DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF A

T.E.N.S. PAIN RELIEF UNIT

Jayjeet Sarkar
department of applied electronics and instrumentation engineering
academy of technology
Kolkata, India
jayjeetsarkar@gmail.com

Abstract— In this paper, a T.E.N.S.
(Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)
pain relief unit is designed and fabricated. A low-
frequency pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) of spike
signals applied to ruptured bone, damaged soft tissues,
pain and cancerous tumors have considerable healing
effects. The effectiveness of PEMF for curing of pain
and osteoarthritis is the focus of this article. Precise
low frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields
(PEMFs) produce definite cellular and biological
effects, based on the amplitude, pulse width, pulse
rate and wave shape. Here a pain relief unit is
designed having spike waveform of varying amplitude
ranging from 0 to 300volt, frequency range between
30Hz and 130Hz and pulse duration of 1µsec.
It's also used for pain relief during labor. For most
people, TENS is a safe treatment with no allied side
effects. However, its effectiveness in treating pain is
based on individual experience rather than scientific
evidence.
During TENS pulsed currents are generated by a
portable pulse generator and delivered across the
surface of the skin using conducting pads, called
electrodes. The convention always of administering
TENS is to use electrical characteristics that
selectively activate large diameter ‘touch’ fibers (Aβ)
without activating smaller diameter non-inceptive
fibers (Aδ and C) [6].

Keywords—Pulsed Electromagnetic Field; pain; osteo-

arthritis; voltage; frequency; pulse width.

I. INTRODUCTION

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

[1] is a simple, non-invasive pain reliever procedure
that is used mostly in health-care settings by
physiotherapists, nurses and doctors. TENS is mainly
used for the symptomatic management of acute and
non-malignant chronic pain [2] and also for the
treatment of osteo-arthritis [3]. However, TENS is
also used in soothing care to reduce pain caused by
non-union bone fracture and neoplasm. It is also
claimed that TENS has antiemetic and tissue-healing
effects.
The electrical impulses can block pain signals
transmitting to the spinal cord and brain, which can
help to relieve pain or muscle spasm. The electric
currents can also stimulate the production of
endorphins.
TENS helps to reduce pain caused by a extensive
variety of situations including:
• Arthritis
• Back pain
• Sports injuries
• Period pain [4]
• Knee pain
• Neck pain
• Post operative pain [5]
Fig.1 Pain relief treatment by application of TENS
II. PULSED ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD
TECHNOLOGY
PEMF is a reparative practice mostly used in the field
of orthopedics for the treatment of non-union
fractures, failed fusions, congenital pseudarthrosis
and depression. In the case of pain relief, PEMF uses
electrical energy to direct a series of magnetic pulses
through injured tissue whereby each magnetic pulse
induces a minute electrical signal that enhances
cellular repair. Many studies have also established the
efficacy of PEMF in healing soft-tissue wounds [7];
suppressing inflammatory responses at the cell
membrane level to reduce pain [8].
PEMF reduces osteoarthritis including pain blocking.
During resting tenure, the cell acquires a potential
difference of -70mv. Pain signal provisionally
depolarizes the nociceptive cell and boost up the trans

