WO2014118022A1

WO2014118022A1 - Device for measuring pain and/or for pain detection

Info

Publication number: WO2014118022A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/050941
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rüdiger Bösel
Original assignee: Rüdiger Bösel
Priority date: 2013-01-29
Filing date: 2014-01-17
Publication date: 2014-08-07
Also published as: DE202013005843U1; DE102013009785B4; DE102013009785A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) for measuring pain and/or for detecting pain, wherein at least one pain detector for measuring pain is configured and provided to perform at least one pain measurement on a proband, wherein the pain detector detects and subsequently processes via biological pain indicators measured on the proband, which can be clearly attributed to a degree of severity of the respective pain of the proband, and/or via at least indirect input of the proband into the pain detector, which in turn can be clearly attributed to a degree of severity of the respective pain.

Description

Apparatus for measuring pain and / or pain

description

The invention relates to a device for measuring pain and / or pain and a method for measuring pain and / or pain, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Pain is something subjective in the general definition, but if one can measure this subjective pain of a single client over a longer period of time, with a constant (device for measuring pain and / or pain) and thus determine standardized, the subjective event becomes an objective result ,

The subjective pain and its accompanying pain is the expression of emotional sensation and associated mental manifestation.

Since it is now possible with the device described here for measuring pain and / or pain to include the subjective pain and its associated pain sensation, as well as the expression of emotional sensation and the associated mental manifestation in the pain measurement and / or pain detection by means of an electronic method results This is a new kind of pain measurement and / or pain detection, also with regard to the biopsychosocial procedure. It has already been proven several times scientifically that in conjunction with targeted physical exercise, a subjective pain sensation can change. Just to the positive or negative, but usually the pain decreases. Targeted physical exercise puts the perception of pain through the release of endorphins into perspective, even if it leads to the pain-inducing situation.

In terms of "fear-prevention belief," this means that the fear of convincing that this movement is causing pain is steadily decreasing, especially when the user visually displays the numerical value and / or visual indication, pain measurement, and / or pain detection perceives.

Because the test person, ie the human being, can not attribute his pain to any relevant constants at the beginning of pain, his mood disorders vary from uncommon (unspecific causes) to normal (as a sign of physical and mental strain).

In most cases, these are recurrent pain conditions that can not be traced back to a specific disease process that are nonspecific.

The biopsychosocial factors, depending on the emotional and mental mood, in conjunction with pain triggers, in the sense of cognitive processes in relation to the aggravation of the course of the disease or symptoms, are subjectively interpreted by humans.

The device for pain measurement and / or pain detection described here is a central device from which, together with the three main components VAS / NRS, screening and education, the individual pain measurement and pain detection cycle, once determined = basic variable, can be controlled by the manipulated variable.

Furthermore, it is possible by means of the device for measuring pain and / or pain, to evaluate the pain intensity, its duration and the time of the pain event. Through the determination, as well as the exactly formulated question from the screening in connection with the device for pain measurement and / or pain determination, and the naming of the target variables, a clearly defined evaluated individual user profile results, in which the user himself is the manipulated variable. Thus, the device for measuring pain and / or pain is a self-testing controller.

By means of the device for pain measurement and / or pain detection, the user is able to create a pain intensity diagram and by presenting further information in connection with the diagrams of the three main components to document his personal, ie individual control variables with a standardized result measurement and z , B. in a three-column diagram graphically.

It is also possible with the installation of the device for pain measurement and / or pain detection to control the PTB module, with the help of which then again a UGI module for the employer and employee can determine the entrepreneur health index of each person.

From the interaction of the above-mentioned components and their coupling possibilities, docking of further modules to the device for measuring pain and / or pain and resulting transparency of the evaluating database, the specification of the pain intensity, the interval of pain and the possibility of assignment are obtained the adequate assessment of pain detection and its validated results.

With the help of these clearly validated pain measurement and pain detection vectors, the effective defined intervention can be performed and monitored.

By storing the data from the device for pain measurement and / or pain detection, so is already a large standardized amount of data available, which in turn as a correlative, with the SER (pain evaluation controller) has the highest objective value. Correlation, in the sense of the device for measuring pain and / or pain, means to relate the acquired self-testing parameters of an individual.

As mentioned above, in most cases recurrent pain conditions or conditions are not clearly attributable to a specific single incident or event (disease process).

