The Ugo Basile Tail Flick has been designed to measure accurately the nociceptive threshold to infrared heat stimulus on the rat or mouse tail. An infrared heat stimulus is focused on the animal tail and reaction time (time to flick) is automatically recorded. An optional Tilted Mouse Restrainer (57369) is necessary to keep the mouse tail on the emitter until stimulated. The operator starts the stimulus: when the animal feels pain and flicks its tail, a sensor detects it, stops the timer and switches off the bulb. The reaction time of the animal is thus determined and automatically recorded.

For fast, sensitive screening of analgesic effects

Direct connection to a PC

PC Interface to serial and USB ports via the adaptor provided

Operating Intensity presettable in 1 digit increments

Multifinction graphic display readout

Memory stick provided with the standard package

No protruding elements: flush mounted infrared window

Comfortable, unobstructed working surface

No stray radiation

Compare pain sensitivity accurately and reproducibly in mice or rats. The animal’s tail is placed over a window on the platform while the animal is restrained in an acrylic holder or by hand. A foot switch activates an intense light beam to the tail, adjustable in the range of 60°C – 170°C. When the level of discomfort is reached, the animal will flick its tail out of the beam.

The time from activation of the light beam to animal response is displayed in large LED numbers with a resolution to 0.1 seconds. Since the onset of thermal stimulation and the animal’s response are both detected electronically, the operator’s reaction time is not a factor.

Calibration

Each Tail Flick is accurately calibrated via an I.R. Radiometer (No. 57390) to make sure that its I.R. source delivers the same power flux (expressed in mW per square cm) and hence a nociceptive stimulus of the same intensity.

An optional Tilted Mouse Restrainer (57369) is essential to keep a mouse’s tail on the emitter until stimulated.