MICROPROCESSOR-BASED SPATIAL TENS (TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRIC NERVE STIMULATOR) DESIGNED WITH WAVE-FORM OPTIMALITY FOR CLINICAL-EVALUATION IN A PAIN STUDY

A microprocessor based TENS device is developed which utilizes a spati al procedure in the administration of electrical fields to actively in terfere with pain signals reaching the brain. This unusual design also has the advantage of requiring the frequency characteristics of the e lectrical waveform produced to be optimally tuned to the mechanical im pedance properties of the skin/tissue. Hence a much more efficient pro cedure for the transfer of electrical energy from the TENS device to t he human tissue is provided. Data are presented involving patients fro m the Dayton VA Medical Center in Ohio, USA being tested with this new microprocessor system compared to the treatment obtained via a tradit ional stimulator. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.