KR100930274B1 - Stimulation device using of piezoelectric element for cartilage regrowth - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An electronic stimulation device is provided, which can be semi-permanently used without external power source and can generate minute current without a special conversion device. CONSTITUTION: An electronic stimulation device comprises a power supply unit which is comprised of a piezoelectric element(150) and a band type belt(110) and generates current by vibration of the human body; a current controller(200) which changes the current generated from the power supply unit into current value suitable to the position to be treated; and an electric stimulation part(300) applying the micro current to the treatment position. The power supply unit, current controller, and electric stimulation part are mounted in the band type belt surrounding the human body. The current controller includes a rectifier and a minute current output unit.

Description

Electrical stimulation device using piezoelectric sensor for cartilage regeneration treatment {STIMULATION DEVICE USING OF PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT FOR CARTILAGE REGROWTH}

The present invention relates to an electrical stimulation device, and more particularly, to an electrical stimulation device for cartilage regeneration treatment that can electrically stimulate the point or injury of the human body semi-permanently without an independent external power source.

In general, a part of the human body called the Acupoint of Oriental Medicine and the trigger point of both medicines has a low electrical resistance compared to surrounding tissues and shows high electrical conductivity, and treatment with acupuncture has been made in the past. Recently, treatment methods and devices such as electroacupuncture needles, electroacupuncture needles, silver spike points (SSP), percutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS), and electrical stimulation for tissue (EST) have been developed and utilized in clinical practice. have. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 7-59867, published on March 07, 1995, applies an adhesive layer to a sheet substrate, and applies two kinds of materials having different electrochemical potentials to the adhesive layer in powder or granular form. The adhesive sheet which contained was disclosed.

However, the conventional treatment method is mainly to treat the current by generating a strong current of the mA unit by a mechanical device or to generate electric current chemically and to adjust the waveform of voltage and current, generating the most suitable electrical stimulation for disease treatment The treatment effect using this method was not excellent. Advanced research from around the world shows that strong high currents above mA can weaken rather than increase the physiological activity of living organisms.

In addition, physiological activities such as cell regeneration show high activity in microcurrents of ㎂ unit, which is a level that occurs in living organisms [R. O. Becker & G. Co-authored by Seldon, "Life and Biography" Mental World Ministry, 1995; Jin-Woo Jung, "Microcurrent Journal on Electro-Acuscpe / Myopulse", Jinyang Medical Co., 1995. In addition, the current flowing through the human body changes from time to time depending on external factors such as temperature, humidity, and internal factors such as psychological state and physical condition, and the waveform also varies for each part of the body.

Therefore, in order to treat diseases using electricity, it is preferable to use a current having a waveform and intensity close to the current generated in the human body, especially near the affected part.

However, these conventional electric devices are mostly configured independently, there is a problem of the cost that must be purchased separately, the condition that can double the healing effect in terms of performance, and due to the size of the device There was no device that could be conveniently attached to the treatment area according to the user's movement and location.

In addition, in the related art, a power supply to the electrical stimulation unit and an electric stimulation unit are required only when there is an independent external power source, and thus, continuous power supply is required, and auxiliary devices such as a current regulator and a transformer are independently provided. There was a disadvantage that it is necessary.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention does not require an independent external power source, can be used semi-permanently, and is made of a simple device configuration, which is inexpensive, and is suitable for damage or pain. To provide.

Features of the present invention for solving the above problems is a power supply for generating a microcurrent through vibration of the human body; A current control unit connected to the power supply unit and adjusted to a current having a predetermined value; And an electrical stimulation part connected to the current control part to receive an electric current having a predetermined value and apply electrical stimulation to the treatment part.

Here, the power supply unit preferably includes a band-shaped belt and a piezoelectric element for generating a current through the vibration of the human body on the inner surface of the band-shaped belt that can surround a predetermined portion of the human body, the piezoelectric element is PVDF It is preferable to use as a material.

In addition, preferably, the power supply unit, the current control unit and the electrical stimulation unit may be configured to be integrated, the power supply unit may further include an auxiliary power battery, the current control unit DC current generated by the power supply unit DC current It may be to include a rectifying unit for rectifying and a microcurrent output unit for generating a microcurrent applied to the electrical stimulation unit.

Preferably, the electrical stimulation unit is a metal needle electrode or a metal patch electrode, and a display unit capable of displaying an amount of current or an application time applied to the electrical stimulation unit is provided on the rear surface of the band-shaped belt. Preferably, the current value applied to the electric stimulation part is determined by the current control part according to the current generated by the power supply part.

According to the present invention, without using an independent power supply device and an auxiliary device such as a microcurrent generator, by forming a configuration to generate a current by the piezoelectric element and to apply this current to the treatment site It can be used semi-permanently without an external power source, can easily generate microcurrent without a special converter, and can be easily mounted on a human body to provide an electric stimulation device that is easy to move after wearing by a user.

In addition, in accordance with the range of the current amount commonly used in the ESTR, it is possible to obtain the effect that it is not necessary to regenerate the microcurrent applied to the treatment site when applied from a conventional external power source.

In addition, it is easy to install on the human body because of its excellent portability, and it displays the amount of current applied to the treatment area so that the user can forcibly remove it when an unexpected excessive amount of current is applied, and displays the applied time. There is an effect that can be used properly in the electrical stimulation treatment time generated in the paper.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 is a view illustrating a configuration of a therapeutic electric stimulation device according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the electrical stimulation device is composed of a piezoelectric element 150 and a band-shaped belt 110. The power supply unit generates a current from the vibration of the human body, and the current generated from the power supply unit is a current value appropriate for the treatment site. It comprises a current control unit 200 to generate, the electrical stimulation unit 300 for applying a microcurrent to the treatment site.

