Beurer EM 38 User manual

EM 38
Rückenschmerzgürtel
Gebrauchsanweisung ................ 2-14
Back pain belt
Instruction for Use.................... 15-27
Ceinture lombaire
Mode d´emploi ......................... 28-40
Cinturón terapéutico lumbar
Instrucciones para el uso......... 41-53
Cintura per dolori lombari
Istruzioni per l´uso.....................54-66
Sırt ağrısıkemeri
Kullanma Talimatı.....................67-79
Электростимулятор для
спины
Инструкция по применению....80-92
Pas likwidujący ból pleców
Instrukcja obsługi ....................93-108
D
F
E
I
TR
RUS
PL
Beurer GmbH • Söflinger Str. 218 • D-89077 Ulm (Germany)
Tel.: +49 (0) 731 / 39 89-144 • Fax: +49 (0) 731 / 39 89-255
www.beurer.de • Mail: [email protected] 0483

15
English
Contents
1About the unit ..........................16
2Signs and symbols ..................17
3Important notes........................17
4Unit description........................21
5Using the unit for the first time
and changing the batteries......22
6Operation.................................23
7Cleaning and care of the unit
and belt....................................25
8Disposal...................................25
9Troubleshooting.......................26
10 Technical specifications ..........26
Included in delivery
•Back belt with control unit EM38
•Extension belt
•Batteries, 3 x 1.5 V AAA (LR03, micro)
•This instruction manual

16
1 About the unit
Dear valued customer
Thank you for choosing one of our prod-
ucts. Our name stands for high-quality,
thoroughly tested products for applications
in the areas of heat, weight, blood pres-
sure, body temperature, pulse, gentle ther-
apy, massage and air.
Please read these instructions for use ca-
refully and keep them for later use, be sure
to make them accessible to other users
and observe the information they contain.
With kind regards
Your Beurer team
Pain relief on lower back with the EM38 stimulation current unit
How does stimulation current work?
The back belt works on the basis of electri-
cal nerve stimulation (TENS).
The more precise term is transcutaneous
(meaning "through the skin") electrical ner-
ve stimulation (TENS). TENS is approved
as a clinically proven, effective, medica-
tion-free method of treating certain types of
pain which, when used properly, is also
free of side effects. It is also approved as a
means of simple self-treatment.
The pain-relieving or pain-suppressing effect
is caused by suppressing the transmission
of pain in the nerve fibres (particularly
through high-frequency impulses) and in-
creasing the release of the body's own en-
dorphins, which decrease the sensation of
pain by their effect in the central nervous
system. This method is clinically tested and
approved.
Every condition that calls for the use of
TENS must be clarified by your attending
physician. He or she will also give you in-
formation about the specific benefits of a
TENS self-treatment.

17
2 Signs and symbols
The following symbols appear in these
instructions.
Warning Warning instruction indi-
cating a risk of injury or
damage to health.
Important Safety note indicating
possible damage to the
unit/accessories.
Note Important information to
be noted.
The following symbols are used on the
identification plate.
Type BF applied part
Refer to instructions for use
Caution!
Read the instructions for use.
Refer to accompanying documents.
Manufacturer
SN Serial number
3 Important notes
Safety notes
Warning
•Use the belt only:
•On humans
•For external use
•For the purpose for which it was de-
veloped and in the manner specified
in these instructions for use.
•Any improper use can be dangerous!
•In acute emergencies, first aid takes
priority.
•This unit is not intended for commer-
cial or clinical use, but only for individ-
ual, private household use!
•Before use, ensure that there is no
visible damage to the unit or accesso-
ries. When in doubt, do not use the
unit and contact your dealer or the
customer service address provided.
•If you have health concerns of any
kind, contact your general practitioner!
•Use the unit in the lower back area
only! Using it on other body parts can
cause severe health problems.
•A slight reddening of the skin after use
is normal and disappears after a short
time. Refrain from using the unit until
the reddening has gone away.
•If skin irritation results from a long
therapy time, select a shorter applica-
tion time.
•In case of more severe skin irritation,
discontinue treatment and consult a
physician.
•This unit is not intended for use by
children or persons with physical, sen-
sory (e.g. insensitivity to pain) or men-
tal impairments or those who do not
know how to use it due to a lack of ex-
perience or knowledge, unless they
are supervised by a person responsi-
ble for their safety or have received in-
structions from them on how to use the
unit.
•Keep children away from packaging
materials (risk of suffocation).
•Do not use attachments that are not
recommended by the manufacturer.

