Animal model to evaluate visceral pain perception

摘要

A system for measuring visceral pain levels in a non-human animal when a balloon catheter is implanted in the duodenum of the animal is disclosed. By using an implantable sensor module to measure visceromotor and pseudoaffective responses of the animal when the catheter is inflated a measure of the pain experienced can be determined. This measurement is important when testing pharmaceutical compounds for pain relief. The balloon catheter consists of biocompatible tubing 1 closed at one end with elastic material 2 with holes 7 to allow inflation of the elastic material. The balloon catheter also has fixation means, such as nodes 8, to prevent movement of the catheter due to peristaltic movement of the intestinal tract.