FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of the present disclosure relates generally to methods, systems, and apparatus for measuring a patient's pain level. More particularly, the present subject matter is directed to methods, systems, and apparatus for objectively detecting and communicating a patient's pain level.

BACKGROUND

Healthcare providers and organizations, as well as patients, continuously strive to improve patient outcomes and quality of care. However, many aspects of patient care continue to rely on subjective feedback from patients, often requiring interpretation by physicians or caregivers, and such subjective feedback and interpretation can complicate the patient's treatment. For example, a patient may have difficulty in communicating information a physician or caregiver needs to properly treat the patient, or the patient may be unable to communicate any information at all, e.g., due to sedation, unconsciousness, etc. As another example, the physician or caregiver may misinterpret the patient's communication and thereby misadjust or misdirect the patient's treatment.

In particular, healthcare providers such as physicians and caregivers typically must rely on a patient's verbal and visual cues to determine the patient's level of pain. For example, a healthcare provider may compare the patient's facial expressions to a "happy face" pain scale that associates certain facial expressions to levels of pain, e.g., a wide smile may be associated with a lowest or zero pain level while crying and grimacing may be associated with a highest or greatest pain level. Further, the healthcare provider may question the patient regarding the patient's pain to receive verbal feedback from the patient. However, as described above, such verbal and visual expressions largely are subjective and may lead to misguided treatment of the patient due to, e.g., inadequate communication by the patient or misinterpretation by the healthcare provider.

Consequently, there is a need for improved means for gathering patient feedback. In particular, an objective method, system, and/or apparatus for detecting or measuring patient pain would be beneficial. Additionally, a system and/or apparatus that detects or measures a patient's pain level and communicates the patient's pain level to one or more devices would be useful.

SUMMARY

Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.

In one exemplary aspect of the present subject matter, a device for detecting and displaying a pain level of a patient is provided. The device comprises a pain detector ring wearable by the patient. The pain detector ring includes a first sensor for sensing a first vital sign of the patient, a processor for determining the pain level of the patient using the first vital sign, an indicator for visually indicating the pain level of the patient on the pain detector ring, and a transmitter for transmitting the pain level of the patient to another device.

It should be understood that the device may be further configured with any of the additional features as described herein. For example, in some embodiments the pain detector ring is configured to be worn on a finger of the patient. Further, the first vital sign sensed by the first sensor may be the patient's heart rate, and some embodiments of the device also may comprise a second sensor for sensing a second vital sign of the patient. The second vital sign sensed by the second sensor may be the patient's temperature. The processor may determine the pain level of the patient using the patient's heart rate and temperature.

In other embodiments, the indicator is a band extending about an outer perimeter of the pain detector ring, and the band is configured to change color to visually indicate the pain level of the patient. In still other embodiments, the transmitter wirelessly transmits the pain level of the patient. Moreover, the transmitter may wirelessly transmit the pain level of the patient to an infusion pump to control delivery of medication from the infusion pump to the patient.

In another exemplary aspect of the present subject matter, a system for patient pain management is provided. The system comprises a pain detector ring for detecting and displaying a pain level of a patient. The pain detector ring includes a first sensor for sensing a first vital sign of the patient, a processor for determining the pain level of the patient using the first vital sign, an indicator for visually indicating the pain level of the patient on the pain detector ring, and a transmitter for transmitting the pain level of the patient. The system further comprises a pain management device that includes a receiver for receiving the pain level transmitted from the transmitter of the pain detector ring.

It should be understood that the system may be further configured with any of the additional features as described herein. For instance, in some embodiments the transmitter of the pain detector ring wirelessly transmits the pain level to the receiver of the pain management device. In other embodiments, the pain management device is an infusion pump providing medication to the patient, and the received pain level of the patient controls the delivery of medication from the infusion pump to the patient.

Further, in some embodiments the pain detector ring is configured to be worn on a finger of the patient. In other embodiments, the indicator is a band extending about an outer perimeter of the pain detector ring, and the band is configured to change color to visually indicate the pain level of the patient. The pain detector ring also may comprise a second sensor for sensing a second vital sign of the patient.

