A mechanical skin stimulator for cutaneous sensitivity studies

Author

Smith, S.W. ; Ramirez, M.R.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Biomed. Eng., Izaak Walton Killam Children´´s Hosp., Halifax, NS, Canada

Volume

2

fYear

1995

fDate

20-23 Sep 1995

Firstpage

1597

Abstract

The authors have developed a mechanical skin stimulator prototype that consistently administers and records accurate amounts of mechanical force stimulus for cutaneous sensitivity studies. The stimulator can be used to mechanically apply a range of innocuous or noxious stimulation intensities for neurophysiological and psychophysical pain research. The mechanical stimulator can be described as a portable, microprocessor controlled linear force servo actuator

Keywords

biological techniques; biomechanics; computerised instrumentation; mechanoception; neurophysiology; servomechanisms; skin; cutaneous sensitivity studies; innocuous stimulation intensity; mechanical force stimulus; mechanical skin stimulator; neurophysiological pain research; noxious stimulation intensity; portable microprocessor controlled linear force servo actuator; psychophysical pain research; Communication system control; Electromyography; Force control; Hydraulic actuators; Microcomputers; Pain; Probes; Prototypes; Skin; User interfaces;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 1995., IEEE 17th Annual Conference

Conference_Location

Montreal, Que.

Print_ISBN

0-7803-2475-7

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IEMBS.1995.579847

Filename

579847