Development and Testing of a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Device for Pilots

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Aerospace Medicine
• Human Factors Engineering

Background:

• Neck and back pain are prevalent issues for long-haul pilots, causing significant personal and operational burdens.
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is an effective pain management modality, but existing devices are not suitable for use during flight.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an innovative, wrist-worn TENS device designed for operation by pilots through flight suits.
• To assess the device's impact on pilot range of motion (ROM) and usability in simulated flight and driving scenarios.

Main Methods:

• A patented wrist-worn TENS device with tactile controls was developed.
• Range of motion (ROM) was assessed in 26 participants across multiple simulator platforms (L-39, Mi-2, B-737).
• Long-duration (5-hour) simulator sorties and a 6-hour driving test were conducted, with usability evaluated via the System Usability Scale (SUS).

Main Results:

• High percentages of unrestricted ROM were achieved (96.74% standing, 93.33% seated).
• Minor ROM restrictions were identified, primarily due to cord length and device size, with root causes noted for future design improvements.
• The device achieved a high mean SUS score of 86.63, indicating excellent usability. Driving tests showed only one inaccurate activation in 100 trials.

Conclusions:

• The wrist-worn TENS device demonstrates high suitability and usability for pilots and drivers in operational contexts.
• Identified design limitations are addressable in future iterations.
• Further research should focus on evaluating the device's ergonomics during actual flight operations.