Transcutaneous nerve stimulator device and method

摘要

A transcutaneous nerve stimulator as disclosed that is useful for suppression of organic pain. The stimulator device is relatively small in overall dimensions and is therefore portable yet provides a rectangular waveform with the output signal produced being sufficient to drive a capacitive resistance load of at least 2.2K ohms in parallel with 0.1Mfd with a maximum rise and fall time of 12 microseconds. The device is powered by a pair of NI-CD batteries providing a 2.5 volt input and produces a maximum 80 volt peak pulse output having a maximum duration of .10 milliseconds at a pulse rate between 20pps and 180pps. Potentiometers are provided to vary the pulse rate, the duty cycle, and output pulse amplitude as is necessary or desirable for a particular patient. The device includes an oscillator that controls the pulse rate of the output from a variable one-shot multivibrator with the output pulses from the multivibrator being coupled through a power amplifier to the primary winding of a step-up transformer, the secondary winding of which transformer is connected through a voltage clamp and variable I.E. mode circuit to the output leads from the device. The disclosed method includes generating a rectangular waveform and producing an output that is sufficient to drive a capacitive resistance load of at least 2.2K ohms in parallel with 0.1Mfd with a maximum rise and fall time of 12 microseconds.