Apparatus for use in assessing pain level

• US 20070224584A1
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michelle Hokanson
• Original Assignee: Michelle Hokanson
• Inventors: Hokanson, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US11/366,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20070224584A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/262
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 1/00 Manually or mechanically operated educational appliances using elements forming, or bearing, symbols, signs, pictures, or the like which are arranged or adapted to be arranged in one or more particular ways puzzle-games A63F9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 1/16 the elements each bearing a plurality of different symbols, signs, or combinations of symbols and signs, only one symbol, sign, or combination thereof, of each element to be used at a time

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for use in the assessment of pain that a patient is experiencing which comprises a plurality of body pictures of a person of the same gender and ethnicity as the patient, where the body pictures represent different levels of pain for a person of that gender and ethnicity. Apparatus according to the present invention may comprise a plurality of cards having first and second sides. The first side of each card comprises a body picture of a person of the same gender and ethnicity as that of the patient and the body pictures on the plurality of cards represent different levels of pain for a person of the gender and ethnicity of the patient. The second side of each card comprises a pain rating corresponding to the level of pain shown in the body picture on the first side of each card. Apparatus in accordance with the present invention may also take age into account, as well as gender and ethnicity, in determining the patient'"'"'s pain level. Body pictures generated according to the present invention and the corresponding information relating to pain may be stored in a digital computer and retrieved and displayed in hard copy form or on the display monitor of the computer.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in the assessment of pain that a patient is experiencing, comprising a plurality of different body pictures of a person of the same gender and ethnicity as that of the patient, the body pictures representing different levels of pain for a person of the gender and ethnicity of the patient.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein it comprises a plurality of cards having first and second sides, each body picture is contained on a first side of a two-sided card and wherein the second side of each card contains a pain rating corresponding to the level of pain associated with the body picture on the first side of the card.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein it comprises four cards for use with a male, African-American patient and wherein:

(a) the first side of the first card comprises a photograph of an African-American male who is seated and smiling;

(b) the first side of the second card comprises a photograph of an African-American male who is standing with his arms crossed and who is neither smiling nor frowning;

(c) the first side of the third card comprises a photograph of an African-American male who is seated with his head in one of his hands; and

(d) the first side of the fourth card comprises of an African-American male who is seated and grasping one of his knees and gritting his teeth;

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second sides of the first, second, third and fourth cards contain pain ratings of no pain, mild pain, moderate pain and severe pain, respectively.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein it comprises four cards for use with a female, Hispanic patient and wherein:

(a) the first side of the first card comprises a photograph of a Hispanic woman who is standing with her hands laying flat on a table which is in front of her;

(b) the first side of the second card comprises a photograph of a Hispanic woman who is curled up in a chair with a cover around her;

(c) the first side of the third card comprises a photograph of a Hispanic woman with her hands on her head and on a pillow; and

(d) the first side of the fourth card comprises a photograph of a Hispanic woman lying on a bed and covered by a blanket.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second sides of the first, second, third and fourth cars contain pain ratings of no pain, mild pain, moderate pain and severe pain, respectively.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein it comprises a digital computer in which the body picture and the level of pain corresponding to each body picture are stored.