Design And Construction Of An Electronic Muscle Stimulator

ABSTRACT

Electronic muscle stimulator is an electronic machine that contracts the muscles via electrical current. People use the device for pain relief and muscle re-education. The stimulator blocks the transmission of pain signals in nerves and releases endorphins. An electronic muscle stimulator produces a mild electrical current. Wires from the machine connect with adhesive patches placed on the skin over the affected muscle or pain area. The machine sends an electrical current to the predetermined area of the body. The settings provide varying strengths of electricity, depending on the severity of the problem. The aim of this work is to design a device that does these functions.

TABLE OF CONTENT
TITLE PAGE
APPROVAL PAGE
DEDICATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1      BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
1.2      OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
1.3      PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT
1.4      SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT
1.5      APPLICATION OF THE PROJECT
1.6      SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

1.7      PROBLEM OF THE PROJECT

1.8      METHODOLOGY
1.9     PROJECT OUTLINE

CHAPTER TWO
2.0     LITERATURE REVIEW 
2.1   HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

2.2     GENERAL USES OF THE STUDY

2.3   REVIEW OF THE EFFECTS OF THE STUDY

2.4   REVIEW OF ELECTRONIC MUSCLE STIMULATOR SYSTEM REGULATION

2.5   REVIEW OF AN AUTOTRANSFORMER AND ITS OPERATION

CHAPTER THREE
DESIGN METHODOLOGY
3.1      SYSTEM BLOCKS DIAGRAM
3.3      CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
3.4      OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM
3.5      CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION
3.6      DESCRIPTION OF MAJOR COMPONENTS USED

CHAPTER FOUR 
4.0      TEST AND RESULT ANALYSIS
4.1      CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE AND TESTING ANALYSIS
4.2      CASING AND PACKAGING
4.3      ASSEMBLING OF SECTIONS
4.4      TESTING OF SYSTEM OPERATION
4.5      INSTALLATION OF THE COMPLETED DESIGN
CHAPTER FIVE 
5.1      CONCLUSION
5.2      RECOMMENDATION
5.3      REFERENCES

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                        INTRODUCTION

Electronic muscle stimulation (EMS), also known as neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) or electromyostimulation, is the elicitation of muscle contraction using electric impulses. EMS has received an increasing amount of attention in the last few years for many reasons: it can be utilized as a strength training tool for healthy subjects and athletes; it could be used as a rehabilitation and preventive tool for partially or totally immobilized patients; it could be utilized as a testing tool for evaluating the neural and/or muscular function in vivo; it could be used as a post-exercise recovery tool for athletes. The impulses are generated by a device and are delivered through electrodes on the skin near to the muscles being stimulated. The electrodes are generally pads that adhere to the skin. The impulses mimic the action potential that comes from the central nervous system, causing the muscles to contract.

1.1                                             OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT

An electronic muscle stimulator is an electronic device used to deliver electrical impulses to the body, in order to make the muscles contract. Impulses are sent from the device to a series of electrodes (usually adhesive pads), which are placed on the skin, over the muscles being targeted. However, the objective of this work is to construct such device.

1.2                                              PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT

Purpose of this work is design an electronic muscle stimulator circuit that stimulates nerves of that part of your body where electrodes are attached. It is useful to relieve headache and muscle pain and revive frozen muscles that impair movement.

1.3                                         SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT

Electronics muscle stimulators can be used for muscle re-education in patients who have suffered an injury. It helps them build strength in severely weakened muscles before they start with traditional physical therapy methods. EMS forces muscle contractions in coordinated patterns to strengthen the cognitive link between the brain and movements.

Muscle atrophy is another area where EMS can really help. This decrease of muscle mass is often the result of some other medical condition, but electric stimulation can slow, or even prevent, muscle atrophy by keeping unused muscles active, especially in mobility-restricted patients. Along with muscle atrophy often comes a decreased range of motion. By using EMS in home and professional therapeutic applications, one can limit the range of motion loss while people heal.

Electric stimulation can also increase the blood flow to muscles, which has two beneficial results. It delivers vital nutrients necessary for muscle growth and recovery, plus it helps remove waste and lactic acid after a workout, which equates to less soreness and faster recovery.

