Neurotrac Tens: Operators Manual
Neurotrac Tens: Operators Manual
Neurotrac Tens: Operators Manual
NeuroTrac™
TENS
Operators Manual
Visit our website: www.VerityMedical.co.uk for
detailed application protocols
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
Warnings
* This unit must be used with the guidance of a Physiotherapist or
Doctor
* Type BF equipment
* Do not use this stimulator on your facial area unless you are under
strict guidance from a qualified Clinician
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
Contents
Contents Page
Warnings 2
What is Pain? 4
What is TENS? 4
Contra Indications & Precautions 5
Description of TENS Unit & Functions 6
Quick Start Instructions 7
Programmes 8
Lock Mode Function 9
Using the NeuroTrac™TENS Unit 10
Treatment Modes 11
How Long do I Use TENS For? 11
Electrode Placement 12
Dermatomes & Myotomes 12
Contiguous Placement 12
Acupuncture Points 12
Electrode Types & Tips 13
Suggested Electrode Placement 14
Care & Maintenance 18
Conditions Respond to TENS 19
Commonly Asked Questions 20
Specifications 21
Warranty 22
Dermatome Charts 23
Clinical References 25
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
What is Pain?
When we feel pain it is the body’s process of informing us that something is
wrong. To feel pain is important, without this feeling abnormal conditions may
go undetected, creating damage or injury to critical parts of the body.
What is TENS?
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) uses a small battery
operated unit to provide a non-invasive, drug free method of controlling acute
and principally long term intractable pain. It can also be used as an
adjunctive treatment in the management of post surgical traumatic pain
problems. In TENS mild electrical impulses are transmuted through the skin
via surface electrodes to modify the body’s pain perception. TENS does not
cure problematic physiological conditions; it only helps to control the pain
perception. TENS will not work for every user. However Physiotherapists and
Doctors throughout the world prescribe TENS extensively and it is
generally seen to work for the majority of users. There are millions of small
nerve fibres throughout the body and it only requires a few impulses to
produce chronic pain. In addition to small fibres, which allow the sensation of
pain to be felt, the body is also made up of larger diameter nerve fibres. These
larger nerve fibres transmit less unpleasant sensations such as touch or warmth,
assisting us to form an impression of our environment. Stimulating the larger
nerve fibres using TENS may have the effect of inhibiting the transmission of
pain along the smaller nerve fibres to the spinal cord [known as the ‘Pain Gate
Theory’].
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
Channel A Channel B
CH.B CH.A
LCD
Display
Lead
Wire
and Pin
Select
Programme
NeuroTrac™
TENS SET
ESC
Front Rear
* PRG button Selects the desired set programme from P01 - P11 or
customised programme PC1 - PC3.
* SET button Displays the menu and changes the parameters for
Pulse Rate, Pulse Width and Time for custom
programmes.
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
7. Press the SET button again and the Clock symbol will flash ON/OFF,
then press the + or – button to adjust the time. Channel A + or –
button to hours and Channel B + or – button to change minutes.
Note: You must press the ESC button before locking the unit.
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
Programmes
Table 1
Table 2
Programme P9 P10 P11 PC1 PC2 PC3
M ode Bst A=Con MF Con Con MF / MP
B=Bst
Pulese Rate See See 2& 2 to 2 to Low: 2 to 200
Hz Below Below 100 200 200 High: 2 to 200
Pulse Width 200 200 200 50 to 50 to Low: 50 to 300
µS 300 300 High: 50 to 300
Time 2 hr 2 hr 2 hr Cust Cust Cust
Notes:
Programme 7: Pulse width modulating from 200 µS to 100 µS to 200 µS,
Pulse rate modulating from 100 Hz to 65 Hz to 100 Hz over 3
seconds.
Programme PC3: Pulse width modulating from high value to low value to high
value, Pulse rate modulating from high value to low value to
high value over 3 seconds.
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
Remove the battery cover and, using the end of the lead wire, gently press on
the concealed lock button as shown in the diagram on page 6 until you hear a
double bleep. {L:T} Lock time and Current will appear on the LCD screen. If
you want to lock the parameters as well press the +/- button until {L:PT}
appears. Press the ESC button to lock parameters in place.
L:T L:PT
0mA 0mA 0mA 0mA
To unlock the unit and display the lock information, remove the battery cover,
using the end of the 2mm dia pin press the concealed switch once and you will
here a single bleep, this indicates the unit is now unlocked. The information for
time in use and the average m A current used can be read on the front of the
LCD display as seen on the diagram below. When you have noted the
information press the ESC button to bring the unit back to the Home position.
Hours 45
20 mA 20 mA
Ch.A Ch.B
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
The wider pulse widths will deliver stronger stimulation for any given
intensity [mA] setting. By using a combination of intensity and pulse
duration, it is felt that various pulse widths are capable of stimulating
different groups of nerve fibres. The wider pulse duration is needed to recruit
motor fibres, where as the narrow pulse duration is used more on the sensory
fibres.
The selection of which pulse duration to use is dependent upon the intended
treatment protocol.
