Electrode ear clip instructments for use
INSTRUCTION FOR USE
Quick start guide
- Inspect and prepare skin
- Inspect and clean electrode
- Attach clip to TENS, power off
- Wet skin and attach clip to ear
- Power on
- Power off
- Related Models available
Introduction and limitations
If your doctor has recommended transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) you will need a good fitting clip electrode that fits your ear. This instruction manual outlines how to adjust the earlobe clip electrode for the best fit and includes tips for the most consistent effectiveness. Safety aspects are addressed as well as best use. The electrode itself is passive and does not perform any useful function on its own; it is intended for use with a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS). This manual references a few general tips for use with your TENS machine but it is not a comprehensive guide to your TENS machine. For more information about your TENS machine you should consult the instruction manual that is included with that device. This manual is not a guide to tVNS treatment protocols or strategies for any ailment or symptoms and these topics are not discussed. Please work with your doctor for treatment recommendations including indications, precautions, and contraindications, and use the clip electrode as well as any TENS as directed by your doctor. Check with your doctor if you have any concerns during use.
Earlobe clip electrode parts reference
Skin inspection and preparation
The ear clip electrode attaches to the earlobe part of the both ears. Before first use, make sure the skin on your earlobes are clean and intact, without rashes, cuts, or any other skin injury. Regularly inspect the skin on your earlobes for rashes, cuts, or any other skin injury. It is easy to view the outside of the ear in the mirror but difficult to see the inside surface without help of a friend or family member. Ask for help as required. Wash your ear in the shower or bath with soap and water, or whatever else you use to wash with. Use a cloth to gently rub away dead skin that may have accumulated over time. Make it a part of your shower or bath routine to keep this part of your ear clean, on both the inner and outer surface of the earlobes. The earlobe clip electrode is gentle and generally non-allergenic but if irritation occurs, cease use and ask your doctor when to resume. If one ear is irritated but the other is okay, ask your doctor about swapping ears.
Normal skin sensation is the simplest way to protect from excess high currents during application to skin. Do not use the earlobe clip if you have numbness in the skin of the earlobe. If your skin sensation is okay, you will normally feel the tapping or buzzing sensation of TENS at a safe level; it may feel a little prickly. Limit the maximum intensity of the stimulus to a comfortable level. Ear piercings in any other part of the ear other than the earlobe are of no concern. Hardware can stay in other parts of the ear as desired. If the earlobe itself is recently pierced, you should wait until the skin is well healed before trying the clip electrode. Note that earlobe piercings may take a long time to heal. Consult your piercing provider for more advice. Remove whatever hardware you wear through your earlobe piercing hole before using the electrode.
Inspect and clean the electrode
The earlobe electrode clip is a small plastic device with thin flexible wiring. If treated with care, it should last a long time. Keep out of reach of children as they could easily damage the clip. Check it is in good condition before each use. If there are any signs of broken plastic parts, or if the wires are cut, pulled out, or otherwise damaged, do not use it. The earlobe clip electrode is intended for single patient use and you should not share it with other people. The main source of soiling from single person use is earwax. Clean the conductive contact parts with a damp cloth before use. You can use water on the cleaning cloth, or isopropyl alcohol if you desire. When not in use, store the clip in a small plastic bag or similar to keep it clean. The clip is supplied clean, not sterile. It is to be used on intact skin only and does not need to be sterilised between use on a single patient.
Attach clip to TENS, power off
Start with your TENS machine turned off. Plug the pins (usually red and black) from the TENS lead wires into the terminal block.
The orientation of red and black is not important.
Wet skin and attach clip to ear
Start with the TENS machine turned off. The earlobe clip electrode is intended for use on the earlobe part of the both ears. Fit it as pictured. Allow the wiring loom to hang down. Use a peg to attach the wiring to your shirt to keep things tidy (optional). Leave enough slack for your head to move without tugging the wires .
•Dry skin will not conduct electricity very well. Before fitting the clip, apply a conducting medium and wet the skin where you will attach the electrode. Wet both the inside surface and outside surfaces of the electrode ear. The three main conducting options, in order of increasing effectiveness are:
• Tap water, just dip your finger in and wipe on the inside and outside of the electrode ear part of the ear.
• Clean your finger, then use your own saliva on the inside and outside. This may last a little longer than tap water. Electrolyte gel. Only a tiny amount is needed. Read the tip in the power off section below to determine how well your ear-wetting has lasted.
Power on
Follow these universal tips for a controlled experience with any TENS machine.
• Always check that the TENS device is off before fitting the electrode to your ear.
• Only turn the TENS on, and turn the intensity up, when the electrode ear clip is in place on your ear. This will avoid having the intensity accidentally too high
• Turn intensity up slowly.
• Limit the maximum intensity of the stimulus to no more than a comfortable level.
• Set timer on your TENS if available, else set timer on your phone to monitor treatment time
Power off, and end of session testing
When your treatment time is over its time to turn the TENS machine off.
• If your TENS has a dial, for intensity as well as off mode, turn the dial slowly and carefully. It is easy enough to accidentally turn the dial the wrong way, and increase the intensity. Don’t do this fast! If your TENS device has a timer shutoff, then you can just remove the clip and be done, or read on below to do some tests.
• By the time your treatment session is finished, depending on how you wet it, your ear may have dried out. You can test the conductivity of your setup. It is not necessary to do this all the time, but can be helpful in working out your best method to achieve reliable conduction over the course of your treatment sessions:
Is the machine still on?
Turn the intensity up carefully.
If you feel a ready increase in the stimulation, then the skin is still conducting well.
If you feel no stimulation, then your ear may be dry.
Turn the intensity down before restarting the machine if necessary.
• If you conclude that your ear has indeed dried out such that the stimulation does not work anymore, then you can take note for future sessions. Either pause your future session part way through and re-wet the ear, or choose a different conducting medium that lasts longer, such as gel.
• If you want to stop the treatment at any time but can’t remember the instructions or how to turn the dial, you can just remove the clip from your ear at any time. be sure to turn the intensity down before re-fitting the clip to your ear.
• Even though the electrode ear clip fits well, it may still come off your ear by accident during treatment. For example you may accidentally snag the wiring loom and tug on it while moving about. Be sure to turn the intensity down before refitting as the new fit may be different.
Related models Available
There are more ear clip electrodes available.
Single-side should be use in pair to work
Double-side come with dual pin in, not need to work in pair.