Apparatus and methods for testing pain sensitivity
AssigneeUnversity of Florida
InventorsAndre Paul Mauderli, Charles J. Vierck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The subject invention concerns an apparatus for testing pain sensitivity in an animal. The apparatus can be used to evaluate pain sensitivity in response to a disease state, drug, surgical procedure, or other intervention. The subject invention also pertains to methods for testing pain sensitivity in an animal, using the apparatus. The apparatus of the subject invention can be automated and used in conjunction with software for control of experimental conditions, response measurements, and data analysis.
Claims82
An apparatus for testing pain sensitivity in a test animal, comprising:
- a first chamber;
- a second chamber;
- means for presenting a painful stimulus to a test animal when the test animal is within said first chamber or said second chamber, wherein said means for presenting a painful stimulus can rapidly present and rapidly remove a painful stimulus to the test animal;
- means for presenting an aversive, non-painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within said first chamber, wherein said means for presenting an aversive, non-painful stimulus can rapidly present and rapidly remove an aversive, non-painful stimulus to the test animal;
- wherein said second chamber is connected to said first chamber by a passageway of sufficient size to permit the test animal to pass between said first and second chambers;
- and wherein said means for presenting a painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within said first chamber and said means for presenting an aversive, non-painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within said first chamber can each motivate the test animal to exhibit a conscious escape response;
- means for presenting a painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within said second chamber, wherein said means for presenting a painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within said second chamber can rapidly present and rapidly remove a painful stimulus to the test animal;
- and
- means for presenting an aversive, non-painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within said second chamber, wherein said means for presenting an aversive, non-painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within said second chamber can rapidly present and rapidly remove an aversive, non-painful stimulus to the test animal;
- and wherein said means for presenting a painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within the second chamber and said means for presenting an aversive, non-painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within said second chamber can each motivate the test animal to exhibit a conscious escape response.
A method for testing the pain sensitivity of a test animal, comprising the steps of:
- introducing the test animal into an apparatus comprising a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein said chambers are connected by a passageway;
- presenting an aversive, non-painful stimulus in said first chamber;
- presenting a painful stimulus in said second chamber when said second chamber is occupied by the test animal, thereby motivating the test animal to exhibit a conscious escape response if the test animal perceives pain;
- and
- measuring the escape latency exhibited by the test animal.
An apparatus for testing pain sensitivity in a test animal, comprising:
- a chamber;
- means for presenting a painful stimulus to a test animal when the test animal is within said chamber;
- means for presenting an aversive, non-painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within said chamber;
- and
- means for exhibiting a conscious escape response when the test animal is within said chamber, wherein when said conscious escape response exhibiting means is activated by the test animal, the painful stimulus or the aversive, non-painful stimulus is terminated or lessened in magnitude.
An apparatus for testing pain sensitivity in a test animal, comprising:
- a chamber;
- means for presenting a painful stimulus to a test animal when the test animal is within said chamber;
- means for presenting an aversive, non-painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within said chamber;
- and
- means for implementing an appetitive stimulus to the test animal, wherein when said appetitive stimulus implementing means is activated by the test animal, an appetitive stimulus is presented to the test animal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.