Research On Methods For Quantitative Detection Of Vibration Perception Threshold

Hypoesthesia or hyperesthesia, caused by the dysfunctions to the sensory system, was examined qualitatively in the past. However, since the 1970's a brand new method, Quantitative Sensory Testing, was developed to make the evaluations to the nerve fibres function quantitatively, which can help doctors trace the patients' sensory. The Vibration Perception Testing System presented in this paper is one of the Quantitative Sensory Testing systems, with that two different objective methods of the vibration perception thresholds testing were discussed.First, the development and application history of quantitative sensory testing technology were reviewed, and the significance and predominance of quantitative sensory testing were discussed. Then, vibration perception testing system is introduced including two main theoretical aspects: neurology principles and psychophysical background.The PC software of the VPT system is discussed in detail, including each module and its flow. Two different definition of threshold were also introduced. One is determined by the up and down transformed rule (UDTR) and forced-choice algorithm, which are based the psychophysical theory. The other is determined by the patient's galvanic skin response, which is a brand new redefine of the threshold. Next the software testing result is presented.Two series of clinical trials were carried out with the two methods respectively. And the data analysis proved them repeatable and reliable.Comparing the two methods, the future work of the quantitative sensory testing is discussed.