This week I spent a bit of time with Dr. J. C. Chiao, of University of Texas at Arlington, learning about the field of Physiotronics [TM], which covers the area of Implantable Wireless Medical Devices and Systems. With the recent suicide of my wife due to chronic pain, from Intracranial Hypotension caused by leaking Cerebralspinal Fluid (CSF Leak), the information on An integrated wireless body network for chronic pain management. The system provides a wireless closed loop for neurorecorders to recognize pain signals and neurostimulators to inhibit pain is of great personal interest. Page two and six are the pain related ones.
Perception of pain requires propagation of Neural Signal Action Potentials (APs) via communication between neurons (Nociceptors) over Nociceptive afferent fibers (Aδ, C).
Dr. Chaio's group is currently doing animal trails, with rats, of their APRI [TM]: Automatic Pain Recognition and Inhibition which is a closed-loop On-demand feedback system that is measuring the actual nerve signals that transmit pain to the brain. To my knowledge all other current techniques use only subjective methods of those in actual pain, such as the Mosby Pain Rating Scale, or fiddling with the knobs of a TENS unit far to much as Karen often did. The closed loop system will allow for less pain medication to be injected, and being automatic allow the user to get on with having a life.
I do have one significant concern, due to my bias of not wanting to puncture the spinal dura, which is what causes Intracranial Hypotension, is currently the neural sensors require physical contact with the pain sensing nerve. I'm hoping this does not cause erosion of the dura leading to a CFS Leak. This may be nothing but my personal parainoia.
Also I'm not sure Dr. Chiao, and the medical field at large, understand the importance of the ratio encoding of the nervous system. Something I researched extensively when working with Dr. Flanagan on an update to his Neurophone [TM] years ago. You can read my old research here: Mind9.
This weekend is your last chance to vote for my device in the Dare to Dream Medical Device Contest: How do we make this device happen?. If you are having trouble voting in the device contest from a phone use this link and vote for #5, "Intracranial Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure Regulator". See here for more information.
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