In a further exemplary aspect of the present subject matter, a method for detecting and displaying a pain level of a patient is provided. The method

comprises sensing a first vital sign of the patient using a first sensor of a pain detector ring worn by the patient; determining the pain level of the patient using the first vital sign; visually indicating the pain level of the patient on the pain detector ring; and transmitting the pain level of the patient to another device.

It should be understood that the system may be further configured with any of the additional features as described herein. For instance, in some embodiments the method also comprises sensing a second vital sign of the patient using a second sensor of the pain detector ring. Determining the pain level of the patient may include utilizing the first vital sign and the second vital sign to determine the pain level of the patient.

In some embodiments, the first vital sign is the patient's heart rate and the second vital sign is the patient's temperature. In other embodiments, visually indicating the pain level of the patient comprises modulating a color of a band extending about an outer perimeter of the pain detector ring. In still other

embodiments, transmitting the pain level of the patient to another device comprises transmitting the pain level of the patient to an infusion pump that provides

medication to the patient. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the

specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:

Figure 1 provides a perspective view of a pain detector ring according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 2 provides a schematic view of the pain detector ring of FIG. 1 worn by a patient on the patient's finger according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.

Figure 3 provides a schematic view of a system for patient pain management that, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter, incorporates the pain detector ring worn by the patient as shown in FIG. 2 and a pain management device that provides pain management to the patient.

Figure 4 provides a diagram view is provided of a representative patient management system 400 that may utilize data from one or more devices to develop, augment, and/or adjust a course of treatment of the patient in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. In general, the present subject matter is directed to methods and systems for detecting and displaying a patient's pain level. More particularly, the present subject matter is directed to a device wearable by a patient that senses one or more of the patient's vital signs to determine the patient's pain level. The device includes features for visually indicating the patient's pain level on the device such that, e.g., the patient and/or a caregiver of the patient such as a clinician or physician has an objective indication of the patient's pain level. In some embodiments, the device may communicate or transmit the patient's pain level to one or more separate devices, such as, e.g., a pain management device that dispenses a medication to the patient for managing the patient's pain or to a patient management system that may utilize data from one or more devices to develop, augment, and/or adjust a course of treatment of the patient. These and other embodiments of the present subject matter are described in more detail herein.

One or more embodiments of the methods and system discussed herein may be executed by one or more suitable networked systems, such as, e.g., personal computers, handheld devices, medical devices, databases, and the like. Such system(s) may comprise one or more computing devices adapted to perform one or more embodiments of the methods disclosed herein. Such systems and computing devices may access one or more computer-readable media that embody computer- readable instructions which, when executed by at least one computer, cause the computer(s) to implement one or more embodiments of the methods of the present subject matter. Additionally or alternatively, the computing device(s) may comprise circuitry that renders the device(s) operative to implement one or more of the methods of the present subject matter. Further, components of the presently- disclosed technology may be implemented using one or more computer-readable media. Any suitable computer-readable medium or media may be used to implement or practice the presently-disclosed subject matter, including, but not limited to, diskettes, drives, and other magnetic-based storage media, optical storage media, including disks (including CD-ROMS, DVD-ROMS, and variants thereof), flash, RAM, ROM, and other memory devices, and the like. In addition, to the extent one or more computer-implemented programs are used, the present subject matter is not limited to any particular programming language. It should be understood that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the present subject matter as described herein, and any references to specific languages are provided by way of illustrative example only.

The present disclosure also makes reference to the transmission of communicated data over one or more communications networks. It should be appreciated that network communications can comprise sending and/or receiving information over one or more networks of various forms. For example, a network can comprise a dial-in network, a local area network ("LAN"), a wide area network ("WAN"), a public switched telephone network ("PSTN"), the Internet, an intranet, or other type(s) of networks. A network may comprise any number and/or combination of hard-wired, wireless, or other communication links.

