Transcutaneous nerve stimulator device and method

A transcutaneous nerve stimulator for suppression of organic pain in a body, said stimulator comprising:

• an oscillator producing an output signal at a frequency of between about 20 and 180 Hz;
• a one-shot multivibrator connected with said oscillator and receiving the output signal therefrom, said one-shot multivibrator producing a rectangular output signal at the frequency of said output signal from said oscillator, said rectangular output signal having a pulse width no greater than about 100 .mu.seconds;
• a step-up transformer having a primary winding receiving said output from said one-shot multivibrator and a secondary winding;
• and
• output means connected with said secondary winding of said transformer and providing an AC output signal substantially without DC components and having a waveform with a fast rise and fall time no greater than about 12 microseconds with said waveform being sufficient to drive the impedance of a body positioned contiguous to said output means so as to be affected by said output signal whereby organic pain is suppressed in said affected body without causing noxious sensations despite receipt of said output signals by said affected body over an extended period of time.

A transcutaneous nerve stimulator for suppression of organic pain in a human body, said stimulator comprising:

• an oscillator producing an output signal variable between about 20 and 180 pulses per second;
• frequency control means connected with said oscillator to control the frequency produced by said oscillator;
• p1 a one-shot multivibrator connected with said oscillator and producing rectangular wave output signals at a frequency determined by the output signal from said oscillator;
• width control means connected with said multivibrator to control the width of pulses produced by said multivibrator with said rectangular waveform produced by said one-shot multivibrator being no greater than about 100 .mu. seconds;
• power amplifier means connected with said multivibrator and providing a rectangular pulse output signal in response to rectangular pulse signals received from said multivibrator;
• a step-up transformer having a primary winding connected to receive the output from said power amplifier means and a secondary winding;
• a pulse shaping means connected to said secondary winding of said transformer;
• a variable I.E. mode circuit means connected to receive the output from said secondary winding of said transformer through sid pulse shaping means and providing an AC output signal substantially without DC components and having a waveform with a fast rise and fall time no greater than about 12 microseconds;
• and
• electrode means connected to said I.E. mode circuit means to receive said AC output signal therefrom and adapted to be contiguous to a human body to suppress pain therein, said variable I.E. mode circuit means causing the output to said electrode means to drive the impedance of a human body contiguous to said electrode means and thereby suppress pain without causing noxious sensations despite application of said output to said human body over an extended period of time.