The present invention addresses the problem of providing a system and a method for noninvasively and conveniently diagnosing difficult-to-diagnose chronic pain-related diseases and/or diseases requiring differentiation from the chronic pain-related diseases. The problem was solved by providing a method for obtaining an indicator for determining the presence and/or type of a chronic pain-related disease and/or disease requiring differentiation from chronic pain-related diseases, the method comprising: (a) performing an offset measurement test of pain on a subject that does not suffer from a neurological disorder; (b) analyzing the results obtained from the test in (a); and (c) comparing the analysis results obtained in (b) with a reference value.

An apparatus including at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: control the magnitude of a stimulus applied by a stimulator to the skin of a human or animal body; and receive an output from a sensor configured to detect the response of a muscle in the human or animal body to the applied stimulus, the sensor output in combination with the magnitude of the applied stimulus enabling the sensitivity of the human or animal body to the applied stimulus to be determined.

A device for generating a stimulus in the form of at least one liquid droplet to evaluate ocular sensitivity, the device comprising a light source configured to illuminate an eye of the subject; a liquid reservoir configured to store a liquid; and a nozzle in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir and configured to deliver at least one liquid droplet to an eye of a subject. Delivery of the at least one liquid droplet to the eye of the subject provides a stimulus to the ocular surface of the subject's eye and enables the evaluation of the ocular sensitivity of the subject's eye.

Disclosed are methods and medical device systems for automated delivery of therapies for pain and determination of need for and safety of treatment. In one embodiment, such a medical device system may comprise a sensor configured to sense at least one body signal from a patient; and a medical device configured to receive a first sensed body signal from the sensor; determine a patient pain index based at least in part on said first sensed body signal; determine whether said patient pain index is above at least a first pain index threshold; determine a safety index based at least in part on a second sensed body signal; select a pain treatment regimen based on at least one of said safety index and or a determination that said pain index is above said first pain index threshold; and deliver said pain treatment regimen.

Disclosed are methods and medical device systems for automated delivery of therapies for pain and determination of need for and safety of treatment. In one embodiment, such a medical device system may comprise a sensor configured to sense at least one body signal from a patient; and a medical device configured to receive a first sensed body signal from the sensor; determine a patient pain index based at least in part on said first sensed body signal; determine whether said patient pain index is above at least a first pain index threshold; determine a safety index based at least in part on a second sensed body signal; select a pain treatment regimen based on at least one of said safety index and or a determination that said pain index is above said first pain index threshold; and deliver said pain treatment regimen.

Disclosed are methods and medical device systems for automated delivery of therapies for pain and determination of need for and safety of treatment. In one embodiment, such a medical device system may comprise a sensor configured to sense at least one body signal from a patient; and a medical device configured to receive a first sensed body signal from the sensor; determine a patient pain index based at least in part on said first sensed body signal; determine whether said patient pain index is above at least a first pain index threshold; determine a safety index based at least in part on a second sensed body signal; select a pain treatment regimen based on at least one of said safety index and or a determination that said pain index is above said first pain index threshold; and deliver said pain treatment regimen.

A process and laser system for in vitro and in vivo pain research, pain clinical testing and pain management. In preferred embodiments of the present invention a diode laser operating at a 980 nm wavelength is used to produce warmth, tickling, itching, touch, burning, hot pain or pin-prick pain. The device and methods can be used for stimulation of a single nerve fiber, groups of nerve fibers, nerve fibers of single type only as well as more the one type of nerve fibers simultaneously. The device and the methods can be applied in a wide variety of situations involving the study and treatment of pain. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide laser systems and techniques that permit mapping and selective activation of silent, C-mechano-insensitive fibers or A-delta or C-polymodal fibers, de-functionalization (depleting) of these fibers for the purpose of the treatment of peripheral neuropathy and monitoring of CGRP and substance P associated with stimulation of silent, C-mechano-insensitive fibers.

A method of determining a predisposition to contact lens discomfort in a patient is provided, comprising determining a detection threshold of the patient by delivering a cool mechanical stimulus to the cornea of the patient, optionally applying a series of cool mechanical stimuli to the cornea of the patient, and classifying the patient as being predisposed to contact lens discomfort if the detection threshold is at or below a cut-off value predetermined to be associated with predisposition to contact lens discomfort and/or the patient does not adapt to the series of cool mechanical stimuli.

A computer implemented method of monitoring pain of an object being estimated based on brainwave data of the object includes a) reading out, by a processor, from a memory a plurality of groups of the brainwave data respectively corresponding to a plurality of levels of stimulations to the object applied by a stimulation system, wherein each group of brainwave data are measured by using an electroencephalograph; b) dividing each group of brainwave data into subgroups each having a first predetermined time frame and obtaining a temporal change of mean values of respective subgroups of the brainwave data, wherein each of the mean values is calculated based on the brainwave data of the first predetermined time frame; and c) evaluating or monitoring a level of pain of the object being estimated from the brainwave data based on the temporal change of the mean values.

Systems and methods for the diagnosis of chronic pain are disclosed. An algometer comprising a pressure sensor and electrode is disclosed. The algometer may be used to measure pressure applied by a clinician at a location on a patient's body, along with EMG signals emanating from the same location of the patient. Further, a pain trigger operable by the patient may be used in coordination with the algometer. Data from the algometer and pain trigger are transmitted to a computing device and display for rendering and analysis of patient data, leading to improved diagnosis.