Moreover, the particular the naming of the components, capitalization of terms, the attributes, data structures, or any other programming or structural aspect is not mandatory or significant, and the mechanisms that implement the invention or its features may have different names, formats, or protocols. Moreover, the systems may comprise and the methods may be implemented via a combination of hardware and software, as described, or entirely in hardware elements. Also, the particular division of functionality between the various components described herein is merely exemplary and not mandatory; functions performed by a single component may instead be performed by multiple components, and functions performed by multiple components may instead performed by a single component.

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a device 100 for detecting and displaying a pain level of a patient. The pain level of the patient may range from zero or no pain, i.e., where the patient is essentially pain free, to unbearable pain. Other pain levels, such as a mild pain level, a moderate pain level, and a high pain level, may represent various gradations of pain between the zero pain level and the unbearable pain level. The patient's pain level, as indicated by the device 100 alone or in combination with other indications of patient pain, may be used to develop, augment, and/or adjust a course of treatment of the patient.

More particularly, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 , the device 100 is a pain detector ring 100 that is wearable by the patient. The pain detector ring 100 includes a plurality of sensors 102 for detecting one or more vital signs of the patient, such as the patient's heart rate and/or temperature. For example, one or more first sensors 102a may sense a first vital sign of the patient. The pain detector ring 100 also may include one or more second sensors 102b that sense a second vital sign of the patient. The first vital sign may be the patient's heart rate, and the second vital sign may be the patient's temperature. In other embodiments, other sensors 102 may sense other vital signs of the patient that may help indicate the patient's pain level.

As shown in FIG. 1 , each of the plurality of sensors 102 may be positioned at or adjacent an inner surface 104 of the pain detector ring 100. As discussed in greater detail below, the inner surface 104 of the pain detector ring 100 may be in contact with the patient such that the sensors 102 can sense the one or more vital signs of the patient. The pain detector ring 100 also includes an outer surface 106, and a first edge 108 and a second edge 1 10 define a width of the ring 100.

Pain detector ring 100 also includes a processor 1 12 for determining the pain level of the patient. As an example, the processor 1 12 may use the first vital sign to determine the patient's pain level. More specifically, in embodiments in which the first vital sign is the patient's heart rate, the processor may compare the patient's sensed heart rate to a baseline heart rate to determine the patient's pain level. For example, if the patient's heart rate is elevated over the baseline heart rate, the patient's pain level may be higher than a pain level associated with the baseline heart rate. The baseline heart rate may be a preprogrammed heart rate derived from a patient population, or alternatively, the baseline heart rate may be a baseline heart rate of the specific patient wearing the pain detector ring. As an example, the baseline heart rate of the specific patient may be determined when the patient is in a known relaxed or essentially pain-free state.

In yet other embodiments, the processor 1 12 may use the patient's temperature to determine the patient's pain level. For example, the sensors 102 may be temperature sensors that sense the patient's temperature, and similar to using the patient's heart rate as described above, the processor 1 12 may compare the patient's temperature to a baseline temperature to determine the patient's pain level. The baseline temperature may be predetermined from a patient population or may be determined when the patient is in a known relaxed or essentially pain free state. When compared to the baseline temperature, an elevated or higher temperature may indicate the patient is in greater pain than the pain level associated with the baseline temperature.

In still other embodiments, processor 1 12 may use both a first vital sign and a second vital sign to determine the patient's pain level. In an exemplary embodiment, the first vital sign may be the patient's heart rate and the second vital sign may be the patient's temperature, and the processor 1 12 may use both the patient's heart rate and the patient's temperature to determine the patient's pain level. Of course, pain detector ring 100 may include sensors 102 for sensing other and/or additional vital signs, and one or more of such vital signs may be used in addition to or as an alternative to the patient's heart rate and/or temperature to determine the patient's pain level.

