FAQ

Medical programs

Current Puncture is a 2-channel electrical stimulator with a wide range of stimulation and therapy modules, the software of which was specifically developed for the applications of the respective user.

1. Maintaining and building healthy muscles

2. Prophylaxis of atrophy in the area of inactivated muscles and preservation of their associated structures such as tendons and joints

3. the reconstruction of atrophic (= regressed) muscles and their appendage structures

4. overcoming reflective and pathological (= disease-related) posture and movement patterns

5. the treatment of paretic (= paralyzed) muscles

6. the treatment of spastic (= tense due to illness) muscles

7. muscle detonization (= muscle relaxation)

8. Treatment of muscle pain, especially caused by muscle work and muscle tension

Non-medical programs

In addition to the medical programs of the Current Puncture, non-medical programs are available that serve the general well-being:

1. in the medium-frequency range, the dynamic programs

2. Prof. Nguyen's stimulation program for use on acupuncture points

In addition to the various stimulation programs, the Current Puncture also includes a program for measuring individual muscle activity.

The treatment with the Current Puncture can be carried out several times a day and as a long-term application and can be carried out both in the clinical and at home environment.

Physiology:

Different nerve fiber types respond to different stimulation frequencies. In principle, however, an action potential lasts about 4 ms and a nerve can therefore only be stimulated again every 4 ms. Therefore, in order to reach a nerve, a stimulation must have a maximum frequency of 250 Hz (1/4ms).

An example: If you set a stimulation signal with a frequency of 100 Hz, 100 action potentials per second can be triggered on the nerve.

Selective stimulation at Prof Nguyen stimulation

Low frequency (LF) modeled middle frequency (MF):

• There are many pain receptors (= C fibers) on the skin, these should not be stimulated.

• In acupuncture, the skin is pierced with a thin needle in order to get to deeper layers (1cm) and only then does the actual stimulation begin by toning (distributing) or sedating (stimulating).

• Current Puncture uses MF as a carrier for the LF signal (modulation) to penetrate the skin and upper layers and reach the underlying acupuncture point. The NF signal is then discharged at the acupuncture point.

• There are many mast cells/nerves around the acupuncture points, which are addressed by the NF stimulation.

• For MF the resistance of the skin is lower than for LF signals. The principle applies that the higher the frequency, the lower the resistance.

• Acupuncture points can also be reached through pure LF stimulation, but only with a significantly higher intensity and associated greater pain sensation, since the pain receptors of the skin cannot be bypassed.

Threshold modulation at Prof Nguyen stimulation:

• The threshold modulation consists of 4 individually adjustable phases. The rising, working, falling and pausing time.

• Benefit: gentle adaptation to the stimulation for the user.

Summary:

The Prof. Nguyen stimulation combines the classic threshold modulation with a new type of selective stimulation to enable the user to use it comfortably with an optimal effect.

Definition:

Stimulation therapy at acupuncture points without needles for TCM treatment. Acupuncture points can be optimally reached through a specific choice of stimulation parameters.

Unique selling point:

1. Reaching the DeQi (acupuncture effect) without pain through selective stimulation

2. During the stimulation, the stimulation parameters can still be fine-tuned

Aspects of Prof. Nguyen stimulation:

1. Optimized hardware (developed at Heidelberg University)

2. Selective stimulation

3. Application in TCM

Background:

• Arose from a ZIM research proposal at the University of Heidelberg (2016-2018)

• Project: Detection of sleep apnea and stimulation against sleep apnea on the same electrodes

• The circuit was designed for the following current forms (stimulation): direct current (DC), NF, TENS, MF (1k-100k)

• The circuit was designed for the following types of measurement (measurement - bandwidth: 0Hz - 1kHz): direct current (EOG), EMG, EKG, EEG

• Thanks to the excellent signal processing, individual signals can be viewed separately

The hardware offers the following possible applications:

• Stimulation therapy at acupuncture points

• Muscle contraction

• Build Muscle

• Any form of stimulation through a variety of parameterization options

Info: Up until 2016, medium-frequency (MF) signals could only be generated via a transformer. In general, different sources often have to be used in order to be able to generate different types of electricity.