978-1-4799-4445-3/15/$31.00 ©2015 IEEE

membrane potential to +30mv. This boost in voltage capacitors (10µF) and diodes (1N4007) are
is ample to release channels in membrane permitting used (shown in Fig.5).
to transfer of sodium and potassium ions, which • The second oscillator provides an output
initiates the exocytosis of neurotransmitters. If this square wave of around 10V and with a
has taken place, the cell depolarizes to -70mv. While frequency range of 30 to 130 Hz (shown in
pain signal is arrived, the membrane potential rises Fig.9) .
again and triggers an action potential via • The output of oscillator i.e., square wave is
neurotransmitters but the potentials about +10mv the input to the differentiator, which gives a
which is much lower than +30mv and the pain is spike signal at the output of ±10V (shown in
blocked by the hyperpolarized condition of the Fig.10).
membrane [9]. • From the frequency vs. multiplier output
voltage curve it is seen that the gain of the
multiplier is maximum around frequency 2
kHz. So the oscillator frequency is always
kept at 2 kHz (shown in Fig.7).
• The switching circuit consists of a BJT
(2N2222), a buffer and a Power BJT
(MJ10023) for achieving the desired output
response of variable 300V, 30 to 130 Hz and
pulse width of 1µsec positive spike signal
(shown in Fig.11and 12) .
Fig.2 A typical T.E.N.S-PEMF stimulation on affected area
B. Design of the oscillator for multiplier input
III. EXPERIMENT (OS1)
Frequency should be varied between 1 to 3 kHz.
A. Block diagram of T.E.N.S pain relief unit Time period of the square wave at the output of
amplifier is given by,
(1 + β )
T = 2 × R3 × C × ln
(1 − β )
R1
Where, β = .
R1 + R2
Calculation of R3:
For frequency, f = 1 kHz, C=0.01µF, R1= R2=1kΩ.
1
β= = 0.5
(1 + 1)
(1 + β )
T = 2 × R3 × C × ln
(1 − β )
Fig.3 Block diagram of T.E.N.S pain relief unit 1 (1 + 0.5)
⇒ = 2 × R3 × (0.01 × 10 −6 ) × ln
Brief Description of the Block diagram: 1000 (1 − 0.5)
Therefore, R3 = 45.5kΩ. at f = 1kHz .
• Power supply is needed for driving the two
oscillators. First a dual power supply of ±12
For frequency, f = 2 kHz, C=0.01µF,
volt d.c output is designed (shown in Fig,4).
A step down transformer, bridge rectifier 1
(diodes are 1N4007), capacitor filters are
β= = 0.5 .
(1 + 1)
used and regulation ICs are 7812 and 7912.
• The first oscillator provides an output square (1 + β )
So, T = 2 × R3 × C × ln
wave of around 10V and with a frequency (1 − β )
range of 1 to 3 kHz using OP07 (shown in
1 (1 + 0.5)
Fig.5). ⇒ = 2 × R3 × (0.01 × 10 −6 ) × ln
• Multiplier circuit multiplies the input 2000 (1 − 0.5)
voltage of 10V range to 300V (shown in Therefore, R3 = 22.75kΩ. at f = 2kHz .
Fig.8) and output of this circuit acts as input
to the switching circuit which gives the
desired output signals. Here 18 sets of
 C. Design of the oscillator for differentiator gate. Buffer is used for impedance matching. At the
input (OS2) collector of 1st BJT, +10 Volts is applied and that of
Frequency should be varied between 30 to 130 Hz. 2nd one, output of the multiplier +330 Volts is
Time period of the square wave at the output of applied.
amplifier is given by For switching operation the Transistor should be
(1 + β ) operated in either cut off region or in saturation
T = 2 × R3 × C × ln
(1 − β ) region. To operate in saturation region IB> (ICSAT/β) .
R1
Where, β = . (Vcc − Vcesat )
R1 + R2 I csat =
Rc
Calculation of R3:
For frequency, f =30 Hz, C=0.01µF, R1= R2=1kΩ. So,