It will be appreciated that the pain detector ring 100 may include a control circuit having one or more processors 1 12 and associated memory device(s) configured to perform a variety of computer-implemented functions (e.g., performing the methods, steps, calculations and the like disclosed herein). As used herein, the term "processor" refers not only to integrated circuits referred to in the art as being included in a computer, but also refers to a controller, a microcontroller, a

microcomputer, a programmable logic controller (PLC), an application specific integrated circuit, and other programmable circuits. Additionally, the memory device(s) may generally comprise memory element(s) including, but not limited to, computer readable medium (e.g., random access memory (RAM)), computer readable non-volatile medium (e.g., a flash memory), a floppy disk, a compact discread only memory (CD-ROM), a magneto-optical disk (MOD), a digital versatile disc (DVD) and/or other suitable memory elements.

Such memory device(s) may generally be configured to store suitable computer-readable instructions that, when implemented by the processor(s) 1 12, configure the control circuit to perform various functions including, but not limited to, utilize one or more patient vital signs to determine the patient's pain level or other functions. More particularly, the instructions may configure the control circuit to perform functions such as receiving directly or indirectly signals from one or more sensors (e.g. voltage sensors, current sensors, and/or other sensors), such as sensors 102, indicative of various input conditions, determining a capacitor bank voltage, controlling a pre-charge process of the capacitor bank, and/or various other suitable computer-implemented functions, which enable the pain ring 100 to carry out the various functions described herein. An interface can include one or more circuits, terminals, pins, contacts, conductors, or other components for sending and receiving control signals. Moreover, the control circuit may include a sensor interface (e.g., one or more analog-to-digital converters) to permit signals transmitted from any sensors within the system to be converted into signals that can be understood and processed by the processor(s) 1 12.

In some embodiments, the processor 1 12 may utilize machine learning or other techniques to derive the baseline heart rate, baseline temperature, or the like over time. In one exemplary embodiment, the processor 1 12 has a memory device storing computer executable instructions comprising machine learning techniques, and the processor 1 12 is adapted to execute the instructions. The machine learning techniques may include at least one of, e.g., adaptive and non-adaptive noise cancelation of noise in the signals; signal envelope detection; low pass, band-pass, band-stop, and/or high pass digital filters to extract different pump parameters from a data spectrum; or supervised or unsupervised clustering, which may include at least one of k-means, fuzzy c-means artificial neural networks, support vector machine, and/or fuzzy systems to characterize pump operation across different populations and across time (e.g., across an infusion procedure or multiple infusion procedures). Thus, in one embodiment, processor 1 12 could assimilate vital signs sensed by sensors 102 over time and thereby determine a baseline of one or more vital signs, etc. Further, to estimate a baseline using measurements over time, some statistical and morphological features such as norm, root-mean-square, skewness, kurtosis, entropy, and the like may be used in a machine learning stage to compare present and past measurements taken by sensors 102.

As further depicted in FIG. 1 , the pain detector ring 100 includes an indicator 1 14 for visually indicating the pain level of the patient on the pain detector ring 100. In some embodiments, such as the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 , the indicator 1 14 is a band extending about an outer perimeter of the pain detector ring 100, and the band is configured to change color to visually indicate the pain level of the patient. For example, the indicator 1 14 extending in a band about ring 100 may incorporate one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) that can transition from one color to another, with each color indicating a different pain level of the patient. In other embodiments, the indicator 1 14 may utilize a material or other component that can change color in response to the one or more vital signs sensed by sensors 102.

