US Patent 8083786 Thermal stimulation probe and method

A physiological thermal stimulation probe, comprising: (a) an electrically controlled heat control element with a relatively low thermal capacity and adapted for contact with tissue on one side thereof; (b) a thermal sink/source with a relatively high effective thermal capacity and a relatively low thermal impedance, such that said thermal sink/source sink can rapidly change a temperature of said heat control element, at a rate above 10 degrees Celsius per second, from a temperature of below 100 degrees Celsius; and (c) circuitry which activates said heat control element to achieve a desired temperature stimulation profile of said tissue.