Abstract
The sensory disorders are one of the main symptoms of the neuropathy. Examination and estimation of the level of the Neuropathic disease is main target of the comprehensive examination method "Quantitative sensory testing".
One part of this group of tests is Quantitative estimation of thermal thresholds. This method is based on the special device called "Thermo-electric Stimulator".
All contemporary systems are based on the Peltier thermobattery with additive frigorific subsystem. Thermo-electric stimulator consists of the following parts: Peltier thermocouple, energy source, measuring block and registration device.
The main aim of this paper is to describe design and develop of this kind of device and accomplish some functional tests with that device. Values acquired from this testing are important for comparison with values acquired from the relevant studies.
The thermo-electric stimulator was designed in basic configuration necessary for the right and complete examination of the thermal thresholds. Designed and developed thermo-electric stimulator includes basic blocks from the point of view of quantitative sensory testing methodology.
Reference group of twenty probands was investigated via the above mentioned basic configuration of the thermo-electric stimulator. Results of this investigation were compared with Dr.
R. Rolke's study (Quantitative sensory testing in the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain (DFNS): Standardized protocol and reference values published in journal PAIN).
For example the sensitivity to the temperature changes was higher for arm than for foot. The minimum measured difference was 1 degrees C.
Values of individual quantitative sensory testing parameters were measured within the range of +/- 1 SD from mean value. The comparison wasn't exhaustive but values acquired by the thermoelectric stimulator are commonly corresponding with hypothetic values.
Last but not least target of this paper is to bring in some suggestions of possible upgrades to automatized thermal threshold estimation procedure or make some possible suggestion of alternative design of the thermo-electric stimulator.