To put the purely human subjectively interpreted connection of the pain triggers with cognitive processes (illness complaints) in relation to the aggravation of the condition (illness course) works by the apparatus for pain measurement and / or pain detection more scientifically, than only objectivize the subjective pain intensity.

With the device for pain measurement and / or pain detection, the Applicant puts the various parameters of pain development or discomfort in proportion to from these results or from these ratioed values to capture the best possible vectors / values as manipulated variables, the user himself the actuator is. Also with regard to the PTB (User Test Movements) and the specific exercise program, this means that the user himself is the fixed manipulated variable and thus also determines it (see large graph, SER = pain evaluation controller).

Since the user himself is the fixed manipulated variable and therefore also determines it, a standardized user profile is created by the evaluator database. With the determination of pain and the associated comprehensive collection of personal biographical data (screening), the predictors increase in relevant correlation with the evaluated pain intensity, up to the objective analysis. The result is then automatically the clearly identified and identifiable user profile with the best possible cost effect effect for the user and the service providers eg in health care KK / doctors / clinics, etc. networking opportunities. With a simple GDT interface, each module, the database and the device for pain measurement and / or pain detection can then be linked to other existing networks or databases to integrate and evaluate existing data.

Usually, the doctor is interviewed and / or examined by a doctor, for example, during a pain consultation hour with regard to his pain situation. For this purpose, the respective doctor can have a self-created subjective grid and / or classification scheme, which is answered and / or generated by the subject with regard to his pain situation. The answers provided by the subject can therefore usually be classified by the physician in terms of his severity and value scale, so that the doctor after the questioning can assess the subject in terms of its pain situation and its severity. However, to date, there is a lack of standardized measurement methods or documentation for the measurement of pain as well as the subsequent classification of the subject in terms of the severity of the pain. In other words, there is no objective classification of the subject with regard to their subjectively or objectively perceived pain and their severity as measured by an always valid, for example objective, pain scale. In addition, a time-saving and cost-effective way to such a pain measurement is missing. In particular, the course, for example, already places a burden on the health insurance system, for example to a doctor and in his practice for pain measurement alone, so that a "pre-screening", which according to objective standards can classify the test person along a pain scale, would offer considerable cost savings.

In this respect, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for measuring pain and / or pain, by means of the particularly cost-effective, time-saving and technically simplified classification of a degree of pain is possible.

In order to provide a device for measuring pain and / or pain, which makes it possible to classify a degree of pain in a particularly cost-effective, time-saving and technically simplified manner, the present invention makes use, inter alia, of the idea that the device has at least one pain detector for pain measurement. at least one measurement of pain on a subject, wherein the pain detector (2) measured on the subject biological pain indicators, which are clearly attributable to a severity of the respective pain of the subject, and / or at least medium - Bar inputs of the subject in the pain detector (2), which in turn is clearly attributable to a severity of pain, detected and then processed.

