different time periods. The pain-tracking computer then creates a color-coded video displaying the pain information.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining and displaying pain information comprising the steps of:

(1) receiving from a user a first set of pain information including the location and intensity of pain experienced by the user during a first time period;

(2) receiving from the user a second set of pain information including the location and intensity of pain experienced by the user during a second time period; and

(3) displaying a time-sequenced set of images that illustrated changes in pain location and intensity information between the first time period and the second time period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein pain intensity is divided into several different levels and the time-sequenced set of images displays color corresponding to different pain intensity levels.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (1) and (2) comprise the step of graphically entering the location of pain on a computer screen that illustrates the human body with a superimposed grid.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second sets of pain information are received at a first computer connected to a computer network and transmitted to a pain tracking computer coupled to the computer network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the time sequenced set of images is generated by the pain tracking computer at a location different from the first computer.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the time sequenced set of images is displayed on a web browser and accessible by a healthcare provider at a location different from the location of the user and the location of the pain tracking computer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (3) includes the step of displaying a diagram of a human body with an overlying grid.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the time sequenced set of images comprises a diagram of the human body with colored coded sections corresponding to pain intensity levels.

9. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

(4) presenting a first set of medical questions to the user; and

(5) receiving answers to the first set of medical questions.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first set of medical questions are chosen from a database of questions based at least in part on the pain information received in step (1) or step (2).

11. The method of claim 9, further including the step of presenting a second set of questions to the user, wherein the second set of medical questions are chosen from the database of questions based at least in part on the received answers to the first set of medical questions.

12. A computer programmed to perform the steps of:

(1) receiving from a user a first set of pain information including the location and intensity of pain experienced by the user during a first time period;

(2) receiving form the user a second set of pain information including the location and intensity of pain experienced by the user during a second time period; and

(3) generating a time-sequenced set of images that illustrates changes in pain location and intensity information between the first time period and the second time period.

13. A method of obtaining information from a user connected to a pain tracking computer through a computer network and displaying the pain information, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) transmitting from a user computer to the pain tracking computer graphical information representing a first set of pain information including the location and intensity of pain experienced by the user during a first time period;

(2) transmitting from the user computer to the pain tracking computer graphical information representing a second set of pain information including the location and intensity of pain experienced by the user during a second time period; and

(3) generating a time-sequenced set of images that illustrates changes in pain location and intensity information between the first time period and the second time period.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of viewing from a computer located at a different location from the user computer the time-sequenced set of images.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein steps (1) through (3) comprise the step of using a gender-specific diagram that has superimposed thereon a grid of predefined pain areas, wherein the gender is selected on the basis of the user'"'"'s/user'"'"'s gender.