Bidirectional TENS Electrode Needle for Reducing Tissue Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional TENS devices using unidirectional pulse currents can cause electrochemical damage and limited therapeutic effects due to restricted current magnitude, leading to potential skin injury and muscle cramps, while varying current requirements among individuals complicate effective pain relief and tissue regeneration.
Innovation Solution
A TENS electrode needle with two needle bodies providing pulse current signals of different polarities, forming a short-range closed-loop micro electric field to stimulate acupuncture points, allowing for adjustable current duration and reduced tissue damage, thereby enhancing adaptability and therapeutic efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a unidirectional pulse current is applied to the acupuncture needle, then the electrode stimulation intensity is increased, but electrochemical damage to human tissue occurs and physiological balance is disturbed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs bidirectional pulse currents that alternate between positive and negative polarities in a periodic manner. This periodic action prevents the accumulation of electrochemical damage that occurs with unidirectional currents, as the alternating polarities allow for reversible electrochemical reactions at the tissue interface, thereby maintaining physiological balance while still delivering effective stimulation intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the polarity parameter of the pulse current from fixed (unidirectional) to variable (bidirectional). By switching between positive and negative polarities, the system maintains effective stimulation while preventing the one-sided electrochemical reactions that cause tissue damage, thus resolving the contradiction between stimulation intensity and tissue safety.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a very small current is applied to avoid skin injury and muscle cramp, then safety is improved, but the therapeutic effect becomes poor
Solution Approach 1:
The bidirectional pulse current alternates between positive and negative phases, allowing the system to deliver higher peak currents during each phase while the alternating nature prevents cumulative harmful effects. This periodic reversal enables safe delivery of higher intensity currents that produce effective therapeutic results without causing skin injury or muscle cramps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous therapeutic action through bidirectional pulsing, where each polarity phase contributes to the overall therapeutic effect. The continuous alternation between positive and negative currents ensures that useful stimulation is delivered throughout the treatment period without interruption, while the balanced polarity distribution prevents harmful side effects even at higher current levels.
3Reliability
If a large current is applied to improve therapeutic effect, then treatment efficacy is enhanced, but skin injury and muscle cramp occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic bidirectional pulsing to deliver large peak currents that produce effective therapeutic effects, while the alternating polarities prevent the cumulative harmful effects that would result from sustained unidirectional high-current application. Each pulse phase delivers therapeutic benefit without causing injury, as the reversal allows tissue recovery during the opposite polarity phase.
4Adaptability or versatility
If different voltages or currents are applied to different persons, then individual adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bidirectional pulse current generator is designed with universal applicability, using the same alternating polarity mechanism for all users regardless of individual differences. The system achieves adaptability through the inherent balance of bidirectional pulsing rather than requiring complex user-specific calibration, thus providing individual adaptability while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution improves adaptability to current, reduces tissue damage, and increases therapeutic effectiveness by providing a larger current without adverse effects on other body parts, promoting pain relief, hormone secretion adjustment, and overall health improvement.
Implementation Method 1
forming a short-range closed-loop micro electric field
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a TENS electrode needle and a TENS device. The TENS electrode needle includes: a needle handle having a first electrode and a second electrode for providing pulse current signals with different polarities are arranged; and at least one first needle body and at least one second needle body. Each of the first needle body and the second needle body includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the first needle body is electrically connected to the first electrode, and the first end of the second needle body is electrically connected to the second electrode, so as to form an electrical field between the second end of the first needle body and the second end of the second needle body.