Stimulating the larger nerve fibres is thought to reduce the speed and the
amount at which information is transmitted along the smaller nerve fibres. Also
under certain circumstances the brain is thought to produce its own
analgesic pain-killing substances, known as endorphins or endogenous opiates.
Intensity [mA]
A good formula for setting the intensity is to increase the current so that the
patient feels slight muscle contraction, but not strong enough to move a joint,
and then slightly reduce the intensity so that it feels comfortable. When using
low rate TENS settings, individual twitches will occur. The higher rate TENS
settings will increase muscle tension. It is not advised to increase the intensity
to experience strong muscle contraction.
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
Treatment Modes
There are three treatment modes available on the NeuroTrac™ TENS unit:
1. Conventional TENS or normal. This mode enables the user to select any
rate between 2 Hz – 200 Hz, and a pulse width between 50mS-300mS. This is
the most frequently used of the three modes. The most common selection is 80
Hz with a 200mS pulse width.
2. Burst Mode. This mode is comparable to the low rate TENS technique
except that each low rate pulse is substituted for by a short BURST of 9 pulses
[200mS] at 150 Hz. It is a combination of conventional and low rate TENS.
The burst mode is often referred to as acupuncture - like TENS.
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
Electrode Placement
The placement of electrodes is one of the most important parameters in
achieving effective pain relief using TENS. This is best left to your
Physiotherapist or Doctor to advise as to which location is most appropriate. It
may transpire that various positions need to be experimented with before the
user finds the most effective positioning. The positioning may be via the
contiguous, dermatome, myotome, motor, trigger or acupuncture points.
These are areas of the body enervated by a single nerve root via the spinal cord.
Each nerve root serves a known area of the skin. The dermatomes are named
after the nerve root which serves it. For details of dermatome sites refer to
diagrams on pages 23 & 24.
Contiguous Placement
Acupuncture Points
The placement of the red and black electrodes on the skin forms the electrical
circuit for TENS. It is the skin itself that creates the highest electrical
resistance to stimulation. The Physiotherapist or Doctor may consider using
acupuncture loci, which offer much lower resistance properties, as a more
effective site for placing the electrodes.
Accurately locating an acupuncture point can be difficult, please seek advice
from your Doctor or Physiotherapist.
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
Types available:
VS.4040 40 x 40 mm (square),
VS.5050 50 x 50 mm (square) (recommended for general use),
VS.9050 90 x 50 mm (rectangular)
VS.10050 100 x 50 mm (rectangular) (recommended for large muscles),
VS.13050 130 x 50 mm (rectangular),
VS.20450 204 x 50 mm (rectangular),
* If you find the electrodes will not stick due to oily skin, cleanse the
skin with soap and water, then rinse and dry the area around the
electrode site. If this does not work, try cleansing the skin with a swab
impregnated with alcohol.
* Clip away hairy skin using a scissors; don’t use a razor to remove the
hairs!
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
+ = Red
- = Black
Neuralgia of Trigeninus
1 2
Cervical (2 Positions)
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
+ = Red
- = Black
Cephalalgia Overorbital
Mandibular Syndrome
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
+ = Red
- = Black
1 2
Tooth Ache
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
+ = Red
- = Black
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
* Wipe the surface once a week with a damp cloth or antiseptic wipe
* Do not use cleaning sprays or alcohol based cleaning solutions
Battery:
Lead Wires:
* The lead wires should be handled carefully and never stretched, as this
can cause the stimulation to function below normal standards or not at
all
* Examine lead wires before each treatment for loose connections or
damage
* Avoid stretching and twisting the lead wires
* Store the lead wires carefully after each use
Self-Adhesive Electrodes:
* Check the short connectors have not become separated from the
electrodes
* Replace electrodes onto plastic film after use. If they drop onto the
floor debris will adhere to conductive gel rendering the electrodes
ineffective
Electrode life can be considerably reduced by:
* The type and condition of the skin
* Deep seated moisturisers or make-up
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
Specifications
TENS
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
Warranty
Verity Medical Ltd provides a warranty to the original purchaser that this
product will be free from defects in the material, components and
workmanship for a period of 2 years from the date of purchase [invoice date].
If Verity Medical Ltd are satisfied that the product/s is defective the
purchaser may return this unit/s to Verity Medical Ltd or the appointed
distributor for repair or replacement with a new unit. All returns must first be
authorised by Verity Medical Ltd in advance. The liability of Verity Medical
Ltd under this limited product warranty does not extend to any misuse or
abuse such as dropping or immersing the unit in water or other liquid
substance or tampering with the unit or normal wear and tear. Any evidence of
tampering will nullify this warranty.
Customer Service
Any queries should be addressed to:
Verity Medical Ltd :- Uplands Place
Drove Road
Chilbolton
Nr Stockbridge
Hampshire SO20 6AD
England
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.VerityMedical.co.uk
ISO9001:2000
ISO13485:2003
Dermatome Charts
Anterior View
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
Posterior View.
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
Clinical References
Conventional TENS:
Walker J [1992] When self-help begins at home Prof Nurse 7 [10]: 662-4
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
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NeuroTrac™ TENS Operation Manual
Uplands Place
Drove Road
Chilbolton
Nr Stockbridge
Hampshire SO20 6AD
England
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.VerityMedical.co.uk
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