A patent has been granted for an AI that predicts the outcome of stroke rehabilitation invented by Associate Professor Michihiro Osumi and Associate Professor Masanori Fuyuki of the Kio University Graduate School of Health Sciences. The title of the invention is ``A method and system for predicting the effects of rehabilitation aimed at improving physical pain in stroke patients.'' Fuyuki Gakuen Educational Corporation, which operates Kio University, has acquired the patent rights.
This system uses AI to predict whether the pain caused by a stroke will be alleviated by physical therapy, mainly exercise therapy. There are various types of pain that can occur after a stroke, and can be described as ``numbness pain,'' ``electricity-like pain,'' and ``burning pain.'' These pains may or may not be alleviated by physical therapy, and it is difficult to make progress in rehabilitation while worrying about ``pain that you don't know if it will get better.''
Regarding the prognosis of pain after a stroke, Associate Professor Osumi et al. found that ``pain that feels like it's being twisted'' and ``pain that occurs when being pushed'' is easier to alleviate with physical therapy, whereas ``pain that occurs when touching something cold'' is easier to alleviate. Previous research has revealed that ``numbness-like pain'' is difficult to alleviate with physical therapy. Using the results of this research, we developed an AI system that can determine the outcome of rehabilitation (whether or not the pain eases after several months of rehabilitation) by inputting data on the "nature" of pain before rehabilitation.
This AI system allows rehabilitation programs to be planned in anticipation of the situation several months in the future, which not only reduces patient anxiety but also helps medical professionals determine whether or not rehabilitation should be performed and implement it smoothly.
The invention is said to have resulted from exploratory research in a next-generation research and development project promoted by Kio University. In the future, we will clarify the rehabilitation effects and medical economic effects brought about by the introduction of this AI system.
