神經肌肉電刺激目前廣泛用於慢性疼痛或手術後疼痛的治療上,若以相關穴位的刺激其治療效果最佳。由於神經肌肉電刺激對不同使用者的症狀或痛疼的部位所需治療的參數皆不同,本研究針對於此設計一套可廣泛適用於不同症狀的可程式化神經肌肉穴位電刺激系統,整套系統包括可程式化神經肌肉穴位電刺激器及PC端應用軟體。 針對一般使用者,本系統提供保健模式的療程以供一般保健身體使用。針對特殊症狀者,臨床醫師可以根據患者的症狀或疼痛的部位,於PC端應用軟體設定適當的刺激波形、頻率、時間、輸出通道及強度等療程,再將設定好的療程資料儲存在電刺激器以供患者家居使用。另外,利用電刺激器內建使用記錄功能,更可提供醫師了解使用者的使用情況。 本系統經測試後的結果表示,在輸出電氣規格方面已符合F.D.A.對TENS設備的要求。由於本系統採用低功率元件,體積及使用時間上都達到可攜式產品之規格。
The Neuro-muscular electrical stimulation has been utilized in chronic and surgical pain relief for a long while. Previous study shown that the stimulation on specific acupuncture points have extraordinary pain relieving performance. However, due to the difference in symptoms and pain pain locations, the courses of treatment are diversified. The aim of this research is to design a programmable Acupuncture-like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerves Stimulation (TENS)system. The system is consisting of a microprocessor based programmable stimulator, 4 pairs of stimulation driver and a PC based administration software. For preventive purpose, the system provides five different treatment protocols. For each individual patient, clinicians can design special treatment process by specifying stimulation frequency, waveforms, and duration, via the PC based administration software. The prescribed treatment protocol can then be downloaded to the programmable stimulator for home-stay healing. Each treatment process will be recorded in the controller and archived to the administration software as healing history. The overall system evaluation shown that the electrical specification confronts FDA TENS requirement. By utilizing low power and SMD components, the power consumption and size can fit in the portable instrument specification.