In other words, the device described here offers the possibility, in a technically particularly simple and, in particular, reliable manner, of making a subjectively perceived and perceived pain perceived by the test person purely objectively measurable by the device. Such a (measuring) device is therefore neither known nor suggested by the prior art. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the device for measuring pain and / or pain comprises at least one pain detector for measuring pain and configured to carry out at least one pain measurement on a subject, the at least one pain detector being arranged for pain measurement and provided with at least one pain measurement to make a subject, the pain detector having biological pain indicators measured on the subject which are unambiguously assignable to a severity of the subject's pain, and / or at least indirect input of the subject into the pain detector, which in turn clearly indicates a severity of the respective pain "biological pain indicators" are externally visible to an observer and / or a meter perceptible signs of pain and / or their severity. For example, the biological pain indicators are skin sweat and / or a skin resistance or a pupil change by means of which the subject reacts physically to the perceived pain.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, the pain detector comprises at least one thrust regulator which comprises a number beam, wherein numbers of the number beam respectively indicate a degree of severity of the respective pain situation of the subject and / or can be unambiguously assigned to a severity of the respective pain of the subject and therefore are set up to identify the current individual pain situation.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, the number beam comprises a number of at least 1 to at most 10 numbers. Here, the number 1 may represent a low pain level and the number 10 a maximum pain level. It is conceivable that the thrust reindeer is continuously or discontinuously, for example in the form of thrust levels or thrust scrapers along the number beam specifiable guidable, for example, slidably mounted on the pain detector. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the pain detector is set up and provided for directing a standardized query to the respective pain subject who requests the subject to measure the severity of the pain situation in and / or by the pain detector (s) indicated by the numbers of the numerical beam by moving a slider of the thrust controller to one of the numbers of the number beam. In other words, an ever-increasing number corresponds to a correspondingly higher pain level of the subject. This can be realized in that the pain detector is operated by a query and / or diagnostic program and is in electrical communication with such. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the pain detector is operated by a query and / or diagnostic program and is in electrical communication with such. The diagnostic program can be, in particular, such a program which, on the basis of at least one query to the test person, asks him about his pain situation and classifies the test person into a pain group after a final questionnaire, for example, in order to objectively measure and / or represent the subjectively perceived pain to be able to. It is conceivable that the diagnostic program is operated centrally or decentrally, for example, from a central server. It is conceivable that the test person answers via a touch screen or arranged outside of an illustrative screen input keyboard ordering questions in terms of Schmerzievels. In addition, questions about a living environment or a subject's history can be given in the diagnostic program. In particular, the touchscreen may be a touch-sensitive, for example manually conditionable, LCD or plasma screen. Also conceivable is an OLED screen as a touch screen. By means of the display described here, lettering and / or static and / or moving images can be predefined in a particularly simple and individually representable manner. For example, the display is partially flexible, so that it can adapt to the outer shape, for example, the pain detector. In this respect, the display can be arranged on a part or the entire outer surface of the Schmerdetektors.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, the display comprises at least one radiation-emitting organic light-emitting diode (OLED). It is a luminous thin-film component made of organic semiconductive materials. In principle, organic light emitting diodes are composed of several organic layers. Here, between an anode and a cathode, at least one organic layer which emits radiation under electrical contacting is arranged.

An organic light-emitting diode differs from an inorganic light-emitting diode (LED) in that current density and luminance are lower and no monocrystalline materials are required, but compared to conventional inorganic light-emitting diodes, the organic light-emitting diodes are for a much cheaper to produce and also a power consumption in the Compared to LEDs can be lower. An advantage of organic light-emitting diodes can also be seen in the fact that a very high contrast can be generated in comparison to inorganic light-emitting diodes and a very high degree of saturation, that is, a very colored and rich light can be generated. A much easier for the subject input is thus, among other things, allows, as for example, classification questions can be easily recognized visually. In this respect, an OLED display is particularly suitable for older patients. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the device for powering the display comprises at least one energy source, in particular a battery and / or solar cells. By way of example, the energy source is at least one rechargeable battery which, for example, is detachably fastened to the pain detector. If the energy source is, for example, solar cells, it is possible in a particularly simple manner that the display can always be supplied with electrical energy independently of non-regenerative energies, so that it is advantageously not absolutely necessary to, for example, charge the at least one rechargeable battery after a consumption period to change. The solar cells can be arranged on a predeterminable locations on an outer surface device.

On the other hand, however, allows the at least one battery that the display is supplied with a particularly high power, so that the display is indeed supplied for a shorter period of time than using solar cells with power, but this lights up the brighter.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, the standardized query is that the subject indicates a magnitude of his pain at the moment of interrogation with a number between 0 and 10, where 0 stands for pain relief and 10 for unbearable pain and his number for the particular pain level Assessment serves. In this respect, by such a query, a clear correlation between pain level, that is, the strength of the pain, and given by the subject and / or measured by the Schmerdetektor number given. For example, this greatly facilitates a doctor's assessment of the pain and allows a purely objective adjustment of the subject's pain level.

It is conceivable that such a standardized query (for example, from and / or displayed on a screen of the device) to the effect that the subject indicates a strength of his pain at the moment of query with a number between 0 and 10, where 0 for freedom from pain and 10 stands for unbearable pain and his number for the respective level of pain as an estimate. In particular, a standardized measuring method by means of a digitized numerical rating scale (NRS) can be realized by means of a pain detector designed in this way.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, the pain detector comprises at least one thrust regulator which has a predetermined length scale, wherein a position of the thrust regulator along the length scale which can be predefined by the subject can be unambiguously assigned to a degree of severity of the respective pain of the subject. A throttle control can be one to the above-described numerical beam alternative or even an additional embodiment to the length scale described here. It is therefore conceivable that the subject to objectively express his subjective pain on a scale to be able to choose between two scales, ie the number and the length scale - depending on what the subject rather addresses - to be able to indicate his level of pain, for example, the doctor.

