Apparatus for automated tactile testing

An apparatus for automatically testing the tactile sensory response of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• temperature means for applying a nonambient temperature to the patient's skin;
• pinprick means for pricking the patient's skin;
• indentation means for indenting the patient's skin;
• vibration means for vibrating the patient's skin;
• discrimination means for making two spaced apart contacts with the patient's skin;
• control means for controlling the operation of the temperature means, the pinprick means, the indentation means, the vibration means, and the discrimination means.
• computer means for recording the patinet's responses to said temperature means, pinprick means, indentation means, vibration means, and discrimination means and for generating additional stimuli in response to the record of the patient's responses to said stimuli.

An apparatus for automatically testing the tactile sensory response of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one tactile stimulation means for cutaneous stimulation of the patient;
• control means for accurately controlling the amplitude of stimulus administered by operation of the at least one stimulation means, such that stimuli of precise predetermined amplitude are administered;
• means for recording the patient's responses to the stimuli;
• and
• computer means for generating additional stimuli in response to the record of the patient's responses to the stimuli such that a predetermined set of data can be collected.

An apparatus for automatically testing the tactile sensory response of a patient, the apparatus comprising;

• first tactile stimulation means for cutaneous stimulation of the patient comprising means for pricking the patient's skin, said means for pricking the skin comprising a constant torque motor;
• second tactile stimulation means for cutaneous stimulation of the patient;
• control means for controlling the operation of the first tactile stimulation means and the second tactile stimulation means;
• and
• means for recording the patient's responses to the first and the second tactile stimulation means for cutaneous stimulation of the patient.

An apparatus for automatically testing the tactile sensory response of a patient, the apparatus comprising;

• first tactile stimulation means for cutaneous stimulation of the patient, wherein the first tactile stimulation means comprises touch discrimination means for making two spaced apart contacts with the patient's skin comprising a galvanometer and a servo motor;
• second tactile stimulation means for cutaneous stimulation of the patient;
• control means for controlling the operation of the first tactile stimulation means and the second tactile stimulation means;
• and
• means for recording the patient's responses to the first and the second tactile stimulation means for cutaneous stimulation of the patient.

An apparatus for automatically testing the tactile sensory response of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• first tactile stimulation means for cutaneous stimulation of the patient;
• second tactile stimulation means for cutaneous stimulation of the patient;
• control means for accurately controlling the amplitude and time course of stimulus administered by operation of the first tactile stimulation means and the second tactile stimulation means, such that stimuli of precise predetermined amplitude and time course are administered;
• and
• computer means for recording the patient's responses to the first and second tactile stimulation means for cutaneous stimulation of the patient.