18
Safety precautions
Warning
•Carry out the first few minutes of treat-
ment while sitting or lying down, so that if
you experience a rare vasovagal reac-
tion (i.e. you feel faint), you are not at
unnecessary risk of injury. If you start to
feel faint, shut off the unit immediately
and elevate your legs (for approx. 5 –10
min.).
•The treatment should be pleasant. If the
unit does not function correctly or if you
begin to feel unwell or feel pain, stop us-
ing the unit immediately.
•Take off the belt only when the unit is
switched off!
Notes about the electrodes
Important
•Never apply the electrodes to injured
skin areas.
•Max. recommended initial value for elec-
trodes: 5 mA/cm2.
•Effective current density levels over
2 mA/cm2require increased attention on
the part of the user.
Warning
To prevent harm to your health, we ur-
gently recommend that you do not use
the unit in the following situations:
•Do not use the unit if you use a pace-
maker or other implants, such as an in-
sulin pump or metallic implants.
•If you have a high fever (e.g. > 39 °C).
•If you have known or acute arrythmias or
other problems involving cardiac stimuli
and their transmission to the heart.
•If you have seizure disorders (such as
epilepsy).
•If you are pregnant.
•If you have cancer.
•After operations in which increased
muscle contractions could interfere with
the healing process.
•On acutely or chronically diseased (in-
jured or inflamed) skin, e.g. painless or
painful inflammation or reddening.
•If you have rashes (e.g. allergies), burns,
bruises, swelling and open wounds or
those in the process of healing.
•On surgical scars in the process of heal-
ing.
•When simultaneously connected to a
high-frequency surgical instrument. In
this case, burns under the stimulation
current fields can result.
•When under the influence of pain medi-
cation, alcohol or sleep aids.
•Whenever doing anything in which an
unforeseen reaction (such as increased
muscle contraction despite low intensity)
can be hazardous, for example while dri-
ving a car or operating machinery.
•On sleeping persons.
•Do not use this unit simultaneously with
other units that transmit electrical pulses
to your body.
•The unit is suitable for private, individual
use.

19
•For hygienic reasons, the belt may be
used by one person only.
•Ensure that during stimulation, no metal-
lic objects can contact the electrodes, as
otherwise localised burns can occur.
The unit must not be used in the follow-
ing situations:
•In the head area: Here, it can trigger
cramping.
•In the neck/carotid artery area: Here, it
can trigger cardiac arrest.
•In the throat and larynx area: Here, it can
trigger muscle cramps that can cause
suffocation.
•In the ribcage area: Here, it can increase
the risk of ventricular fibrillation and cau-
se cardiac arrest.
Safety precautions
•Do not use the unit in close proximity to
shortwave or microwave units (e.g. cell
phones), as these can cause fluctuations
of the initial values of the unit.
•Do not use while sleeping, driving a mo-
tor vehicle or simultaneously operating
machinery.
•Never immerse the unit in water or other
liquids.
•Do not use in close proximity to highly
inflammable materials, gases or explo-
sives.
Consult a doctor before use in
the following situations:
•Acute diseases, particularly in case of
suspected or known blood coagulation
disorders, susceptibility to thromboembo-
litic disease or malignant growths.
•If you have diabetes or other diseases.
•Chronic pain conditions that have not
been clarified, regardless of the region of
the body.
•Any sensitivity disorders with reduced
sensation of pain (such as metabolic di-
sorders).
•Simultaneously carried out medical
treatments.
•Discomfort experienced as a result of the
stimulation treatment.
•Persistent skin irritation under the elec-
trodes.
Warning
Using the unit is not a substitute for con-
sultation or treatment from a physician.
Whenever you have any pain or illness,
always contact your physician first.

