Transcutaneous
Electrical Nerve
Stimulation (TENS)
Main Points:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Mechanism of pain.
Functions and features of TENS unit .
Circuit Design.
Realizing Design into Hardware.
Results.
Conclusions .
Mechanism of Pain:

Pain is felt as a result of the brain's response to
electrical (neural) and chemical (hormonal)
changes in the body as a result of damage.

Signals from damage or injury are picked up by
sensory receptors in nerve endings. The nerves
then transmit the signal via the nerves to spinal
cord and brain.
Mechanism of Pain:
Pain Relief:




Pain can be managed in the short term using
analgesics, but long-term use can be detrimental
to the patient's health.
Side effects of the long use of analgesics may
affect on liver, kidney or stomach.
In many cases where pain is constant, a medical
practitioner or physiotherapist may recommend
the use of a TENS unit.
Why TENS?
Because it is safe, effective and virtually with no
side effects.
Functions and Features of TENS:


A TENS unit provides electrical stimulation to the
painful area using electrodes attached to the
skin.
Some scientists say:
electrical signal
v
nerve sensation stops
v
natural pain relieving substances (endorphins)
v
no pain massages to brain
v
no pain.
Features:
1- Two different modes:
a- Continuous (continuous stream)
b- Intermittent (short bursts)
 Usually the continuous mode is used but for long
term treatment intermittent mode is used
2- Adjustable.
 We can control three variables:
a- Output voltage.
b- Width of the pulses.
c- Pulse rate.
Features:
Continuous Mode:
 Output Voltage:
 Pulse Rate:

Pulse Width:
Intermittent Mode :
 Duty cycle:
Adjustable from 12V to 80V.
Adjustable from 4.6Hz to
410Hz.
Adjustable between 70 and
320 µs.
24% at 1.2Hz
Circuit Design of the Device:




9 volts battery
Step up converter: composed of transformer
and DC to DC converter.
Switching oscillator.
Intermittent oscillator.
Circuit Diagram:
Realizing Design into Hardware:
Collecting components ‘’flight’’:
We call it ‘’flight’’ because we had to bring
the components from overseas.
Unfortunately the components were
collected from Riyadh, Jeddah, Jordan,
Japan and China.

Making Project Board:


We connected the components in our project board
as shown in figure to test the function of the circuit.
After that we tested the circuit connections and
circuit output we corrected the faults that raised.
Make PCB:
We used OrCAD program to make the
layout.

After that we printed the layout in PCB by
using ultraviolet exposure unit ,then we
started mounting components on the PCB.
Results:
Continuous mode:
The output volt=79v.
The frequency=362 Hz.

Results:
Intermittent mode:
The output volt=82v
The frequency=108 Hz.

Discussion:

Due to the small size and light weight of the TENS device,
we think we can integrate it with other medical devices like
therapeutic ultrasound which is used sometimes to reduce
joints stiffness.
Discussion:

In this device there are only two electrodes, so
we think it will be a good idea to double the
electrodes to cover more muscles.
Discussion:

Placing the electrodes was a little problem for
us because the adhesive substance is not
effective for long time ,so we had an idea to
implant the electrodes inside sock to be worn
during the therapy , also make a gloves for
hand's muscles.
Discussion:

This device might be used to treat the face muscles.
(Bell's Palsy disease) , This is often due to the partial
facial paralysis that occurs on one side of the face.In this
case the face muscle is small compared to other muscles
,so we need small electrodes to capture the effected
muscles .
Conclusions:


We could reach our goals to make a medical
device that relief chronic and acute pains started
with studying the electrophysiological
parameters, then studying design stages of the
circuit which gives these parameters as output.
After that we applied the studies from paper to
the practical work.
During all stages of the project we had to solve
some problems which we got by applying the
designed circuit onto circuit board, we corrected
it to get the expected results. Finally, we tested
the output of the circuit by applying the output
directly to the muscle.