Moving coil pressure algometer produces consistent force gradient and repeated stimulation

Computer-controlled pressure stimulation (algometry) offers seemingly good reliability when it comes to pain assessment methods. It is therefore important to ensure through methodological quantification that moving coil pressure algometer (MCPA) exhibits accurate, fast, and precise tissue stimulation techniques. This study 1) demonstrates that MCPA satisfies force gradient capabilities of a conventional computer-controlled algometry, and 2) reports on effectiveness of the MCPA to produce sustained, fast, and repeated stimulation of a known pulse duration (600ms) and force magnitude (10kg). Solicited force gradients of 500, 1000, and 1800g/s showed high correlation values (R² >; 0.99) for both rubber mat and direct probe-to-sensor contact cases. Through fast switching between different modes of operation of the actuator, force overshoot was reduced from as much as 300 to 20% for the same force magnitude, at the expense of a slight delay in repeated pulse delivery scheme.