Patent ID: 6637372
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
An apparatus for testing pain sensitivity in a test animal, comprising:a first chamber; a second chamber; means for presenting a painful stimulus to a test animal when the test animal is within said first chamber or said second chamber, wherein said means for presenting a painful stimulus can rapidly present and rapidly remove a painful stimulus to the test animal; means for presenting an aversive, non-painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within said first chamber, wherein said means for presenting an aversive, non-painful stimulus can rapidly present and rapidly remove an aversive, non-painful stimulus to the test animal; wherein said second chamber is connected to said first chamber by a passageway of sufficient size to permit the test animal to pass between said first and second chambers; and wherein said means for presenting a painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within said first chamber and said means for presenting an aversive, non-painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within said first chamber can each motivate the test animal to exhibit a conscious escape response; means for presenting a painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within said second chamber, wherein said means for presenting a painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within said second chamber can rapidly present and rapidly remove a painful stimulus to the test animal; and means for presenting an aversive, non-painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within said second chamber, wherein said means for presenting an aversive, non-painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within said second chamber can rapidly present and rapidly remove an aversive, non-painful stimulus to the test animal; and wherein said means for presenting a painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within the second chamber and said means for presenting an aversive, non-painful stimulus to the test animal when the test animal is within said second chamber can each motivate the test animal to exhibit a conscious escape response.