title: Quantitative pinch stimulator for exploring evoked nociceptive responses: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A mechanical noxious stimulator is useful for studies of pain, both for clinic and basic research. We propose to use a pinch stimulator that can not only generate a quantitative, reproducible noxious pinch but also simultaneously provide a synchronous external trigger signal, which is essential for acquisition of evoked potentials.
  
  
  METHODS
  For ethical considerations, audible and visual aids were incorporated so that pinch force could be regulated within a predetermined level. Reproducibility of the nociceptive responses evoked by this device was validated. The device was constructed with a simple circuit, and the element build-in was delicately selected for the minimum required to produce evoked potentials.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The magnitude of the force output is linearly proportional to the volts produced by the device (i.e., during the pinch). Increases in force correspond to increases in the number of action potentials induced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This device may be useful for studying the mechanisms of nociceptive signal processing in the brain through application of reproducible, noxious pinch stimuli.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen-Li
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Yi-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Pen-Li
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yu-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: You-Yin
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fu-Shan
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Jaw
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055615:Electrical Equipment and Supplies; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000502:physiology