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TENS/EMS electrodes

Various medical procedures require receiving electrical signals from various parts of the body or applying electrical signals to other points of the body. Among these procedures are TENS. (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Simulation), EMS. (Electrical Muscle Stimulation), FE.S. (Functional Electrical Stimulation), EMG (Electromyograph), EEG (Electroencephalogram), EKG (Electrocardiogram), computer generated signal transmission for the purpose of motor stimulated movement in quadraplegic or paraplegic patients, transmission of signals to specific sites for the purpose of transcutaneous bone growth stimulation, and eductional systems to allow immediate and accurate identification of known anatomical points of importance in sending or monitoring biomedical signals. Medical electrodes provide an electrical interface between a patient and monitoring equipment (e.g., an electrocardiograph device) or between a patient and stimulating equipment (e.g., interferential and iontophoresis devices). Medical monitoring electrode systems help to obtain desired physiologic responses for the assessment or treatment of diseases and injuries in humans. Monitoring electrodes are used to sense electrical signals, which are then transmitted to electrocardiograph (EKG), electroencephalograph (EEG), and electromyograph (EMG) devices. Stimulating electrodes emit electrical pulses for transcutaneous electrical devices, such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), neuromuscular stimulation (NMS), functional electrical stimulation (FES), as well as interferential and iontophoresis therapy. In general, monitoring electrodes for EKG, EEG, and EMG devices are small, for example on the order of a few square centimeters, because a relatively small contact area with a skin surface is sufficient for reception of electrical signals. Monitoring electrodes need only carry very low electrical signals: on the order of milliamps. In general, monitoring electrodes are not capable of conducting and distributing the high levels of energy required in transcutaneous stimulation and defibrillation electrodes. Like monitoring electrodes, medical stimulating electrodes are also used to treat diseases and injuries in humans. Unlike and in contrast to monitoring electrodes, however, stimulation electrodes generally require a larger skin surface contact in order to provide sufficient transcutaneous electrical current to effect a desired physiologic response.

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