20
Before using the unit for the first
time
Important
•Before you use the unit for the first time,
remove all packaging materials.
•Switch the unit off immediately if it is de-
fective or malfunctioning.
•If the self-adhesive covers for the elec-
trode connection are missing or become
detached, we recommend urgently that
you affix the electrode covers provided.
•Never wear the belt with bare metal elec-
trodes. Using the belt without electrode
covers can cause injuries.
Important
•The manufacturer shall not be held liable
for damage or injuries caused by im-
proper or incorrect use.
•Protect the unit from dust, dirt and mois-
ture.
•If the unit has fallen or been dropped,
exposed to extreme moisture or incurred
other types of damage, it must no longer
be used. Do not expose the unit to high
temperatures or direct sunlight.
•Never open or attempt to repair the
unit by yourself, as otherwise proper
function is no longer guaranteed. Fail-
ure to observe this regulation shall
void the warranty.
•If you need to have the unit repaired,
contact customer service or an author-
ised dealer.
Notes on handling batteries
•Keep batteries out of the reach of chil-
dren. Children can put batteries in their
mouth and swallow them. This can
cause severe harm to their health. In
this case, consult a physician immedi-
ately!
•Normal batteries must not be re-
charged, heated or thrown into an open
flame (danger of explosion!).
•Always replace all batteries at the same
time and use batteries of the same ty-
pe.
•Leaking batteries can damage the unit.
If you do not intend to use the unit for a
prolonged period, remove the batteries
from the battery compartment.
•Leaky or damaged batteries can cause
caustic injuries if they touch the skin. In
this case, wear suitable safety gloves.

21
4 Unit description
Overview of the control unit
Item Designation
1 On/off/pause button
2 Intensity adjustment
Sincrease
Tdecrease
3 Program/locking key
4 Battery compartment
5 Display with LCD display
Item Designation
6 Battery status, appears when
batteries are used up
7 Intensity, level 0 - 20
8 Pause symbol, flashes when
activated
9 TIMER: Remaining time of the
active programs in minutes
10 Keylock active
11 Active program

22
5 Using the unit for the first time and changing the batteries
Putting on the belt
Before each use, ensure that your skin is
clean and free of creams or oils. Only in
this way the unit can work optimally.
•Lay out the belt before you with the
electrodes facing you.
•Moisten the electrodes and your back
with water. Ensure that the electrode
surfaces are moistened evenly to avoid
localised voltage peaks when they are
applied to your skin.
•Fit the belt around your waist so that the
vertical seams Aare at the same place
on each side of your body. The Beurer
logo Bis then in the middle of the spinal
column.
See the diagram.
When positioned correctly, the elec-
trodes Care slightly to the left and
right of your spinal column.
•Then, close the Velcro fastener.
Ensure that the belt fits tightly
enough to provide a good contact
between the electrodes and your
skin, but does not constrict.
Extending the belt
If the belt is not adequate for your
waistline, you can use the exten-
sion belt provided.
Depending on your waistline, the
holder for the control unit may be
away from the centre of your body.
It is important that the belt is posi-
tioned correctly, therefore the elec-
trodes Cmust be to the left and
right of the spinal column.
Inserting the control unit
•Insert the control unit into the holder on
the belt.
•The operating keys should be facing
outwards and the display should be fac-
ing upwards and towards you.
•If inserted correctly, the control unit
clicks into the holder.
Automatic shutoff
If the unit is not used after being switched
on, it switches off automatically after
3 minutes.
Changing the batteries
If the battery status indicator [6]
flashes, it is time to change the
batteries. To insert or replace bat-
teries, you have to remove the con-
trol unit from the holder of the belt.
B
A
C
A