The thrust regulator comprising the predetermined length scale has a length of, for example, at most 10 cm, a left end of the thrust regulator seen by the subject being "no pain" and a right end of the thrust regulator being "the worst possible pain", with optically underlined highlighting means For example, "smiley faces" can be provided as visual metaphor for the description of the respective degree of pain (digital, visual analogue scale, VAS) .In other words, a numerical value can be obtained for the subject that quantifies the subjective perception of pain.

According to at least one embodiment, optically underlined highlighting means are provided as pictorial metaphors for describing the respective degree of pain (digital, visual analogue scale, VAS).

According to at least one embodiment, the pain detector comprises at least one sensor and / or a detector for determining and / or measuring with the severity of the subject's pain situation biological pain indicators such as body temperature, skin resistance, perspiration of the subject. For example, if the sensor measures the skin resistance of the subjects, the sensor may be in the form of a skin resistance measuring device.

It is conceivable in this context that this sensor indicates pathological / painful areas on the subject and also indicates and / or induces organic changes when applied to acupuncture points on the subject.

In particular, it may be a mobile measuring device, for example in a plastic housing. The voltage source can be a block battery. The device may have an on / off switch and a suitable status indicator and battery monitoring indicator. For the display of the measured values, the advises on an analog and / or digital pointer, which represents a scale range of, for example, 0 to 10. There may be two sockets on the device for connecting the test leads. For example, the two measuring leads are at most 2 m long. The length is not crucial for the measurement, but purely optional, to reach the entire human body with the measuring tips. It is therefore conceivable also a length of the test leads of less than 2 m, for example 50 cm. During the measurement, the rash of the pointer is observed and thus the disturbed point, that is the pain site on the subject body localized.

Basically, this is also expandable to other components, that is features, which are shown in the following convolute in any combination or each separately.

Digital display - operation with accumulator - installation of a charging electronics - lighting for the display - accessories: marking pen and measuring points suitable for marking - flexible measuring cables (spiral cable) - finer measuring tips for finding acupuncture points - pressure sensor virtual glasses.

In particular, the pain detector may be in the form of a human-machine communication interface such that the subject, along with residual components of the pain detector, is an active element of the entire pain detector.

The pain detector described here has proven itself in each case in order to be able to classify only subjective pain objectively by measuring parameters to be detected. In particular, the pain detector described here is suitable and configured for, for example, to document the course of pain symptoms of a test person in a time-dependent manner and to perform before / after comparisons.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, the measurement results, which are detected by the pain detector, are stored in at least one database with respect to the severity of the subject's pain and can also be retrieved centrally or decentrally therefrom. In particular, the query and / or diagnostic program already described at the outset can also be stored in the database and / or by or be playable by this. Such a database therefore makes it possible, for example, to centrally access different user computers to the different pain results and, moreover, to store the pain results over a particularly long period of time. In particular, pain measurements on subjects at a given time rhythm, such as a 10-day rhythm, may be graphed to allow for adequate assessment of diagnostic results. In this respect, the database described here allows temporal documentation of the respective course of pain. Such documentation may be presented in appropriate bar graphs or other graphic designs for the physician and / or other practitioner.

For this purpose, the database can be stored, generated and / or stored on at least one central computer (server). This central computer may be equipped with at least one central processing unit and is preferably programmed to first read in and / or temporarily or permanently store the individual pain information of the pain detector.

In addition, the central computer described here can be designed to manage the pain information of at least one, but preferably at least two, different subjects. For this, the central computer may comprise two subsystems, namely an operational subsystem and a data evaluation subsystem. The operative subsystem stores operational data, such as pain points and / or scores of individual subjects, but not detailed transaction pain (individual) data. By contrast, the data evaluation subsystem stores the detailed transaction pain (individual) data but, for example, stores meaningful identification data of the test person who belongs to the respective individual pain transaction only in encrypted form. Bit number, data volume) of a transmission and / or storage of the pain data in the database on the central computer.

