Design of a wearable pain management system with embroidered TENS electrodes
International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology
ISSN: 0955-6222
Article publication date: 12 February 2018
Issue publication date: 22 March 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a user friendly, wearable pain management system by optimizing CAD embroidery parameters for manufacturing high performance dry transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS) electrodes.
Design/methodology/approach
User-centered design methodology is employed to identify user needs related to TENS devices. Optimization of CAD embroidery parameters was done by measuring and calculating resistance and signal-to-noise values for electrodes manufactured with different conductive thread, stitch pattern, and stitch density types.
Findings
Characteristics of the conductive thread such as thickness and irregularity, embroidery stitch pattern, stitch density therefore the amount of conductive thread used all effect resistance values and signal-to-noise values of TENS electrodes. Low resistance of TENS electrode surface does not mean high signal-to-noise ratio and high TENS signal quality. Satin stitch type with low stitch density provides the best resistance and signal-to-noise ratio for a TENS electrode.
Originality/value
This study reported the design process of a wearable pain management system with a focus on optimization of embroidery manufacturing parameters for development of TENS electrodes. The design process not only required technical optimization but also understanding user problems related to use of conventional TENS devices. Proposed end product is a user friendly, electronic textile based, wireless wearable pain management system in different forms suitable for major pain areas such as knee, elbow and neck.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank Nese Topcuoglu for her help in embroidering the TENS electrodes. This research is funded by TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) under the grant number 115M710.
Citation
Goncu Berk, G. (2018), "Design of a wearable pain management system with embroidered TENS electrodes", International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, Vol. 30 No. 1, pp. 38-48. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCST-04-2017-0047
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited