General Instructions for Use

The PainChek App is a mobile application that is downloaded from the Apple App Store and it is generally used in much the same way as any other app.

Devices running the PainChek app should be used, charged, maintained and disposed of according to the standard instructions provided by Apple – search the Apple web site https://support.apple.com for the user guide relevant to your particular device.

Intended Use

PainChek is a software system which is comprised of the following components:

a)    Mobile Application (the App)

b)    Web Admin Portal

PainChek is intended to be used to assess and monitor pain in people who cannot verbalise such as people with dementia or communication difficulties

PainChek is a point-of-care App which uses a smart-device camera to capture a short video of a person’s face, this is then analysed in real-time using facial recognition technology to detect nine muscle movements - these are indicative of the presence of pain. This data is then combined with non-facial pain cues including movements, behaviours and vocalisations and inputted into the App to allow the automatic calculation of a pain severity score. The App has a graphing function which allows monitoring the person’s pain over time.

Users

All users must thoroughly read and comprehend this user manual. 

If any aspect of this user guide is unclear or you have any questions about the use or suitability of the app, seek assistance from the support team (via support@painchek.com) before using the application.

Supported Devices

PainChek can only be used on supported devices running the iOS 10 or above mobile operating system. 

You should keep the operating system up-to-date and download the latest official patch versions from Apple when they are made available to the public.

PainChek is supported on the following devices:

  • iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S+
  • iPhone 7, iPhone 7+
  • iPhone 8, iPhone 8+
  • iPhone SE
  • iPad Mini 4
  • iPad (2017)

Although PainChek is yet to be formally tested on the following devices, we anticipate these devices will be supported in the near future:

  • iPhoneX
  • iPad Air 2

Operating Environment

The app is designed to be used indoors, in areas with good lighting. As the PainChek app relies on using the devices camera, good lighting (such as you would find in an office) is essential to ensure consistent results.

Internet Connectivity

The app relies on internet connectivity in order to synchronise the data collected on the app with the data stored in the PainChek cloud database. The app can use WiFi and/or mobile (cellular) data connections. Please follow the standard instructions from Apple or from your organisation in order to set-up internet connectivity on your device.

You do not need to be continuously connected to the internet in order to use the app, but you do when you are:

  • Downloading the App from the App Store
  • Setting up the app for the first time
  • Logging onto a device for the first time
  • Synchronising data between your device and the PainChek cloud database

Updating the PainChek App

It is recommended that the PainChek app up is kept up-to-date. If a new version is released onto the App Store, your device will notify you automatically. You should download the new version as soon as is practical.

Warnings and Cautions

Automated and Manual Facial Assessments

The App requires that patients be reasonably still and co-operative in order to record a video of sufficient duration to allow for an automated facial assessment.

It might not be possible to perform an automated facial assessment due to:

  • The patients face not being clearly visible
  • The patient moving too much
  • Lighting being of poor quality
  • The patient preferring that they are not recorded

In any of these circumstances, a manual assessment should instead be performed.

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