Never buy any device unless the manufacturer calibrates each filament for applied force. So, if they say that you are testing with 10 grams, you might actually be testing with less than 7 grams. False positive rates increase when monofilament force levels are inaccurately low. Noxious Stimulation - Beyond calibration, each patented filament of the WEST is individually modified to deliver the proper stimulation to the patient. Cheaper filament tips can be sharp, inappropriately stimulating pain receptors.
Pain sensation can interfere with the measurement of tactile sensation.
A case study indicated that a failure to diagnose insensitivity can occur with other testing systems. Please contact Curt Weinstein at our E-Mail address. It delivers calibrated forces to intact skin by use of its five force-calibrated E nhanced tm monofilaments. The bending of the monofilament automatically compensates for natural unsteadiness in the hand to achieve the calibrated force as shown in the table below. The measurement of force sensation is generally considered to be the best method for quantifying peripheral neuropathy.