Electronic muscle stimulation can be used by bodybuilders looking to increase strength gains, improve muscle tone, and give an overall more defined appearance to muscles. The key to building muscle mass and creating a stronger muscle is contraction. The more a muscle contracts, the more it will develop. In this way, EMS machines can be incredibly useful for training. Maximal EMS contraction can be up to 30% higher than maximal voluntary contraction. Using an EMS machine also allows you to bypass the body’s natural energy conservation system, and activate more muscle fibers than would be physically possible manually.

1.4                                            PROBLEMS OF THE PROJECT

While there are some clear advantages to the Contour Ab Belt there are also some distinct disadvantages. For one thing, the device appears to be too bulky to be worn discreetly, especially given the size of its remote controller. Thus, users might need to forget about undergoing a toning program while at work or in public. It also requires 4 AAA batteries, unlike some other belts. Plus, the device is not specifically backed by any third party clinical trials, as some other EMS devices are. With a satisfaction guarantee period of only one month, people do not have a very long a time period to make a final decision about the apparatus.

1.5                                          APPLICATION OF THE PROJECT

The Uses of an Electronic Muscle Stimulator. Electronic muscle stimulator, or EMS, machines use low-voltage pulses to stimulate motor nerves that cause muscles to contract. Medical facilities use these machines

• to treat pain,
• relax, building and strengthen muscles,
• increase blood flow and remove lactic acid
• muscle toning
• warmup before exercise
• Training – power, endurance, strength, size, etc.

1.6                                                 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

Electronic muscle stimulator circuit that stimulates nerves of that part of your body where electrodes are attached. It is useful to relieve headache and muscle pain and revive frozen muscles that impair movement. The circuit was built using IC 7555 which is an oscillating ic and it is wired as an astable multivibrator to generate about 80Hz pulses. From the circuit diagram in chapter three, X1 is a small mains transformer with 220V primary to 12V, 100/150mA secondary. It must be reverse connected, i.e., connect the secondary winding to the collector of T2 and ground, and primary winding to the output electrodes. The output voltage is about 60V but the output current is so small that there is no threat of electric shock. A potentiometer VR1 was also used to control the intensity of current sensing at the electrodes. The brightness level of LED1 indicates the amplitude of the pulses.

1.7                                              PROBLEM OF THE PROJECT

Muscle Tears: injury can be caused by electrical muscle stimulation if the tissue becomes too tense during the electrically induced contraction. Muscles are most easily injured at the musculotendinous junction and can tear at these sites if the stimulator is turned up too high. Electrical stimulation can also cause pre-existing muscle injuries, such as tears and deep bruises, to get worse and may even prevent full tissue healing.

Tissue Burns: Improper use of a muscle stimulation unit can easily lead to skin burns, electrical current is delivered through a small electrode, the skin is exposed to a higher concentration of electricity per unit of area, which can cause burns. Be wary of skin pain and discomfort at the area under the electrode during stimulation. While stimulation often causes a strong tingling sensation, it should not be painful or cause distress of any sort. If the stimulation is painful, turn off the machine and remove the electrodes so your skin can recover.

Skin Irritation: When using this device, skin irritation can occur because of a reaction to the electrode adhesive or the electrical current itself. To help prevent a reaction to the adhesive used on electrodes, the company recommends thoroughly cleaning and drying the skin before applying the electrodes. Areas of skin that you have recently shaved may also be more prone to being irritated and inflamed by the flow of the electric current.

1.8                                                       METHODOLOGY

This system is developed using several electrical and electronic principles. A IC 7555 is used which is actually wired just as one astable multivibrator to build about 80Hz pulses. The particular output involving IC1 is fed to be able to transistor T1, whose emitter is actually further connected to the starting of transistor T2 via R3 as well as VR1. The enthusiast of transistor T2 is connected to one end of the secondary turning of transformer X1. The opposite end on the secondary winding from the transformer is connected to ground.

1.9                                                      PROJECT OUTLINE

The various stages involved in the development of this project have been properly put into five chapters to enhance comprehensive and concise reading. In this project thesis, the project is organized sequentially as follows:

Chapter one of this work is on the introduction to this study. In this chapter, the background, significance, objective, application, purpose, limitation and problem, of this work was discussed.

Chapter two is on literature review of the study. In this chapter, all the literature pertaining to this work was reviewed.

Chapter three is on design methodology. In this chapter all the method involved during the design and construction were discussed.

Chapter four is on testing analysis. All testing that result accurate functionality was analyzed.

Chapter five is on conclusion, recommendation and references.