VR-PainCart pilot

The VR simulation is added to a nociceptive pain measurement, the electrical stair test from the PainCart®. The PainCart® has been proven sensitive in clinical trials in detecting the pharmacodynamic effects of multiple analgesics. The measurements are performed in a quiet room, each subject is assigned to a separate room to minimize any distraction. The electrical stair test uses two electrodes on the tibial bone to assess cutaneous electrical pain. Single electrical stimuli are provided with a duration of 0.2 ms, increasing from 0 mA to a maximum of 50 mA in steps of 0.5 mA. The maximum duration of the test is 120 seconds.
In this study a VR simulation is introduced aimed at enhancing the pain perception. Two VR environments (VR-neutral and VR+) are developed, both simulating a room with a PainCart setup. The environments include an avatar of the subject, the chair, and equipment of the electrical stair pain test, including electrodes on the leg and a VAS slider. The VR-neutral simulation has no additional aspects; it shows a similar setup as the test without VR. During the VR+ simulation, a wound appears simultaneously with the intensity of the pain test. The visual enhancement is supported with accompanying sounds of electrical sparks. The simulation of the wounds starts and stops simultaneously with the stimulation, both controlled by the subject. After 40 seconds of simulation the intensity of the audio-visual stimulation no longer increases. The VAS slider is visible in the simulation and used to record the Pain Detection Threshold (PDT) and Pain Tolerance Threshold (PTT).

To assess the effect of Virtual Reality mediated visual and auditory lowering of electrical pain detection and tolerance thresholds.

Screening up to -90 days till EOS

Virtual Reality images