According to at least one embodiment, the device comprises at least one means for predicting a probability of chronification of the respective pain. In this context, "chronification probability" means a numerical, statistical probability assessment that the respective pain increases develop chronic pain for each subject. In particular, such a prediction of the probability of chronicity can be realized on the basis of a validated and evaluated grid which is stored in the device for measuring pain and / or pain, for example. Such a grid may include, in particular, a questionnaire. The grid, and in particular the prediction of the probability of chronicity, can be determined and predicted in relation to work, activity and / or work resumption of the respective subject. In particular, it may be possible that the prediction in percentages may indicate a likelihood of whether the present pain affects (and / or is caused by) work, activity and / or work recovery (chronic).

Such an analysis and the prediction of the probability of chronification described above also fall under the concept of a factor analysis and can be represented graphically in the form of a visual and / or numerical daily rhythm and / or stored in the described database. In particular, the daily rhythm may be a four-day rhythm, and the graphical representation may be, for example, a (three) column diagram, with one pillar unambiguously assignable, for example one to one of labor, activity or work recovery.

According to at least one embodiment, the device for determining pain and / or measuring pain comprises a means for classifying and / or determining a respective training group set up and provided for the subject. "Education group" is a respective diagnosis and / or set of measures which are specific to the respective pain situation and the corresponding probability of chronification is tuned and set up.

In particular, subjects with a high probability of chronicity, using the means of determining the education group, may be more likely to achieve meaningful improvements in their anxiety avoidance beliefs and disability experience.

In this respect, it is possible by the device described here for pain detection and / or pain measurement, that a simple screening by standardized tests and Assessments already a first interdisciplinary communicable result, visually supported and documented (via the database), allows.

In other words, after undergoing such a screening and the resulting result, this allows the emergence of a subject status 1.0.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, the device for determining pain and / or measuring pain comprises a means for making a decision regarding one

Pain detection and / or pain therapy. Such a decision-making means may be implemented by exclusion criteria and / or signs and / or another set of questions. Such exclusion marks are also nameable under the technical term "red flags".

In particular, the exclusion characters can be subdivided into two groups, that is to say into a group of positive exclusion marks (positive red flags) and negative exclusion marks (negative red flags), whereby positive exclusion marks stand for the fact that the respective subject at least does not have an arrangement and / or measure is qualified without restriction and insofar as a positive exclusion mark or a positive exclusion mark requires a clarification by a doctor, for example, whereas a negative red flag means that it is fully suitable for the measure envisaged.

In addition, a method for pain measurement and / or pain detection is specified. For example, the method described here can be carried out by means of the device for pain measurement and / or joke determination described here, as described in connection with one or more of the abovementioned embodiments. That is, the features listed for the apparatus for measuring pain and / or pain described herein are also disclosed for the method described herein and vice versa.

The method according to the invention advantageously makes it possible to continuously record the applied or measured pressure and / or the measure of the pain. This is not possible or only to a very limited extent in the method according to the prior art. The provision of this feature thus allows continuous continuous recording.

A further advantageous embodiment of the method provides that the pressure exerted by the hand or palm or parts of the hand, in particular the fingers of the subject on the measuring device (device for measuring pain and / or pain), in particular the pressure inside the Fist, measured and used as a measure of the pain. The use of such a measuring device is hygienic, non-invasive and easy to use.

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the pressure exerted by the person's jaw and / or teeth on the measuring device in the course of a biting movement is measured and used as a measure of the pain. In this way, a reliable, intuitive and accurate detection of the pain is also possible.

It is also advantageous if, for measuring the pressure exerted, a, preferably cylindrical and / or elastic, measuring device is used which has at least one pressure-sensitive element, for example a capacitive or piezoresitive sensor, the measured variable of the pressure-sensitive element being a measure of the pain is used.

According to at least one embodiment, it is possible to perform a calibration measurement prior to the determination of the pain subjectively subjecting the subject to maximum pressure on the measurement device, and then correlating and evaluating the subsequently measured values of the applied pressure to that subjective maximum pressure and the ratio, in particular the quotient, between the pressure and the previously determined subjectively maximum pressure is used as a measure of the pain. In addition, it is possible that before the determination of the pain, a calibration measurement is carried out, wherein the person loosely holds the measuring device, without exerting pressure according to their subjective feeling, while the pressure exerted on the measuring device is measured and used as a holding pressure, and the subsequently measured pressure minus the predetermined holding pressure is used as a measure of the pain.

