Esthesiometer

Esthesiometer

An esthesiometer (British spelling aesthesiometer} is a device for measuring the tactile sensitivity of the skin. The measure of the degree of tactile sensitivity is called aesthesiometry.

There are different types of aesthesiometers depending on their particular function. The simplest is a manual tool with adjustable points similar to a caliper. It can determine how short a distance between two impressions on the skin can be distinguished. A scale on the instrument gives readings in millimeter gradients.

Another type of manual aesthesiometer is used to test lower thresholds of touch or pain. The tool uses nylon monofilaments with varying calibrated diameters. The force needed to cause the monofilament to "buckle" determines the tactile reading. The filaments are calibrated at gram/mm2 pressure ratings.

An non-intrusive device called a corneal aesthesiometer is used to test cornea nerve sensitivity by using a controlled pulse of air as stimulation. The device gives readouts in millibars. Also, a thermal aesthesiometer is used to determine sensitivity of thermal stimuli.

External Sites:
* [http://www.somedic.com/article.php?2 A Von Frey "Classic" Aesthesiometer]
* [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8762770&dopt=Abstract Information about a Corneal Aesthesiometer]
* [http://www.hvlab.co.uk/thermal_aesthesiometer.htm Data Specs of a Computerized Thermal Aesthesiometer]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Esthesiometer — Es*the si*om e*ter, n. Same as {[AE]sthesiometer} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • esthesiometer — [es thē΄zē äm′ə tər, es thē΄sēäm′ə tər] n. [< ModL aesthesia, AESTHESIA + METER] an instrument for measuring the sensitivity of the sense of touch, esp. one for testing how far apart two points pressed against the skin have to be for the… …   English World dictionary

  • Esthesiometer — AEsthesiometer [AE]s*the si*om e*ter, Esthesiometer Es*the si*om e*ter, n. [Gr. ? (see {[AE]sthesia}) + meter.] An instrument to measure the degree of sensation, by determining at how short a distance two impressions upon the skin can be… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • esthesiometer — esteziometras statusas T sritis Standartizacija ir metrologija apibrėžtis Odos ir gleivinės jautrumo matuoklis. atitikmenys: angl. esthesiometer vok. Ästhesiometer, n rus. эстезиометр, m pranc. esthésiomètre, m …   Penkiakalbis aiškinamasis metrologijos terminų žodynas

  • esthesiometer — esthesiometry, n. /es thee zee om i teuhr/, n. Med. an instrument for measuring the degree of tactile sensibility. [ESTHES(IS) + O + METER] * * * …   Universalium

  • esthesiometer — noun A device to measure tactile sensitivity Syn: tactometer …   Wiktionary

  • esthesiometer — An instrument for determining the state of tactile and other forms of sensibility. SYN: tactometer. [esthesio + G. metron, measure] * * * es·the·si·om·e·ter or chiefly Brit aes·the·si·om·e·ter es .thē zē äm ət ər, .thē sē n an instrument for… …   Medical dictionary

  • esthesiometer — n. device for measuring the degree of sensitivity to touch …   English contemporary dictionary

  • esthesiometer — es·the·si·om·e·ter …   English syllables

  • esthesiometer — esˌthēzēˈäməd.ə(r), thēsē noun Etymology: esthesio + meter : an instrument for measuring sensory discrimination; especially : one for determining the distance by which two points pressed against the skin must be separated in order that they may… …   Useful english dictionary

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