23
•Release the magnetic connection by
gently pulling the control unit away from
the belt. You can feel the magnetic
connection of the two contact buttons
unsnap.
•Pull the unit upwards and out of the
holder.
•Open the battery compartment [4] by
pushing the cover downwards at the ar-
row mark.
•Insert 3 x 1.5 V batteries, type AAA (LR
03 Micro). Ensure the correct polarity.
See the diagram inside the battery
compartment.
•Do not use any rechargeable batteries!
6 Operation
General information about use
The back belt is intended for individual
treatment of pain in the lower back area.
Do not switch on the unit until
the belt is fitted correctly. See
item 5.
Switching on the unit
Press and hold down the on/off button [1]
until a brief signal sounds and the LCD
display [5] switches on. When the unit is
started for the first time, Program A is acti-
vated automatically.
Selecting the program
Press the program button P [3] to switch
through the programs. The following pro-
grams are available:
Program Frequency Time
A 4 Hz – 110 Hz
(3 phases)
30 min.
B 4 Hz 25 min.
C 2 Hz (burst) 25 min.
D 100 Hz 25 min.
Note:
For program A, you can feel the
effect become stronger when swit-
ching from phase 1 to phase 2 (af-
ter approx. 10 minutes). This is
normal and intentional.
If the intensity seems too high, de-
crease it using the Tintensity but-
ton [2].

24
Note:
If you change the program during
the stimulation (for example from A
to B), the initial intensity in the new
program increases incrementally
up to the previously set intensity.
This can be stopped if necessary
by pressing the Tintensity button
[2] for two seconds or by switching
off the unit by pressing the on/off
button [1] for two seconds.
Stopping impulses that are too strong
You can decrease the intensity at any time
or switch off the unit by pressing the on/off
button [1] (approx. 2 seconds).
Adjusting the intensity
Press the Sintensity button [2] to increase
the intensity incrementally or press the T
intensity button [2] to lower the intensity.
You can adjust the intensity in 20 incre-
ments. Depending on the intensity level,
you feel a prickling at first that can esca-
late to a muscle contraction.
Select a setting that is within your
comfort level.
Preventing unwanted pulse changes
To prevent an accidental increase in inten-
sity during a treatment session, simply
activate the keylock. To do so, press the
program selection button P [3] for approx.
2 seconds. An acoustic signal sounds and
the " " symbol appears in the display
[5].
To cancel the keylock, press and hold
down the P [3] button for approx. 2 sec-
onds.
Reacting to unpleasant sensations
If you feel a stinging or itching sensation,
switch off the unit and proceed as follows:
•Check whether the electrodes are work-
ing properly or are defective.
•Check whether the round cover is still
present over the electrode connections.
•Take off the belt and moisten it com-
pletely once again.
•When refitting the belt, ensure good
skin contact and good moistening.
Inserting a pause
If you want to take a break or pause a pro-
gram, press the pause button [1] briefly.
An acoustic signal sounds and the "II"
pause symbol flashes in the display [5].
You can resume the program by pressing
the button [1] again.
Contact detection
If the electrodes have no contact with the
body, the intensity is set automatically to
zero. This prevents unwanted stimulation.
The intensity cannot be increased without
contact with the body.
Memory function
The unit stores the most recently config-
ured program.
After a battery change, the unit starts with
the first program again.

