Faculty
Engineering
Supervisor Name
Dave Walton
Keywords
Algometer, Pain, Biomedical Device
Description
Many people suffer from chronic pain, the reasons for which are not always well understood. Algometers are instruments that can help clinicians understand the nature of pain by determining the force at which pain becomes noticeable or unbearable. Algometers can also be used to determine the effects that external influences can have on pain tolerance in healthy people.
The goal of this project was to develop an algometer that can measure the normal range of pain thresholds and tolerances of most patients, which ranges up to 35 lbs. Also, the result needed to be accurate to about 1% and made as inexpensively as possible, ideally below $150. Lastly, the algometer needed to be wireless, to allow clinicians freedom of movement while testing.
Over the summer, the engineering design process was followed to create a functional algometer using an ESP-WROOM-32 microcontroller, a load cell, and an amplifier. The ESP32 provided the algometer with Bluetooth capability and controlled each component, while the load cell provided force value inputs. The algometer was calibrated using 5 and 10 kg weights.
The final design can measure forces beyond 156 N with an accuracy of around 1% beyond 50 N, and its minimal parts and 3D-printed exterior ensure a final prototype with low cost. Although the setup is not currently wireless, Bluetooth connectivity was explored and tested, meaning that a wireless connection is possible with this setup. Future work will require testing the algometer with people suffering from chronic pain.
Acknowledgements
This research was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada under grant RGPIN-2014-03815; by the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), by the Ontario Research Fund (ORF); and by the Undergraduate Summer Research Internships (URSI) of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Western University.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Document Type
Poster
Development of a Low-Cost Algometer
Many people suffer from chronic pain, the reasons for which are not always well understood. Algometers are instruments that can help clinicians understand the nature of pain by determining the force at which pain becomes noticeable or unbearable. Algometers can also be used to determine the effects that external influences can have on pain tolerance in healthy people.
The goal of this project was to develop an algometer that can measure the normal range of pain thresholds and tolerances of most patients, which ranges up to 35 lbs. Also, the result needed to be accurate to about 1% and made as inexpensively as possible, ideally below $150. Lastly, the algometer needed to be wireless, to allow clinicians freedom of movement while testing.
Over the summer, the engineering design process was followed to create a functional algometer using an ESP-WROOM-32 microcontroller, a load cell, and an amplifier. The ESP32 provided the algometer with Bluetooth capability and controlled each component, while the load cell provided force value inputs. The algometer was calibrated using 5 and 10 kg weights.
The final design can measure forces beyond 156 N with an accuracy of around 1% beyond 50 N, and its minimal parts and 3D-printed exterior ensure a final prototype with low cost. Although the setup is not currently wireless, Bluetooth connectivity was explored and tested, meaning that a wireless connection is possible with this setup. Future work will require testing the algometer with people suffering from chronic pain.