Tail Flick Analgesia Meter

Description

The Tail Flick Analgesia Meter is a standard instrument for assessing pain sensitivity and analgesic efficacy in preclinical research. The test involves applying a focused beam of radiant heat to the tail of a restrained rodent. The primary measurement is the latency period—the time elapsed from the onset of the heat stimulus to the animal's reflexive tail flick or withdrawal. This latency serves as an indicator of nociceptive threshold. Prolonged latency suggests an analgesic effect. The apparatus typically includes an adjustable heat intensity control, an automatic timer with precision cutoff to prevent tissue damage, and a platform for consistent animal positioning. This method is widely cited in pharmacological studies for screening potential pain-relief compounds.