Measurement system of thermal pain threshold and response time

Abstract

In this study, a system is designed and realized in order to determine patients' thermal pain threshold and response time by applying the air heated in tube to the patient. The prior aim of this system is to determine whether patients' thermal pain threshold and response time are changed after surgery under anesthesia. However, the system designed can also be used in other applications such as neurology and physical therapy. In this system, the air in the tube is heated, the contact between air and patient is established and it is expected that patient would press the button when he/she feels the heat. The air temperature in the tube is controlled by a micro controller circuit. The operating range of the system is between 36°C and 50°C. The temperature is increased by 1°C at an interval. In every 1°C increment, the timer starts and it is expected that patient presses button when he/she feels the heat. If the patient does not press the button in 14 seconds, the temperature is increased by 1°C. When the patient presses the button, the temperature, the interval time, and total test time are displayed on the screen. These values give us information about the patient's thermal pain threshold and response time.