These calibration measurements can be used to determine objective pain quantities.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, the method described here comprises a further defined, effective diagnostic section comprising at least the steps of selecting a range of the individual pain measurement and control techniques by subject test evaluations (PTBs) and resulting pain evaluation controllers (SER).

In particular, a pain evaluation controller (level) is determined by means of the subject test evaluations described here already with the determination of the subject status 1.0 described above and the further defined, effective diagnostic portion.

In particular, the method described here comprises at least the following steps: (a) Determination of the first SER value = state of pain by means of VAS / NRS.

It should be noted that a first reading of the Screening 1.0 can be displayed on the same day, but in the case of time shifts a renewed first VAS value may be required in order to be able to document the actual pain condition precisely. (b) The actual pain condition using VAS / NRS is not within a predefinable time frame (measured or measured), then a new VAS value is determined without the subject test scores described here.

(c) The actual state of pain by means of VAS / NRS is within the time frame, so the procedure for the test results described here continues.

In other words, the method described here for determining a PTB can be constructed iteratively and essentially as follows: I. Version PTB 1

1. Feedback to SER

• Determination of the new pain IS condition

• Adjustment with 1. Is state VAS and 1. SER value after PTB

Adjusting the PTBs as described in a, b, c

) If pain <continue with PTB "Pain Measurement Diagnostic / Exercise for Pain Measurement 1" over 3 - 4 days; After 1 week Exercise 1 + At least one more Exercise always finish with 3 for a week b) If Pain = Exercise with further if Pain = / > unsuitable = Red flag for adaptation (possibly further PTB) doctor

to verify

if pain <continue with further exercise for 3-4 days continue with PTB from PTB1 + 2 + 3 over 3-4 days with 3 over a week

then PTB 1 + 2 + 3 + 5 (alternatively 6) finish with 3 over a week

c) If pain> Exercise with further if pain = /> Inappropriate = Red flag for adjustment check doctor if pain <Continue with PTB 5A + 5 for 3-4 days if pain <Continue with PTB 5A + 5 for 3-4 days

then finish PTB 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 (alternatively 6) with 3 over a week

It should be noted that 1, 2, 3 special exercises and / or combinations of movements are designated by means of which a particularly simple pain diagnosis and / or pain measurement can be performed.

IV. Daily feedback to SER

• Once a day to determine the new pain IS condition

• Matching with VALUE 1, 2, 3, etc. in relation to the current SER state for creating a gradient curve

In this respect, a double-screen 2.0 can be realized or realized. In other words, a subject status 2.0 results from the results of the simple screening 1.0 and the above-mentioned review and / or iteration.

In particular, a subject status 2.0 can be formed from or result from the following components:

1 a) The results of the VAS / NRS from Screening 1.0 and 2.0 in the comparison 1 b) The results of the factor analysis and item characteristics of the FABQ from screening

1.0 and 2.0 in the juxtaposition

1 c) The results of the SER of the first and last review

In this respect, the method described here and the device described here offer the possibility of carrying out a pain measurement and / or pain detection in a particularly simple and cost-effective and time-saving manner, without the health insurance system and the healthcare system being burdened in a special way as a whole.

In the following, the device for pain measurement and / or pain detection described here as well as the method described here for pain detection and / or Pain measurement described schematically with reference to figures and embodiments.

In FIGS. 1A to 1C, exemplary embodiments of a device for pain measurement and / or pain detection described here are described in schematic views.

FIG. 2 shows in the form of a bar chart a result of a query and diagnostic program described here.

In the exemplary embodiments and the figures, the same or equivalent components are each provided with the same reference numerals. The illustrated elements are not to be considered as true to scale, but individual elements may be exaggerated to better understand.

FIG. 1A schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of a device 100 for pain measurement and / or pain detection described here for carrying out the method described here. In this case, the device 100 comprises at least one pain detector 2 for pain measurement, the pain detector 2 being set up and provided for carrying out at least one pain measurement on a subject. In this case, the pain detector 2 detects and then processes biological pain indicators measured on the subject, which can be unambiguously assigned to a degree of severity of the respective pain of the subject and / or via at least indirect inputs of the subject into the pain detector 2, which in turn can be unambiguously assigned to a severity of the respective pain ,