In some embodiments, the color change of the indicator 1 14 generally may correspond to a range of color of a color wheel. For example, indicator 1 14 may be a blue color to indicate zero pain level or an essentially pain free state and may be a red color to indicate an unbearable level of pain, with the gradations of color from blue to red on a color wheel indicating the gradations of pain between the zero pain level and the unbearable pain level. More particularly, indicator 1 14 may be configured to display the following colors: blue, blue-green, green, green-yellow, yellow, yellow-orange, orange, orange-red, and red. In such embodiments, when indicator 1 14 is blue, the indicator 1 14 visually indicates on pain detector ring 100 that the patient's pain level is a lowest pain level, e.g., a zero pain level, and when indicator 1 14 is red, the indicator 1 14 visually indicates on pain detector ring 100 that the patient's pain level is a highest pain level, e.g., an unbearable pain level. Similarly, when indicator 1 14 is green, the indicator 1 14 is a visual indication that the patient's pain level is a fairly low pain level, e.g., a mild pain level; when indicator 1 14 is yellow, the indicator 1 14 is a visual indication that the patient's pain level is a mid-range pain level, e.g., a moderate pain level; and when the indicator 1 14 is orange, the indicator 1 14 is a visual indication that the patient's pain level is a fairly high pain level, e.g., a severe pain level. When indicator 1 14 is a green-yellow color, the indicator visually indicates on pain detector ring 100 that the patient's pain level is between a moderate and a severe pain level.

Of course, in other embodiments, indicator 1 14 may use other colors or other visual features to indicate the patient's pain level. As an example, indicator 1 14 may comprise a plurality of symbols, each symbol representing a different pain level, and a plurality of LEDs for illuminating each symbol individually. In such embodiments, upon determining the patient's pain level based on the patient's vital sign(s) sensed by sensor(s) 102, processor 1 12 is configured to illuminate the symbol corresponding with the determined pain level. In still other embodiments, any suitable text, graphic, or the like may be used to visually indicate the patient's pain level.

Referring still to FIG. 1 , the pain detector ring 100 also includes a transmitter 1 16 for transmitting the pain level of the patient to another, separate device. As described in greater detail below, the pain detector ring 100 may transmit the patient's pain level, as determined by processor 1 12, to a patient management system that, e.g., utilizes patient, caregiver, and/or other data to develop, augment, and/or adjust a course of treatment of the patient. In some embodiments, the pain detector ring 100 may transmit the patient's pain level to a pain management device such as an infusion assembly 1 18 having an infusion pump 120 (FIG. 3) that delivers medication to the patient intended to alleviate the patient's pain. The pain level data transmitted to the pain management device may be used to control the delivery of medication from the pain management device to the patient, as will be further described with respect to FIG. 3. Preferably, the transmitter 1 16 wirelessly transmits the pain level of the patient to one or more devices such as the pain management system and/or the pain management device. However, transmitter 1 16 also may transmit the pain level data to a device that is separate from the pain detector ring 100 via a wired or other hard connection.

Moreover, although illustrated and described separately, it will be appreciated that processor 1 12 and transmitter 1 16 may be part of a single component of pain detector ring 100. That is, one component may be configured to perform the processing and transmitting functions of pain detector ring 100 described herein, as well as the functions required to display the patient's pain level via the indicator 1 14. Pain detector ring 100 may have other configurations as well.

