You are here

Development of an Objective Pain Biometric Device and Method

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: National Institutes of Health
Contract: 1R43DA046954-01
Agency Tracking Number: R43DA046954
Amount: $224,173.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: NIDA
Solicitation Number: DA18-012
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2017
Award Year: 2018
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2018-09-01
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2019-08-31
Small Business Information
2844 28TH ST NW
Washington, DC 20008-4110
United States
DUNS: 080057986
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: Yes
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 DANIEL GURA
 (207) 347-1715
 dgura@hellerindustries.com
Business Contact
 DAVID GROSS
Phone: (207) 347-1715
Email: dgura@hellerindustries.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

The objective of this Phase I SBIR is to establish the proof of concept for a device and method
that uses unique biometric signatures to provide an objective measure of pain and analgesic
effectBackgroundThe overall prevalence of pain in the United States is substantial withof the adult population experiencing chronic painMoreoverthe rates of chronic pain are
expected to continue to rise over timeconsequently adding to the overall health and economic
burden on the populationWith pain being recognized as the upstream driver of the opioid
epidemicadequately addressing pain and its management will not only mitigate the burden of
pain but also contribute to preventing the problems associated with the opioid epidemicUnder
the current standard of carepain assessment is subjective and predicated on a linear intensity
scaleIt does not reflect the complexity of pain and does little to guide interventions best suited
to an individual patient s pain profileThis application describes the development of a novel
platform technology that produces an objective measure of pain which can guide analgesic
interventionsThe TechnologyThe AlgometRx device is a platform technology that utilizes
proprietary algorithms to provide an objective measure of pain and analgesic effectThe
measurement of the pupillary response to low intensitynon noxious neuro specific
neurostimulation serves as a biometric that reflects nociceptive processesThe derived pain
phenotype reflects the impact of any genetic or environmental modulators of pain sensitivity or
analgesic efficacy and reflects a personalized evaluation at the time of the assessmentObservations of pain and drug effect using biometric measures eliminate the subjective nature
of pain managementExperimental ApproachThis proposal includes two studies using the
research prototype to characterize different populations of pain and analgesic effects in a
clinical settingThe first study will investigate acute pain patients undergoing opioid therapyThe second study will investigate chronic pain patients who receive other forms of analgesics as
well as opioidsThe data generated from these studies will inform the ongoing development of
algorithms to generate a pain phenotype that informs upon the type of painthe intervention
necessary to mitigate the painand ongoing monitoring of the interventionAimsTo develop
a methodology for the use of the PRD induced by non noxiousneurospecific neurostimulationn PRDas an objective measure of pain intensity and sensitivityTo determine the impact of
analgesics on the n PRDTo assess acceptability and feasibility of the technology Burden of Pain as a Public Health Crisis in the United StatesMore thanmillion Americans suffer from chronic pain at an overall cost of around $billion per
yearThe use of subjective pain scores limits pain assessment to a linear intensity scalewhich does not
reflect the complex nature of pain and does little to discern the various elements that come to bear on one s
perception of painAn objective measure of nociceptive processing would allow for a more precise
understanding of a patient s pain and inform a targeted application of an interventionsuch as opioids

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government