In particular, it can be seen from FIG. 1A that the pain detector 2 comprises a thrust regulator 21 which in turn comprises a number beam 21A, wherein numbers of the number beam 21A each indicate a degree of severity of the respective pain situation of the subject and / or clearly a severity of the respective pain of the subject can be assigned and therefore set up to identify the current individual pain situation. In the present exemplary embodiment, the number beam 21 A comprises a number of sets of at least 1 and at most 10, and it can be seen that the number beam counts in integer numbers between 1 and 10. In this case, in particular the pain detector 2, that is to say in the present exemplary embodiment of the pain detector 2 designed as a thrust regulator 21, can be positioned, for example displaceable, on or in the region of the respective number of the number beam 21A. The higher now the thrust regulator 21 is positioned on a respective number of the number beam 21 A, the higher the perceived pain of the subject. After the thrust regulator 21 has been positioned on a number of the number beam 21A selected by the subject, the severity of the pain over the arrangement of the thrust regulator 21 in the region of the respective number of the pain is directly and directly readable by the thrust regulator 21, for example for a physician or a test procedure Number beam 21A indicated. This means subjectively perceived pain of the test person can be read about the regulation of the thrust regulator 21 to the pain detector objectively for the doctor or the test executor.

However, it is also conceivable, or alternatively, that the pain detector 2 is set up and provided for directing a standardized query to the respective subject, asking the subject to enter and / or determine the severity of the pain situation in relation to the numbers of the patient Numeric beam by moving a slider of the thrust controller 21 to one of the numbers of the numerical beam or by simple input query to identify.

In particular, the standardized query can be operated by a query and / or diagnostic program, with which the pain detector 2 is either in electrical communication or which is already an element of the pain detector 2. The standardized query may be that the subject indicates a strength of his pain at the moment of interrogation with a number between at least 0 and at most 10, where 0 stands for pain relief and 10 for unbearable pain and his number for the respective degree of pain as an estimate ,

It is also conceivable that the standardized query is performed by means of an electronic representation. Such an electronic representation may be in the form of a polling screen in the form of a touch screen or other electronically operated polling means. In particular, the standardized query in a query program and / or query mode iterating, depending on the respective answer branching query program exist, which modifies depending on the given in the query sub-responses corresponding to these already given sub-responses a subsequent question and question or design separately. It is also conceivable that the standardized query takes into account a health history and / or other environmental factors of the subject.

FIG. 1B schematically shows a further exemplary embodiment of a device 100 for pain measurement and / or pain determination described here for carrying out the method described here. Therein, the pain detector 2 comprises a sensor 5 for determining and / or measuring biological pain indicators directly or indirectly connected with the severity of the pain situation of the subject such as body temperature, skin resistance, perspiration of the subject. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1B, the sensor 5 is designed in the form of a finger-group sensor. For this purpose, namely, as can be seen particularly clearly from FIG. 1A, the sensor 5 comprises a plastic housing which has a recess into which a fingertip of a finger can be inserted. By means of such a sensor 5, it is possible in particular to measure both the body temperature, the skin resistance and the sweat formation of the subject in a single apparatus by means of a single attachment. Such a trained sensor 5 is also particularly simple and manageable for many pain measurement procedures.

In addition, it can be seen from FIG. 1B that in the plastic housing of the sensor 5 there is also integrated a detector 6 which can detect, for example biological signals, emitted by the subject with regard to his pain situation.

In particular, the pain detector 2 is able to store the measurement results relating to the degree of severity of the subject's pain in at least one database 3, whereby the measurement results stored in the database 3 can also be retrieved centrally or decentrally therefrom.

Moreover, FIG. 1B indicates a means 7 for predicting a probability of chronification of the particular pain of the subject. In the funds 7 to In particular, a prediction of a probability of chronicity can be a technical device and / or a technical device on which a data processing program processes data of the standardized query and then, from the technical element via the program for the prediction of a chonification probability, information about it, for example Physician, thereby allowing a likelihood of future chronic development of the subject's pain.

