Incapacitance Meter, Rodent
from
Stoelting Co.
Description
Test for Measurement of Paw Pain Inflammation. Features:
- Averaging Period: 0-255 seconds
- Accurate to 0.1g
- RS232 Output for PC or Printer
- Up to 255 units can be interconnected
- Footswitch provided for hands-free operation
- Large, high contrast display
This new instrument is an alternative to the Paw Pressure Analgesia Meter with significant advantages. It provides an automatic and reproducible assessment of analgesic efficacy by measuring the weight distribution of the hind paws of a small animal. It is a dual channel scale that separately measures the weight the animal distributes to each hind paw. While normal rats distribute weight 50-50, the ratio of weight distribution between an injured and non-injured paw is a natural measure of the level of discomfort in the injured paw, and correlates with the Paw Pressure Analgesia Meter. The force exerted by each limb is averaged over a user selectable period thus indicating any tendency for the animal to shift its weight from one side to the other. This provides a quantitative measurement of incapacitance. The Incapacitance meter does not require restraint, and provides a value independent of researcher reaction time or subjective judgments about whether the animal has flinched or not. Also, it does not involve provoking a pained area to see latency of withdrawal. The animal stands and makes its natural adjustment to the degree of pain. The optional windows software allows for data collection as well as customization and configuration of parameters. This product is also available in a 220V model. For more information on the product, including images, information about the software, our product manual for detailed technical information and a list of citations involving this apparatus, please visit our website.