Turning to FIG. 2, a schematic view is provided of an exemplary embodiment of the pain detector ring 100. More particularly, in exemplary embodiments, the pain detector ring 100 is configured to be worn on a finger 202 of a hand 200 of the patient. For example, as depicted in FIG. 2, the pain detector ring 100 may be worn on a ring finger 202d of the patient such that the pain detector ring 100 encircles the patient's ring finger 202d with the inner surface 104 disposed against the patient's ring finger 202d. As such, the plurality of sensors 102 is positioned against or adjacent to the patient's ring finger 202d such that the sensors 102 can sense one or more vital signs of the patient as previously described. In other embodiments, the pain detector ring 100 may be worn on a different finger 102, such as the index finger 202b or any other appropriate finger 202. In still other embodiments, the pain detector ring 100 may be configured to be worn on the patient's wrist 204, e.g., as a bracelet. In yet other embodiments, the pain detector ring 100 may be configured to encircle another portion of the patient's body such that the pain detector ring 100 can utilize one or more vital signs of the patient to determine the patient's pain level.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a schematic view is provided of a system 300 for patient pain management that includes the pain detector ring 100 and at least one pain management device 1 18. More specifically, in some embodiments, the pain detector ring 100 includes a transmitter 1 16 that transmits the patient's pain level to a pain management device 1 18; in the depicted embodiment of FIG. 3, the pain management device is an infusion assembly 1 18 that dispenses a medicinal fluid to the patient. As illustrated in FIG. 3, an exemplary infusion assembly 1 18 includes an infusion pump 120, e.g., an elastomeric pump, defining a reservoir that serves as a pressurized fluid source, holding medicinal fluid, such as local anesthetics, under pressure. In the depicted embodiment, the infusion pump 120 extends between a first support 122 and a second support 124, and the infusion pump 120 expands as the medicinal fluid is received within the pump and contracts as the medicinal fluid is dispensed from the pump. The infusion pump 120 forces the medicinal fluid through a tubing or conduit 126 that forms a continuous flow path for delivery of the medicinal fluid into a wound site nerve bundle or the blood stream of the patient P. In some embodiments, the infusion assembly 1 18 may be configured to provide for bolus delivery. In such configurations, the tubing or conduit 126 may split into a continuous or primary flow path and a controlled bolus flow path. Thus, medicinal fluid may be delivered into a wound site nerve bundle or the blood stream of patient P from infusion pump 120 via the continuous or primary flow path or from a bolus delivery system via the controlled bolus flow path.

Exemplary infusion pumps are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 7,959,623 and 5,254,481 , which are hereby incorporated by reference. A variety of other conventional pumps also may be used. For example, the pumps described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,080,652 and 5, 105,983, which are hereby incorporated by reference, may be used. As will be understood by those of skill in the art, other suitable electronic or mechanical pumps offered by other manufacturers may be used as well.

Keeping with FIG. 3, in the exemplary system 300, the pain level of the patient received by the pain management device 1 18 may be used to control the delivery of medication from the infusion pump 120 to the patient P. More

particularly, the infusion assembly 1 18 includes a receiver 128 for receiving the pain level transmitted from the transmitter 1 16 of the pain detector ring 100. That is, to receive the pain level determined by processor 1 12 of pain detector ring 100, the pain management device has a receiver 128 configured to receive the pain level data. As illustrated in FIG. 3, receiver 128 may wirelessly receive the pain level data from transmitter 1 16, or in other embodiments, receiver 128 may receive the pain level data via a wired or other hard connection directly between the pain detector ring 100 and the pain management device or indirectly, e.g., from a connection between the pain detector ring 100 and an intermediary device and then between the intermediary device and the pain management device. Further, the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 depicts the receiver 128 adjacent the first support 122; for example, the receiver 128 may be disposed in a control housing 130, which may house a printed circuit board (PCB) and/or other control elements, as well as features such as a wireless relay or module (e.g., a Bluetooth module). In other embodiments, the receiver 128 may be incorporated into first support 122 or second support 124 or otherwise disposed on or in infusion assembly 1 18. It will be appreciated that, upon receipt of one or more signals indicative of the pain level determined by processor 1 12 of pain detector ring 100, receiver 128 communicates or otherwise transmits the pain level data to one or more components of infusion assembly 1 18 that thereby control the flow rate of the medicinal fluid from infusion pump 120.

Turning to FIG. 4, a diagram view is provided of a representative patient management system 400 that may utilize data from one or more devices to develop, augment, and/or adjust a course of treatment of the patient. Patient management system 400 includes a network 402 for sending and/or receiving information or data as previously described. A device connected through network 402 to a server 406 may provide patient data to server 406 for use in utilizing the patient's health data, such as the patient's pain level, for developing, augmenting, and/or adjusting the patient's treatment. For example, one or more medical devices or instruments, such as pain detector ring 100 and pain management device 1 18, may be connected to server 406 as depicted in FIG. 4 to provide patient data for use in the patient's treatment. Each medical device may provide medical device-generated patient data to server 406. Such data may include data from one or more devices used by the patient, such as one or more wearable devices, e.g., for detecting the patient's vital signs, biofeedback, biomarkers, and/or the patient's activity, etc. For example, like pain detector ring 100 described above, each medical device may have one or more sensors that output data, which may be provided to server 406 via network 402.