FIG. 1C shows in an alternative embodiment a further embodiment of a device 100 described here, in which, unlike the embodiment according to FIG. 1A, the pain detector 2 comprises a thrust regulator 21 which has a predetermined length scale, one of the subject predeterminable position of the thrust regulator 21 along the length scale clearly a severity of the respective pain of the subject is assigned. In this respect, the representation of a number beam is dispensed with and set up instead a length scale. In the present case, the thrust regulator has a length of at most 10 cm, with a left end of the thrust regulator being "pain relief" and a right end of the thrust regulator being the "worst possible pain", with optically underlined highlighting means 4 in the form of "smileys" the length of the thrust regulator 21 are shown, wherein the face of each "Smileys" starting from the left side, which corresponds to a smile and quasi pain relief points out to the right side and therefore with decreasing smile immediately an increased level of pain can be expressed by the subject. In other words, a (numerical) value can be obtained invisibly for the subject that quantifies the subjective perception of pain.

FIG. 2 shows in the form of a bar chart a result of a query and diagnostic program described here in which a level of pain corresponding to a scale of at least 0 to at most 10 is plotted against a time course. Each bar corresponds to an individual query time point one pain level.

It can further be seen from FIG. 2 that, by means of the interrogation and diagnosis program described here, one determines the height and the course of the respective beams Trend line 8 provides information about the course of the respective pain situation, for example during a diagnosis and / or therapy program.

In this respect, by means of the standardized query described here in a particularly simple manner, the respective pain of the test person can be absolutely and graphically observed and represented over its course over time as well as graphically. This therefore gives the doctor a particularly simple way to determine the type and a possible form of therapy of the pain as easily as possible. The invention is not limited by the description with reference to the embodiments. Rather, the invention encompasses any novel feature as well as any combination of features, which in particular includes any combination of features in the patent claims, even if this feature or combination itself is not explicitly stated in the patent claims or the exemplary embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 playback means

2 pain detector

21 throttle control

21A number line

3 database

4 highlighting

5 sensor

6 detector

7 means for predicting a probability of chronicity

8 trend line

100 device

Claims

claims

1. Device (100) for measuring pain and / or pain,

marked by

at least one pain detector (2) for measuring pain and adapted to at least make a pain measurement on a subject, the pain detector (2) measured on the subject biological pain indicators, which are clearly attributable to a severity of pain of the subject, and / or via at least indirect inputs of the subject into the pain detector (2), which in turn is unambiguously attributable to a severity of the respective pain, detected and subsequently processed.

2. Device (100) according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the pain detector (2) comprises at least one thrust regulator (21) which comprises a number beam (21 A), wherein numbers of the number beam (21 A) each indicate a severity of the respective pain situation of the subject and / or clearly, a severity of the respective pain of Subjects are assigned and therefore set up to identify the current individual pain situation.

3. Device (100) according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that

the number beam (21 A) comprises a number of at least 1 to at most 10 numbers.

4. Device (100) according to at least one of the claims,

characterized in that

the pain detector (2) is set up and intended to be provided with a standardized query to the respective test person, the subject for this purpose, in and / or by and / or by means of the pain detector (s) (21) the severity of the pain situation measured against the numbers of the number beam by shifting a slider of the thrust regulator (21) to one of the numbers of the number to identify.

5. Device (100) according to at least one of the claims,

characterized in that

the pain detector (2) is operated by a query and / or diagnostic program and is in electrical communication with such.

6. Device (100) according to the preceding claim,

characterized in that

the standardized query is that the subject indicates a severity of his pain at the moment of interrogation with a number between at least 0 and a maximum of 10, where 0 stands for pain relief and 10 for unbearable pain and his number for the respective level of pain as an estimate.

7. Device (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the pain detector (2) comprises at least one thrust regulator (21) having a predetermined length scale, wherein a predeterminable by the subject position of the thrust regulator (2) along the length scale is clearly attributable to a severity level of the respective pain of the subject.

8. Device (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

wherein optically underlined highlighting means (4) are provided as a pictorial metaphor for the description of the respective degree of pain (digital, visual analogue scale, VAS).

9. Device (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the pain detector (2) comprises at least one sensor (5) and / or a detector (6) for determining and / or measuring with the severity of the subject's pain situation biological pain indicators such as body temperature, skin resistance, perspiration of the subject.

10. Device (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the measurement results relating to the degree of severity of the respective subject's pain are stored by the pain detector (2) in at least one database (3) and can also be retrieved centrally or decentrally from the latter.

11. Device (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims,

marked by

at least one means (7) for predicting a likelihood of chronic pain.

12. Method for pain measurement and / or pain detection,

marked by

at least one device (100) for pain measurement and / or pain detection according to at least one of the preceding claims.