Method and system for detecting neuropathy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9173568-B2
Application number	US-201013148704-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2010
Priority date	Feb 12, 2009
Publication date	Nov 3, 2015
Grant date	Nov 3, 2015

Abstract

The invention provides a system and method for detecting or monitoring neuropathy in an individual. The system of the invention includes a platform having a surface in which a plurality of stimulators is embedded. Each stimulator is configured to stimulate a region in a skin area when the skin area is applied to the platform. The stimulators may deliver thermal and/or vibrational energy to the skin region. In the method of the invention, a skin area is applied to platform and one of the stimulators is activated. A minimal stimulation is determined that is sensed by the individual in a skin region in contact with a stimulator. Neuropathy in the skin region in contact with the stimulator is detected if either the determined minimal stimulation is above a predetermined threshold, or if a stimulation is not sensed before a magnitude of the stimulation reaches a predetermined maximal magnitude. The process is then repeated with other stimulators.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for diagnosing or monitoring neuropathy in a user, the system comprising:
a platform comprising a surface in which a two-dimensional array of stimulators is embedded, each stimulator being configured to stimulate a region of user skin when applied to the platform;
a user feedback device configured to receive an input from the user about a location in the region of user skin where stimulation caused by one or more stimulators of said two-dimensional array is sensed by the user, and to generate signals indicative of the user input; and
a computer processing unit (CPU) configured to control the platform and activate said one or more stimulators, and to receive from said user feedback device said signals indicative of the user input, and to process said signals and generate corresponding data.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said two-dimensional array of stimulators comprise at least one stimulator comprising:
(i) a heating element configured to heat the region of user skin being in contact with the platform; and
(ii) a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the region of user skin being in contact with the platform.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein said two-dimensional array of stimulators comprises at least one stimulator comprising a vibrator configured to deliver a vibration to the region of user skin in contact with the platform.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein said two-dimensional array of stimulators comprises at least one stimulator comprising:
(a) a heating element configured to heat the region of user skin in contact with the platform;
(b) a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the region of user skin in contact with the platform; and
(c) a vibrator configured to deliver a vibration to the region of user skin being in contact with the platform.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said CPU is configured to process the signals received from the user feedback device indicative of the user input about the location in the skin surface where stimulation caused by the one or more stimulators is sensed, and record at least one of the following: data indicative of magnitude of minimal sensation sensible by the user, data indicative of whether a predetermined magnitude of stimulation is not sensed by the user at said location, and data indicative of whether the user indicates wrong stimulation location.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the user feedback device is selected from the following: a touch screen, a pointing device, an eye-tracking-activated device and a voice-command-activated device.

7. The system according to claim 6 further comprising a display displaying a contour of surface of the region of user skin being stimulated.

8. The system according to claim 2 or 4 wherein said CPU is configured to:
(a) monitor a skin temperature of the region of user skin in contact with the platform; and
(b) control operation of the heating element of any one or more of the stimulators.

9. The system according to claim 3 wherein said CPU is configured to activate the vibrator of any one or more of the stimulators at a selectable magnitude.

10. The system according to claim 8 wherein the CPU is further configured to determine sets of contiguous stimulators from said two-dimensional array of stimulators aligned with the region of user skin being in contact with the platform.

11. The system according to claim 8 wherein the CPU is further configured to determine for each of one or more of the stimulators a detectable temperature difference of the region of user skin being in contact with the platform.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the CPU is further configured to compare one or more perceived stimulation levels to a predetermined normative perceived stimulation level.

13. The system according to claim 1 wherein the platform surface is a planar surface.

14. The system according to claim 1 for use in detecting neuropathy in a body extremity.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the body extremity is a hand or foot.

16. A method for diagnosing or monitoring neuropathy in a user, the method comprising:
(a) applying a user body part to a platform such that a skin region of the body part contacts a surface of the platform in which a two-dimensional array of stimulators is embedded;
(b) activating at least one of the stimulators;
(c) receiving data indicative of user input to a user feedback device indicative of a magnitude of minimal stimulation at which the stimulation caused by the stimulator is sensed by the user;
(d) comparing the magnitude of minimal stimulation to a predetermined threshold stimulation;
(e) detecting neuropathy in the skin region in contact with the stimulator if (i) the determined minimal stimulation is above the predetermined threshold, or (ii) if a stimulation is not sensed by the user in the skin region in contact with the stimulator before a magnitude of the stimulation reaches a predetermined maximal magnitude;
(f) repeating steps (b) to (e) as required, each time selecting a different stimulator.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein at least one stimulator comprises:
(i) a heating element configured to heat a skin region in contact with the stimulator;
(ii) a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the skin region in contact with the stimulator.

18. The method according to claim 16 wherein at least one stimulator comprises a vibrator configured to deliver a vibration to a skin region in contact with the stimulator.

19. The method according to claim 16 wherein at least one stimulator comprising:
(a) a heating element configured to heat a skin region in contact with the stimulator;
(b) a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of a skin region in contact with the stimulator; and
(c) a vibrator configured to deliver a vibration to a skin region in contact with the stimulator.

20. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the data indicative of the user input further comprises data indicative of a location in a skin surface where a stimulation caused by a stimulator is sensed by the user.

21. The method according to claim 16 wherein the user feedback device is selected from the following: a touch screen, a pointing device, an eye-tracking-activated device and a voice-command-activated device.

22. The method according to claim 16 further comprising displaying a contour of one or more skin areas.

23. The method according to claim 18 further comprising:
(a) monitoring a skin temperature of a skin region in contact with any one or more of the stimulators; and
(b) heating the heating element of any one or more of the stimulators.

24. The method according to claim 19 further comprising activating the vibrator of any one or more of the stimulators at a selectable magnitude.

25. The method according to claim 23 comprising using a user feedback device to generate a signal indicative of a location in a skin surface where a sensation is sensed by the user, and receiving a signal from the user feedback device indicative of a location in a skin surface where a sensation is sensed.

26. The method according to claim 23 further comprising determining sets of contiguous stimulators in contact with a skin surface.

27. The method according to clai

Assignees

• Gefen Amit
• Univ Ramot

Inventors

• Gefen Amit

Classifications

• A61B5/01

  Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20) · CPC title

• A61B5/441

  Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis · CPC title

• A61B5/0051 Primary

  by applying vibrations · CPC title

• A61B5/4827

  assessing touch sensitivity, e.g. for evaluation of pain threshold · CPC title

• A61B5/483

  by thermal stimulation · CPC title