Advantage Current Puncture:

The program Prof. Nguyen Stimulation uses the possibilities of the optimized hardware to the maximum in order to achieve the best possible result.

1. Only one source for different types of current

2. Parameters can be changed during stimulation

3. Basic settings can easily be personalized

Features:

Current Puncture is a wearable, transcutaneous, electrical muscle and nerve stimulator that delivers electrical energy to the body in the form of pulses through cables and electrodes. The device has a TFT display and is operated via a keypad with 13 keys. It is operated with an internal voltage source (3.8 V Li-ion battery) and is protected by a fuse located in the device.

Possible applications:

• Electrotherapy at the acupuncture points (TCM)

• Pain Management

• Muscle Recovery

• Muscle building

• Blood circulation promotion

• Muscle activity measurement

• Massage

• Lymphatic Drainage (TCM)

Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) General:

• TCM describes 12 Qi pathways. 6 yin pathways: more on the inside of the body | 6 yang pathways: more on the outside of the body

• The Qi pathways form a cycle (a Qi cycle takes 24 hours)

• Diseases arise from stagnation/emptiness in these pathways, so that the Qi no longer flows. This causes the Qi to become unbalanced

Current Puncture Treatment:

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• By stimulating the acupuncture points on these pathways, the Qi flow is stimulated/distributed

• Sedate = Stimulate (when empty) | Toning = distribution (in case of stagnation)

• Stimulation also acts as a short circuit, allowing qi to circulate faster

• Stimulation should always be done in pairs (point on yin and point on yang)

• An example of a pair of points: Stomach 36 (Yang pathway) & Kidney 1 (Yin pathway)

In the introductory seminars you will learn more about the different point pairs and how they work.

In addition to the medical programs of the Current Puncture, non-medical programs are available that serve general well-being:

1. in the medium-frequency range, the dynamic programs

2. Prof. Nguyen's stimulation program for use on acupuncture points

The treatment with the Current Puncture can be carried out several times a day and as a long-term application and can be carried out both in the clinical and at home. The medium-frequency muscle stimulation programs can be used when targeted fitness training and strength training are to be carried out. A muscle relaxation program is also available. Two other programs "spastic muscles" and "paretic muscles" are intended for specific indications and for use under the guidance of professionals.

Current Puncture: medical programs

1. Conditioning training (12 min): stimulation of the fatigue-resistant type I muscle fibers, which are responsible for the conditioning of the muscle. Avoiding a loss of condition that occurs when a muscle is not moving for a long time.

2. Strength training (13 min): Stimulate type II fibers responsible for muscle strength. Avoiding a loss of strength that can occur when a muscle is not moving.

3. Conditioning training for the degenerated muscle (8 min): stimulation of the type I muscle fibers that are responsible for the conditioning of the muscle. atrophic (= regressed) and limited resilient muscles.

4. Strength training for the atrophied muscle (9 min): stimulation of the type II fibers responsible for the strength of the muscle

5. Muscle relaxation (4 min)

6. Spastic muscles (7 min): Detonation for spasticity.

7. Paretic muscles (12 min): Application for central paresis to preserve muscles and muscle appendages.

Due to a shorter total running time and longer breaks, programs 2 and 3 are suitable for the treatment of atrophic (= regressed) and restricted musculature. Programs 6 and 7 require instructions from qualified personnel.

Current Puncture: non-medical programs

1. Slow dynamics (15 min): Massage of tense and painful muscles.

2. Fast dynamics (15 min): massage of tense and painful muscles.

3. Prof. Nguyen stimulation (5-60 min): electrotherapy on acupuncture points.

Application possibilities muscle activity measurement:

1. Visualize general muscle activity

2. View activity of different muscle fiber types extracted

3. Find the cause of pain by comparing the pain area with a healthy reference point

4. Prove the effectiveness of the treatment by means of a before and after comparison (e.g. higher muscle activity after treatment)

5. All tissue activity is measurable not just muscle activity

Properties of the Current Puncture that optimize muscle activity measurement:

• Hardware: Current Puncture offers the possibility to display very small voltages (μV range).

• Signal processing: Current Puncture also offers excellent signal processing to evaluate the recorded signals using various filters.