The Plantar Von Frey (Dynamic Plantar Aesthesiometer) is a new instrument from Bioseb for assessment of touch sensitivity.

The instrument consists of:
• a movable touch stimulator unit
• a framed metal mesh on platform base
• a two-compartment enclosure
• a microprocessor controlled electronic unit

The electronic unit is enclosed into a tiltable cylindrical case of original design, with graphic LCD display, serial port (RS232), and a thermal printer. The unit also has an internal memory for data storage, scrolling screen review, and optional output to PC.

Principle of Operation
The rat, mouse or other small rodent moves about freely on a metal mesh surface in an enclosed area. The operator slides a touch stimulator unit under the animal, using an adjustable angled mirror to position the filament below the target area of the paw. A button press causes a stainless steel filament (0.5 mm diameter) to move up to touch the animal's paw. The filament exerts an increasing force to the plantar surface, starting below the threshold of detection and increasing until the animal removes its paw. The normal animal response, paw withdrawal reflex, is automatically recorded using two metrics: the latency until withdrawal, in seconds, and the force at which the paw was withdrawn, in grams.

Touch Stimulator
Maximum force and ramp speed are adjustable and are set on electronic controller unit. Dual chamber acrylic enclosures over the perforated metal floor contain the animal(s), which is unrestrained, and may move about within the enclosure. Partitions are also included to divide each compartment into 4 spaces (for use with mice). Bilateral testing is possible.

Data Acquisition
The Dynamic Plantar Von Frey™ Apparatus is microprocessor controlled and features direct PC output. Internally stored data can be routed via a 9-pin D-type connector to the PC serial port (RS232).
Data output requires 52010 WIN-DAS software to interface the Dynamic Plantar instrument and PC.

Included Components
Instrument comes complete with touch stimulator unit, electronic controller, set of two 0.5 mm diam. stainless-steel filaments and two calibration weights (5 & 50 g), platform base and supports, framed metal mesh, 2-compartment animal enclosure, 2 extra rolls of thermal paper, and an operation manual.