25
7 Cleaning and care of the unit and belt
Cleaning the unit
•Remove the batteries from the unit be-
fore each cleaning.
•Clean the unit with a soft cloth mois-
tened slightly with water after use. If the
dirt is heavier, you can also moisten the
cloth with a mild soap solution.
•Ensure that no water penetrates the
unit. If this should occur, do not use the
unit until it is completely dry.
•Do not use any chemical cleaners or
abrasives for cleaning.
•
Important
The belt and control unit are not suit-
able for machine washing.
Cleaning the belt
Once you have removed the control unit
from the belt, you can clean the belt using
a soft cloth. To do so, use a mild soap so-
lution or liquid detergent. Do not use blea-
ching agents.
8 Disposal
In the interest of protecting the environment,
the unit must not be thrown out with the hou-
sehold waste at the end of its service life.
Dispose of the unit at a suitable local collec-
tion or recycling point.
Observe the local regulations for material
disposal.
Dispose of the unit in accordance
with EC Directive
2002/96/EC – WEEE (Waste Elec-
trical and Electronic Equipment).
If you have questions, contact the munici-
pal agency responsible for disposal.
Standard and rechargeable batteries should
be disposed of separately from the house-
hold waste. As a consumer, you are legally
obliged to return used batteries for proper
disposal. You can hand in your used batter-
ies at public collection points in your district
or sales outlets where batteries of this type
are sold.
The codes below are printed on
batteries containing harmful sub-
stances:
Pb = battery contains lead
Cd = battery contains cadmium
Hg = battery contains mercury
The batteries for this unit are free of hazard-
ous substances.

26
9 Troubleshooting
Problem/question Possible cause/remedy
1. Ensure that the batteries are inserted correctly and have con-
tact. The on/off button must be pressed and held down to
switch the unit on.
2. If necessary, replace the batteries.
The unit does not
switch on when you
press the ON/OFF
button.
3. Please contact customer service.
1. Increase the pulse intensity incrementally.
2. Press the on/off button to restart the program.
No stimulation can be
felt.
3. The batteries are almost empty. Replace them.
You feel an unpleasant
sensation from the
electrodes.
The electrodes are poorly moistened. This can lead to skin irrita-
tion, as the current is no longer distributed evenly over the entire
surface.
Switch off the unit.
Take off the belt, moisten the belt (electrodes) and your lower
back and restart the program according to the manual.
The skin in the treat-
ment area becomes
red.
Discontinue the treatment immediately and wait until the skin con-
dition has normalised. Temporary skin reddening under the elec-
trode is harmless and can be explained by the localised increase
in blood flow.
However, if the skin irritation persists and you feel itching or irrita-
tion, consult your doctor before continuing use.
The cause may be an allergy to the surface of the electrode.
10 Technical specifications
Belt size for waist sizes from: Approx. 75 to 140 cm
Weight (belt and unit) Approx. 415 g with batteries
Electrode size Approx. 81 x 65 mm
Parameters (500 Ohm load) Output voltage: max. 50Vpp / 5.5Vrms
Output current: max. 100mApp / 11mArms
Output frequency: 2–110Hz
Pulse duration 60 - 220 μs per phase
Wave form Symmetric, biphasic rectangular pulses
Power supply 4.5 V (3 x 1.5 V AAA, type LR 03)
Operating conditions 0° C to 40° C, 20 to 65% relative humidity
Storage 0° C to 55° C, 10 to 90% relative humidity
Protection against ingress of water IPX0, ordinary protection

27
We reserve the right to make any technical alterations that are necessary in order to im-
prove and develop the product further. If the unit is used outside of the specifications,
proper function is no longer guaranteed!
This unit complies with European stan-
dards EN60601-1, EN60601-1-2 and is
subject to special precautions regarding
electromagnetic compatibility. Note that
portable and mobile RF communication
equipment can affect this unit. For detailed
information, contact customer service at
the address provided.
The unit conforms to the requirements of
the European Directive for Medical Prod-
ucts 93/42/EC, the MPG (German Medical
Devices Act).
In accordance with the MPBetreibV (Ger-
man Medical Device Operator Ordinance),
regular metrology checks must be per-
formed if the unit is used for commercial or
business purposes. Even for private use,
we recommend having the manufacturer
perform a metrology check every 2 years.