Server 406 is configured to respond to inputs through the devices 100, 1 18, etc. to help manage the patient's treatment, e.g., the patient's pain management following an outpatient procedure. Server 406 may be cloud-based, co-located at a hospital site, or located at another appropriate site. Server 406 also may respond to the input of patient data by storing the data in one or more databases 408

communicatively connected to server 406. As such, the information stored within the database(s) 408 may be information relating, e.g., to the patient's pain level, heat rate, temperature, other vital signs, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 4, server 406 comprises a number of processing modules. It will be appreciated that the term "module" refers to computer logic utilized to provide specified functionality. Thus, a module can be implemented in hardware, firmware, and/or software controlling a general purpose processor. In one embodiment, the modules are program code files stored on the storage device, loaded into memory, and executed by a processor similar to processor 1 12 previously described. Alternatively, the modules can be program code files provided from computer program products, e.g., computer executable instructions, which are stored in a tangible computer-readable storage medium such as RAM hard disk or optical or magnetic media. Also, it will be appreciated that embodiments of server 406 can have different or other modules to the ones described herein, with the described functionalities distributed amongst the modules in a different manner.

Referring to FIG. 4, server 406 is configured to collect the patient data, e.g., for storage in a database 408, analyze the patient data, and disseminate the patient data. More specifically, server 406 comprises collection module 410 for collecting patient data from medical devices such as pain detector ring 100 and pain management device 1 18. One or more pieces of patient data may be sent to or received by analysis module 412 for analysis, which may comprise sorting the data in preparation for analyzing or disseminating the data. For example, analysis module 412 may use the patient data to develop specific therapies, e.g., analysis module 412 may use data from pain detector ring 100 and pain management device 1 18 to develop, augment, or adjust the pain management of the patient using the infusion pump 120. The patient data or the results of the analysis of the patient data may be selectively disseminated or distributed via dissemination module 414. At least a portion of the patient data may be available to one or more entities, such as the patient, caregiver(s), and/or healthcare organization(s).

It should be appreciated that, in some embodiments, collection module 410, analysis module 412, and/or dissemination module 414 may be separate from server 406. That is, modules 410, 412, 414 may be standalone components of system 400 in communication with the other components of system 400, e.g., devices 404, 100, 1 18 and databases 408 via network 402. Further, as depicted in FIG. 4, devices 404, 100, and 1 18, server 406, and databases 408 are connected and/or multiplexed to network 402, e.g., via direct network or other suitable links. However, patient management system 400 may have other configurations as well.

As will be readily understood from the foregoing, the present subject matter also encompasses one or more methods for detecting and displaying a pain level of a patient. In an exemplary method, the method includes sensing a first vital sign of the patient using a first sensor 102a of a pain detector ring 100 worn by the patient; determining the pain level of the patient using the first vital sign; visually indicating the pain level of the patient on the pain detector ring; and transmitting the pain level of the patient to another device. In some embodiments, visually indicating the pain level of the patient comprises modulating a color of an indicator 1 14, which may be configured as a band extending about an outer perimeter of the pain detector ring 100. Further, the method also may include sensing a second vital sign of the patient using a second sensor 102b of the pain detector ring 100. In such embodiments, the pain level of the patient may be determined using both the first and second vital signs sensed by sensors 102a and 102b. In still other embodiments, transmitting the pain level of the patient to another device comprises transmitting the pain level of the patient to a pain management device 1 18, such as an infusion pump 120 that provides a flow of medication to the patient. Additionally or alternatively,

transmitting the pain level of the patient may include transmitting the pain level to a server 406 of a patient management system 400, which collects, analyzes, and distributes the pain level as needed to develop, augment, and/or adjust a treatment plan of the patient.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any

incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.