Hargreaves Plantar test is widely used to test the thermal stimuli responses in the study of analgesic drugs in pharmacological experiments. Experiments are easy to perform as a rodent’s hind paw is exposed to a beam of radiant heat through a transparent glass surface using plantar analgesia meter. The latency to withdraw to the heat stimulus is recorded as the time for paw withdrawal in both injured and uninjured hind paws. Our Plantar test adopts microcomputer control method to obtain the pain threshold time. The device contains an emitter/detector vessel, software controller, glass panel and animal enclosures. It can be used on 12 mice, 6 rats and other animals (cats, rabbits) unrestrained.
The Plantar Test (Hargreaves Apparatus) is a widely used device for thermal nociception test and analgesia research. It measures paw withdrawal latency in freely moving rodents by applying a beam of infrared radiant heat through a transparent glass platform.
Our system features a 7″ capacitive touch screen with clear TFT display, intuitive UI, and real-time data display. The microcomputer control method ensures pain threshold measurement with 0.01s timing precision. Adjustable heat intensity from 0W–150W in 1.5W steps and 5–30s cut-off timing protect the animals while providing reproducible data.
Features
Infrared heat stimulus with precise intensity control
High-contrast IPS capacitive touch screen for easy operation
0.01s high-precision timing improves data reproducibility
Modular enclosures for high throughput (12 mice / 6 rats)
USB data export and optional thermal printer
TTL I/O for third-party equipment synchronization
Benefits
6-12 rodent simultaneous stimulation.
Microcomputer control, measure the pain threshold time of plantar thermal stimulation in free state.
5-100% light intensity adjustment range, can be adjusted precisely according to the experiment.
Time of irradiation can be flexibly set according to the irradiation intensity, to protect animals from being burned.
Summary
The Hargreaves Plantar Test is a gold-standard thermal pain test apparatus designed for reliable measurement of paw withdrawal latency. With its infrared stimulus, microcomputer control, and touch screen interface, it is ideal for nociception research, drug screening, and thermal hyperalgesia studies. Its modular design, data export capability, and high precision make it an essential tool for behavioral neuroscience and pharmacology laboratories.
Q1: What is the Hargreaves Plantar Test used for?
The Hargreaves Plantar Test (also known as the Plantar Test for Thermal Hyperalgesia) is a widely used method for assessing pain sensitivity in rodents. Using an Infrared Plantar Test System, researchers measure paw withdrawal latency to evaluate thermal pain thresholds and investigate pain mechanisms in preclinical studies.
Q2: How does the Plantar Test Apparatus measure paw withdrawal latency?
Our Plantar Test Apparatus uses a controlled infrared light stimulation system with 0–150W intensity and 100-step adjustment. When the infrared beam is applied to the paw, the device records paw withdrawal latency with 0.01s timing precision, providing highly accurate and reproducible rodent paw withdrawal latency measurements.
Q3: What makes your Hargreaves Apparatus ideal for pain research?
This Hargreaves Apparatus for Pain Research is equipped with a high-quality TFT LCD display and 7-inch capacitive touch screen (1024×600 resolution, <3ms response time, 178° wide viewing angle). It supports modular chambers (up to 12 mice or 6 rats), precise thermal intensity control, and built-in data storage for up to 5000 experiments—perfect for thermal pain threshold testing in a high-throughput setting.
Q4: Can I export data from the Infrared Plantar Test System?
Yes. The Infrared Plantar Test System stores data locally in CSV format and supports USB export. Recorded parameters include animal information, duration, light intensity, max/min/average values, and start/stop time—making it easy to analyze results in any standard data-processing software.
Q5: How does the device ensure animal safety during thermal stimulation?
Our thermal pain threshold testing device features a protective timer (5–30 seconds) to prevent tissue damage, along with a high-quality heat filter lens that reduces visible light interference while maximizing thermal radiation. This design ensures both animal welfare and reliable experimental outcomes.
