Ugo Basile Von Frey Plantar Aesthesiometer

Product Code: 161

For assessment of animal sensitivity to light touch on the paw

The Ugo Basile Plantar von Frey™ Aesthesiometer is a microprocessor-controlled unit. The experimental data, stored in its internal memory, can be directly exported to the PC via a USB or serial port. The 57820 is provided with a USB memory key, and dedicated software to record all the experimental data of one or more sessions, and to program the experiment layouts from a remote PC.

The Ugo Basile Dynamic Plantar Aesthesiometer has been designed to automate the assessment of “touch sensitivity” on the plantar surface of rats or mice and comes ready to work with both Mice and Rats. It is known by some as the Electronic Von Frey or Plantar Von Frey instrument, but it differs from Von Frey devices as Latency and Actual Force at the time of paw withdrawal reflex are automatically detected and recorded.

Somesthetic (mechanical) stimulation has a long history of effective clinical use to diagnose pathologies of hyper- or hypo-aesthesia, brought about by drugs, neural pathology or experimental lesions, etc., in model and experimental systems using laboratory animals.

The new model encompasses:

A movable touch-stimulator unit well proven in revious model

A microprocessor controlled electronic unit, of new design provided with graphic display, internal memory for data storage, memory stick and optional printer.

A large testing surface

A new modular animal enclosure, offering from 3 to 12 spaces.

Computer compatibility: direct connection to a PC, via the dedicated software included as standard

PC Interface: USB and serial

Read-out: multifunction liquid-crystal graphic-display

Data Portability: via the Memory-Key provided with the standard package

Print-out: by optional panel mount or independent thermal mini-printer

Universal Mains 85-264 VAC, 50-60Hz

OPERATION

The animal moves about freely in one of the enclosure compartments, positioned on testing surface.

After cessation of exploratory behaviour, the operator places the touch-stimulator below the target area of the animal paw, using the adjustable angled-mirror to position the filament.

Pressing START key provided at both sides of the handle of the touch-stimulator, invokes the following automatic sequence:

An electrodynamic actuator of proprietary design lifts a straight metal filament

The filament touches the plantar surface and begins to exert an upward force below the threshold of feeling

The force increases (at the preset application rate), until a stop signal is attained, either the animal removing the paw or the point at which greatest preset force is met.

The actuator filament (0.5mm diameter) produces force over the entire range of all typical aesthesiometer test devices. Paw withdrawal reflex is automatically recorded using two metrics: the latency until withdrawal, in seconds, and the force at which paw was withdrawn, in grams.

DATA QUISITION

This is a microprocessor controlled unit. The experimental data, stored in its internal memory can be directly exported to the PC USB or serial ports.

Communication is managed by the dedicated CUB Data Acquisition Software Package, included as standard. The CUB Windows®-based Software Package enables the user to route the experimental data to the PC and store them into individual files, to be managed by most statistical analysis packages available on the market.

This model is provided with a memory key, to record all the experimental data of one or more sessions.

BASIC

Starting via keys on the touch-stimulator vessel

Force range 0 to 50.0 grams, in 0.5 g steps

Force increasing rate adjustable in the interval 1 to 20 seconds,

Filament travel 12 mm

Latency time read-out on graphic display, in 0.1s steps

Connection to PC through DELTA 9-pin connector

PHYSICAL

Universal Mains 85-264 VAC – 50-60Hz – 20 W max.

Total Weight Kg. 10.20

Shipping Weight Kg. 18.50 approx.

ITEM DESCRIPTION

57820 Ugo Basile Dynamic Plantar (Von Frey)

57823 Multiple Configuration Animal Enclosure (12 Animals)

57816 Ugo Basile Grid Platform for 57814, Complete

57102 Durham Animal Restrainers, Set of 2

Durham Animal Restrainers

The Durham Animal Holders are animal holders for trigeminal stimulation, the newest accessory for use with the Plantar Test and Dynamic Plantar Aesthesiometer.

Innovative Design and Material

The Ugo Basile Durham Holders are designed to hold an animal comfortably and effectively. They are made of proprietary polymer with a deep red color which minimizes animal distress.

The holders are available in two sizes; the small holder accommodates animals weighing 175g to 250g, whereas the larger holder accommodates animals weighing 225g to over 400g.

In practice, the rat crawls into the holder and the vertical plate ensures that the animal stays in place. The position of the removable back panel insert can be adjusted, which allows the animal to be securely held in place, without overcrowding.

Access Panels

There are two different windows through which the stimulus may be presented:

Submandibular Access Panel

The opening under the chin is a perfectly sized rectanglar aperture just below the animal’s chin. It allows the IR or mechanical stimulus to be aimed precisely and to stimulate the area innervated by the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve. The aperture is large enough that both right and/or left side may be stimulated individually.

Plantar Access Panel

The holder allows the animal to be positioned such that classic Plantar Tests can be employed for stimulation of the hindpaw.