SBIR/STTR Award attributes
PROJECT SUMMARY ABSTRACT While patient self report of pain is currently the gold standard of pain measurementaccurate self reports of pain may not be feasible in critically ill patients who are sedated and intubatedunconscious patientsor patients who are unable to verbally communicate their painCurrent research has shown that pupillary dilationPDis a reliable indicator of acute painand that measurement of pupil size changes may be useful in determining the intensity of pain experienced as well as the efficacy of an analgesiaThere is also research demonstrating the value of pupillary unrest under ambient lightPUALas an objective marker of sensitivity to opioidsand the use of facial expression analysis to detect painIMPACT proposes pupillometry with a proprietary algorithm to measure both PD and PUALand facial expression analysis using computer visionThrough IMPACTBenten proposes to provide clinicians with a device that helps them objectively determine the presence or absence of painassess opioid efficacyand assist in deciding whether opioids should be the treatment of choice for a patientThe utimate goal of IMPACT is to revolutionize measurement and management of painThe novel approach of measuring PDPUALand facial expressions will help eliminate subjectivity in the diagnosis of painand avoid over administration of opioids or administration of opioids to patients who are not suitable candidates for opioid treatmentIMPACT will demonstrate the feasibility of using pupil size changes and facial expressions to guide the diagnosis and treatment of painand compare results obtained to pain scores reported by patients on the NRSto assess accuracy of pain measurement and effectiveness in pain alleviationIMPACT will be designed and developed to serve the needs of patients who experience severe painand provide them with pain reliefthrough objection clinical decision makingThe aims of IMPACT are as followsPhase I Specific AimsDevelop IMPACT prototype and conduct a validity test withsubjectsto demonstrate the efficacy and validity of IMPACT versus a commercialpupilometerandConduct a feasibility pilot test of IMPACT withpatients in the post anesthesia care unitPACUof Christiana Care Health SystemCCHSto demonstrate the feasibility of IMPACTin determining pain and assessing opioid efficacyThe short term impact will be an improvement in pain detectionand more objective clinical decision making regarding opioid administrationThe long term impact will be a decrease in the misuse of opioid medicationand the facilitation of objective measurement of symptoms in clinical settings PROJECT NARRATIVE Instrument to Measure Pain and Assess Correlation to TreatmentIMPACTwill develop an innovativemobile application to record reliable biomarkers and surrogate markers for acute pain and opioid analgesic efficacyIMPACT will enable clinicians to better diagnose and manage painthrough the measurement of pupillary dilationPDto painpupillary unrest under ambient lightPUALand facial expressionsIMPACT is designed to address the needs of patients who are in severe pain and may be unable to communicate their pain effectivelyThis makes it difficult for clinicians to determine the pain experienced accurately and administer analgesics that provide adequate pain reliefwhile also avoiding over prescription of opioids and further contributing to the opioid crisisUsage of IMPACT will help clinicians supplement patient reports of pain with objective measures of pain and opioid analgesic efficacy such as PDPUALand facial expressions
