PINACQ - Users Manual

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Electrical Stimulation

PINACQ is intended to be used with DigiTimers DS5 electrical stimulator. Here it is assumed the DS5 is in use even though the software may be used with alike stimulators, eg. the NoxiStim.

Prerequisites

The DS5 must be connected to the computer and AD/DA-board as described in the Hardware section.

Every time the DigiTimer DS5 stimulator is turned on, the output current must be set as described in the TransConductance section!

When this is ready, choose the El.Stim tab in PINACQ.

Determining Pain Threshold

El.Stim tab

Note: Before starting a new session, please auto-zero the DS5 stimulator as described in the software and below. When a session is finished, please disable the output.

PINACQ offers two stimulation patterns, which you choose under Stim.Pattern (left):

• Single Burst: One burst of five pulses is delivered at 200Hz
  The pulse width can be changed under Settings in the General tab
• Train of Bursts: A number (default 5) of bursts is delivered at a fixed frequency (default 2Hz)
  Number and frequency can be changed under Settings in the General tab

Note: When the stimulation pattern is changed measurements already taken will be cleared and the amplitude set to zero.

The stimulus amplitude is set by the Stim Amplitude control. You can either-

• Increase / decrease the amplitude in steps by use of the Increase and Decrease buttons corresponding to PageUp and PageDown on the keyboard (recommended)
  • You can switch stepsize between 0.1 and 0.2mA; F11 on keyboard
• Drag the slider up/down
• Type the requested value directly into the control

Start out with a low value and increase slowly to find the pain threshold.

Click Stimulate or F12 on the keyboard to apply a stimulation.
Remember: The stimulator output must be enabled to deliver a stimulus.

The Stim LED will blink during stimulation, and the applied amplitude will be transferred to the Prev.Amp. indicator.

When the pain threshold is found click Threshold Found or End on keyboard to include it in the average. Stimulus amplitude will automatically be reduced to 75% of the average threshold.

You can choose which of the three slots the next measured threshold shall go into by dragging the Next slider. In this way you can overwrite a mistake. Displays reading NaN (Not a Number) are not included in the average.

When you want to start anew, click Clear or Delete on keyboard to clear all measured thresholds and set the amplitude to zero.

DS5 Auto-Zero

This is how to auto-zero the DS5 stimulator:

1. Ensure output is disabled: Press red button downwards,
   
2. Press the F2/AZ (Auto-Zero) button .
3. You can now enable the output: Press red button upwards
   
   The display should now show in the lower right corner.
   Output must be enabled to stimulate!

When a session is finished, please disable output: Press red button downwards.

 

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Updated 2009-04-15 20:11 /KnL