46AD
Ancient Rome
Scribonius Largus describes the use of torpedos (aquatic animals capable of electrical discharge) for medical applications. "The live black torpedo when applied to the painful area relieves and permanently cures some chronic and intolerable protracted headaches... carries off pain of arthritis... and eases other chronic pains of the body."
1600
England
William Gilbert, physician to Queen Elizabeth, published De Magnete, in which he describes the use of electricity in medicine. Gilbert re-discovers that when certain materials are rubbed, they will attract light objects - originally known to be true of Amber by the ancient Greeks. He coins the name 'electricity' from the Greek 'electron' for amber.
1743
Germany
Krueger, a Professor of Medicine, suggests in lectures that electricity might be used in the treatment of paralysis.
1745
Germany
Kratzenstein publishes a book on electrotherapy. He details a method of treatment which consists of seating the patient on a wooden stool, electrifying him by means of a large revolving frictional glass globe and then drawing sparks from him through the affected body parts.
1780
Italy
Galvani, Professor of Anatomy at the University of Bologna, first observes the twitching of muscles under the influence of electricity (prepared from the leg of a frog). Galvani then proves that atmospheric electricity, as manifested in lightning, will produce the same effects on muscular movement.
1800
Italy
Carlo Matteucci shows that injured tissue generates electric current.
1820+
Worldwide
The start of Sinusoidal Stimulation. This occurs with the advent of alternating (symmetrical, bi-phasic) current.
1831 - 1834
England
Michael Faraday, Professor of Chemistry at the Royal Military Acadamy in Woolwich from 1830 to 1851, discovers electro-magentic induction. This leads to the wire-wound transformer that permits the modern control of electricity in electric motors and voltage control.
1840
England
England's first electrical therapy department is established at Guy's Hospital, under Dr. Golding Bird. The electrical discovery of Galvano leads to the use of mechanically pulsed Galvanic currents.
1860+
England
The start of Faradic Stimulation. Bristow develops the Bristow Coil, using Faraday's principle of electro-magnetically controlling the voltage of electricity.
1885
France
Galen reproduces Largus' work with torpedos, noting in the Dictionare de Thérapeutique, "I therefore applied a living torpedo to the head of a person suffering from headache because I though the remedy would have a calming effect as do all things which numb sensation, and I have seen that it was so."
1891
USA
Nicola Tesla presents a paper in 'Electrical Engineer', about the medical application of high frequency currents. He notes that when the body is transversed by alternating currents above a certain frequency, heat is perceived. This is the forerunner of Longwave, Shortwave and Microwave diathermy devices, used for di-electric heating of deep body tissues.
1891
France
D'Arsonval, in a communication to the Société de Biologie, shows that a high frequency current (greater than 10,000Hz) can be passed through the body without producing any sensation other than heat.
[Below 10,000Hz, muscle contraction is illicited. - Ed.]
1891
France
D'Arsonval demonstrates the ability of high frequency currents to modify physiological processes, including: respitory exchange, dialation of peripheral blood vessels, arterial blood pressure.
1900+
Worldwide
The electrical discoveries of Galvano, Faraday and Tesla were therapeutically adopted by activating the electrical phenomena of the human body with the use of Galvanic, Sinusoidal and Faradic currents. These become the standard methods of applying Electrical Body Stimulation. There becomes are preference to use the more comfortable and less hazardous Faraday method. The Longwave Diathermy Spark-Gap device is produced.
1906
USA
Lee de Forest builds the first thermonic triode vacuum valve. This produces higher frequency transmission and leads to the replacement of the spark-gap method.
1908
Germany
Von Berndt, Von Priess and Von Zeyneck publish a paper on the treatment of joint disease by high frequency currents.
1914+
England
World War I casualties are treated by medical therapists at Guy's, St. Dunstan and other hospitals for exercise, pain management and healing. The therapists performing the treatment are name 'Medical Massuers', 'Medical Gymnists' and 'Medical Electricians'. These Electrotherapists use Faradic, Sinusoidal, Galvanic and Longwave diathermy currents.
1920+
Worldwide
Combined Faradic, Sinusoidal, Galvanic and Switched Galvanic clinical 'switch tables' are produced. Shortwave diathermy devices are produced.
1923
Australia
Australian therapists responsible for treating World War I casualties at Guy's, St. Dunstan and other hospitals with electro-medicine successfully obtain certification under the Victorian Registered Massuers Act of 1923. The act is later changed to the Victorian Registered Physiotherapy Act.
1930's
Germany
Interferential currents are developed. Two alternating, medium frequency sinewave current paths are crossed to give pulsed low frequency modes of electrical stimulation. Interferential currents are much more comfortable than anything else available at the time.
1946 & 1953
Australia
In 1946 William Schockley of Bell Laboratories produces the first transistor, which eventually replaces the vacuum valve. In 1953 Texas Instruments produces the Silicone transistor.
1950's - 1990's
Russia
'Russian Stimulation' is developed - 4,000Hz tone bursts, 50% ON, 50% OFF, alternating currents with 50 tone bursts per second. This is used by athletes for building muscle and increasing power.
1969
Australia
Lamers manufactures Australia's first, and possibly the world's first, portable electronic stimulator.
1970's
USA
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is acknowledged as a viable method of pain management by America's Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Many American companies begin production of TENS devices. The heart pacemaker is developed.
1970's
England & Canada
Melzak and Wall propose the 'Pain Control Gate' theory, by which strong afferent nerve stimulation by chemical, mechanical or electrical means overrides painful sensations at hypothetical pain control 'gates' in the spinal cord.
1977
Australia
Lamers develops the 'Bi-phasic Capacidance Discharge Micro-pulse' device, with equally active stimulation from both electrodes. Most devices to this point are only active through one electrode.
1970's & 80's
Sweden
Clinical researchers Ericsson and Sjolund publish a series of articles in various scientific and medical journals. They compare constant, high frequency TENS to bursts of high frequency TENS (termed acupuncture-like TENS), finding that the latter offers better pain relief and does in fact instigate a release of endorphins into the bloodstream.
1980's
USA
High voltage Galvanic stimulation of up to 500 volts is used in table-top clinical use devices.
1981
USA
Becker electrically induces limb regeneration in frogs and rats.
1986
Australia
Professor Grahame Clark devlops the Bionic Ear. Models are produced for adults and children.
1990's
Worldwide
Advances in electrically conductive polymers and self-adhesive, electrically conductive gels allow for production of electrodes which are much more user-friendly than anything previously available.
1991
Australia
Lamers manufactures the worlds first multi-function stimulator, combining a TENS (for pain relief, accelerated healing and sedation) with EMS (for muscle strengthening).
2000
USA
John McDonald of Washington University uses intensive applications of Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) to exercise the muscles of a quadraplegic of 8 years. The patient defies medical science by regaining limited sensation and movement in his body. The regimen includes 2 hours of EMS and hydrotherapy weekly.
2002
Australia
Lamers produces the EziStim® PainEze plus™ - a single-function, advanced TENS device. The product is designed to be small, low cost, user-friendly and highly effective, to make electronic therapy available to all.
2003
Australia
Lamers recommends 'prolonged therapy applications' to increase the efficiency of Electronic Body Stimulation (EBS) self-care, drug free pain relief, healing and exercise. The addition of triple-function models to the EziStim® range makes it possible to have pain relief, healing and exercise in one 'matchbox' sized device.