1 (12 − 0.3)
β= = 0.5 . I csat = = 0.117 mA
(1 + 1) 100 × 103

(1 + β ) I csat 0.117
T = 2 × R3 × C × ln I bs = = = 4.57 ×10−4 mA .
(1 − β ) β 256
Again by applying KVL at input side,
1 (1 + 0.5)
⇒ = 2 × R3 × (0.01 × 10 −6 ) × ln
30 (1 − 0.5) Vi = I B × Rb + Vbe
12 − 0.7
Therefore, R3 = 1.52MΩ. at f = 30 Hz. IB = = 1.13mA .
10 × 103
For frequency, f =130 Hz, C=0.01µF,
I csat
Hence, IB > , So transistor can be operated as
1 β
β= = 0.5 . switch.
(1 + 1)
Icsat=collector saturation current.
So,
(1 + β ) IB= base current to saturate the transistor.
T = 2 × R3 × C × ln
(1 − β ) Vi=input voltage.
1 (1 + 0.5) β =current gain.
⇒ = 2 × R3 × (0.01 × 10 −6 ) × ln
130 (1 − 0.5) RB= base resistance.
Therefore, R3 = 0.35MΩ. at f = 130 Hz . RC=collector resistance.
For power transistor,
D. Design of the differentiator
Buffer has input impedance of 1MΩ approximately.
Choose, f = 130 Hz
So RB=1MΩ.
1
f = Here, Vcc=350Volt, Rc=2MΩ, β=600
2ΠRC
Choose, C=1µF, 350V
1 I CSAT = = 0.175mA .
R= = 1.22kΩ ≅ 1kΩ. 2M Ω
2Π × 130 × 1 × 10 −6
As, β=600.
E. Diode Specification I CSAT 0.175
1N4007 diodes are used in power supply and in = = 2.91×10−4 mA .
rectifier circuit, 1N4007 has maximum recurrent peak β 600
reverse voltage of 1000V, maximum average forward Applying KVL at input side,
rectified current of 1.0 Amp.
Vi = I B × Rb + Vbe
F. Switching Circuit:
Here, the circuit has three sections-Normal BJT,
Buffer and Power BJT. Two transistors act as NOT
 12 − 0.7
IB = = 0.113mA .
1× 106
So, in this case again IB>ICSAT/β.
Where,
ICSAT=collector saturation current.
IB=base current to saturate the transistor.
Vi =input base voltage.
β =current gain.
RB= base resistance.
RC=collector resistance.
So, power transistor operates in saturation region and
cut off region. So it works as switch. Fig.4 Power supply unit

Fig.5 T.E.N.S pain relief unit

 IV. RESULT

A. Output waveforms

Fig.9 Oscillator Output for Differentiator Input

Fig.6 Oscillator output for Multiplier Input

Fig.10 Differentiator output

Fig.7 Frequency vs. Output Voltage curve for multiplier circuit

Fig.11 Final unit output

Fig.8 Multiplier Output
Output of the designed instrument displayed in digital
storage oscilloscope:
Fig. 12(a): Final Output Signal (300V, 45Hz)
Fig. 12(b): Varying Amplitude (85V, 43 Hz)
Fig.12(c): Varying Frequency (300V, 65Hz)
V. CONCLUSION
Here the unit output is a spike waveform of variable
amplitude 300 volt, frequency varies between 30Hz
to 130Hz and pulse width is 1µsec. The spike signal
is applied to the infected body part through proper
electrodes then it generates a push but not a shock
because the current value is very much less. This
prevents the edge necessary to transmit the pain
signal throughout C fibers by blocking
communication to the infected cells. It also increases
the secretion of endorphins, enkephalins and
dynorphins and helps for synthesis of extra cellular
matrix proteins and also stimulates proteoglycan
synthesis.
The most essential part of the final output is its rise
and fall instance. The valuable part of a pulsed signal
is extremely dependent on the fastness of the rise and
drop instance. The sudden fall represents an
prominent crest voltage that is responsible for ion
displacement and exerts an concentrated organic and
cellular effect. The spiky rise and fall produce the
utmost impulse to the cells. The spike signal provides
the highest impulse which will enhance the cell
voltage. Thus the pain signal is interrupted.
VI. FUTURE PLAN
Innumerable researches show that by varying the
signal strength, frequency and magnetic field of the
PEMF may cure the pain, cancer tumor entirely and
heal the bone fracture. The designed instrument is
portable and modular. In future a wireless pain relief
unit may be designed. Afterwards a single instrument
will be designed that will be modular, less weight and
fully micro-processor operated used for pain relief,
bone healing and cancer tumor treatment.
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