stimulatorer

Stimulatorer are devices or agents designed to provoke or enhance responses by applying energy, force, or chemical stimuli. They serve in medicine, science, and consumer technology. In medicine, electrical stimulators deliver currents to nerves or muscles to modulate activity; implanted devices include spinal cord stimulators for chronic pain, deep brain stimulators for movement disorders, and cochlear implants that convert sound into electrical stimulation. Non-invasive stimulators like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) devices are used for pain relief and rehabilitation. Photostimulators use light to influence cells, for example in optogenetics research. Chemical stimulators release substances that activate receptors or enzymes; some drug delivery systems act as chemical stimulators of biological pathways.

In research, stimulators are used to elicit responses in neural, muscular, or tissue systems, enabling study of pathways and functions. In industry and consumer technology, vibro-tactile or mechanical stimulators provide haptic feedback, or assistive devices deliver mechanical stimulation to aid sensorimotor function. Safety and regulation vary by type; implanted stimulators require medical device approvals and ongoing monitoring, while non-invasive devices carry user guidelines to prevent skin irritation or burns. The history of stimulation devices spans early electrotherapy to modern neuromodulation, with advances improving specificity, safety, and patient outcomes. See also neuromodulation, electrical stimulation, and stimulator devices.