In 1973 the Department for automation, biocybernetics and robotics at the Jožef Stefan Institute established a production of medical electronic units, manufacturing electrical nerve stimulators, electrodes and their accessories.
Currently, there are five different types of stimulators available. Products are interesting for hospitals, health centres, rehabilitation centres, physiotherapy and for individuals who need certain types of therapy at home, or in nursing homes and health care institutions.
Stimulators are packed in plastic cases. The kit contains a stimulator, suitable cables, a set of electrodes and batteries, and for certain types batteries and a charger.
WHAT IS ELECTRIC STIMULATION
Electrical stimulation is a process in which electric impulses are applied to the nerve fibres via electrodes attached to the skin. The response of the human body, which is either contraction of the muscles, pain relief or wound healing, depends on the frequency and intensity of the pulses.
The doctor or therapist chooses the appropriate type of stimulator for the patient, learns the correct electrode setup, adjusts the appropriate stimulation strength and length. In this process, the stimulation strength is gradually increased to the extent of muscle tension or shrinking. At this point, the patient feels a slight tingling in the muscle, of which he eventually becomes accustomed. The aim of the appropriate setting is to achieve strong muscle contraction, which is still acceptable when regarding pain.
PRODUCTS
Products are sorted according to their field of usage:
Muscle stimulation – functional electrical stimulation (FES)
- weak muscle strengthening, moving from sitting to standing position, standing and walking in paraplegic patients with central nervous system impairment, or muscle strengthening in athletes: ALT-2
- weak muscle strengthening in patients with central nervous system damage: HEMIFES
- walking improvement in foot lifting in patients with central nervous system impairment (drop-foot correction): MICROFES
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- pain relief: NEVROBOL Personal
Therapeutic electrical stimulation (TES)
- Healing of chronic and acute vascular wounds and ease symtoms associated with peripheral blood circulation problems: DEKUS
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