According to the present invention, when electrical stimulation of the microelectricity to the human body is performed by using electrical stimulation (TiSsu Repair, TSTR), the effect of tissue healing such as relieving joint pain and promoting cartilage and bone formation is obtained.

In order to generate such a microcurrent, without using an independent power supply device and an auxiliary device such as a microcurrent generator, a current of the human body is generated by the piezoelectric element 150 and applied to the treatment site. By forming the configuration, it can be used semi-permanently without an external power supply, it is possible to easily generate a micro current without a special conversion device, it is easy to be mounted on the human body to provide an electrical stimulation device that is easy to move the user after wearing. It becomes possible.

The human body is negatively charged against the earth's surface, and bones or subcutaneous soft tissues are also negatively charged. Here, it can be seen through various research data and papers that the damage of bone or subcutaneous soft tissue is increased due to the increase of cell metabolism. Based on this, microcurrent improves the physiology of cells, This is known to promote recovery.

In the present invention, the ESTR method includes low intensity direct current (LIDC), fine current nerve root stimulation (MEMS), pulsating electromagnetic field stimulation (PEMF), electrostatic field stimulation, high voltage pulsating current stimulation (HVPC), and the like. (Or microcurrent) (LIDC), unlike the conventional method of receiving an input power source (AC or DC) and using the output microcurrent (DC) for the treatment, a piezoelectric sensor is used to detect the microcurrent required for the treatment. It is intended to be made available for treatment continuously and semi-permanently.

On the other hand, when looking at the treatment effect by the micro-current, the physiological effect and thermal and chemical effects can be obtained largely. The physiological effect has bactericidal effect, humoral enhancement effect and pain relief effect, and thermal and chemical effect of nerve It has a stimulating effect, tissue healing effect, and edema absorption effect.

Bacteriocidal effect

As reported by Wheeler et al. (1971), the growth rate of bacteria is reduced by electrical stimulation, which breaks homeostasis of microorganisms, kills bacteria and irreversibly destroys regulatory mechanisms such as cell membrane transport and enzyme activity. Activity is suppressed

Fluid shift out of area

Plasma proteins such as blood cells, albumin, etc. are negatively charged at the pH of normal blood, so when the negative electrode is stimulated with an active electrode, repulsion of body fluid occurs at the edema site and the swelling is reduced due to the movement of body fluid.

Pain control

Pain relief according to electrical stimulation is the nerve block that the electrical stimulation blocks the propagation of the action potential directly, nerve block (gate control therapy), beta endorphin (β-endorlphin according to the electrical stimulation ), Which is described as endogenous inhibition, which suppresses pain by releasing neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

Neuromuscular stimulation

Electric stimulation induces independent muscle contraction and has the effect of increasing muscle strength by repetitive muscle contraction, muscle fiber thickening by increasing muscle fiber diameter, enhancing enzyme activity in muscle, and promoting joint movement.

Tissue Healing

The electrical potential stimulates the damage potential difference formed between the tissue damage site and normal tissue, and the healing process is enhanced by increasing microcirculation of surrounding tissues, increasing metabolic activity by promoting lymph circulation, and promoting epithelial cell migration.

Edema absorption promotion

Muscle contraction due to electrical stimulation increases the pumping of the muscles to promote vein circulation, and even if this does not occur, it significantly promotes the absorption of edema by sensory stimulation.

As such, when the electric stimulation apparatus according to the present invention is used, various effects can be obtained as described above. Hereinafter, a detailed configuration will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the power supply unit generating the microcurrent includes a piezoelectric element 150 and a belt 110 that may surround a predetermined portion of the human body, and is attached to an inner surface of the belt 110 to vibrate the human body. By pressing the piezoelectric element 150, the pressed piezoelectric element 150 is configured to generate a current by converting the electrical energy. One side of the belt 110 is provided with a fixing member for surrounding and fixing the human body, it is preferable to use a velcro.

The piezoelectric element 150 is also called a piezoelectric element. Crystal, tourmaline, Rochelle salt, etc. have been used as a piezoelectric element 150 from early on, and artificial crystals such as barium titanate, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, and ethylene diamine tartrate developed in recent years also have excellent piezoelectricity.

Piezoelectric is a phenomenon in which positive and negative charges are proportional to external forces on both sides of a plate when pressure is applied to a crystal plate of some kind. In 1880, Jacques Curie and Pierre Curie of France (Pierre Curie; 1859–1906) First discovered. Since the piezoelectric power on a single sheet is weak, it is known that the amount of the piezoelectric material increases greatly when the sheets are overlapped with each other. It was also found that there is an inherent vibration in the crystal plate and that when the elastic vibration and the electric vibration coincide, the vibration is combined with the piezoelectric force to generate a stronger vibration.

That is, when the predetermined portion of the human body is wrapped by the belt 110 of the power supply unit, the piezoelectric element 150 attached to the inner surface of the belt 110 is in contact with the human body and is subjected to pressure, thereby causing a microcurrent by the piezoelectric body. Is generated. Since the magnitude of the current generated by the piezoelectric element 150 generates a current amount of several nA to several tens of microamperes, the treatment area when applied from a conventional external power source in accordance with the range of the current amount commonly used in the ESTR described above. It is possible to obtain the effect that there is no need to regenerate the microcurrent applied to. Because a general independent power source has a large generation voltage and current, there is a problem in that a generator for generating a microcurrent is required separately.

The piezoelectric element 150 is preferably made of PVDF, which is a polymer having polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) that has piezoelectric properties. Because it is.

The current control unit 200 is composed of a rectifying unit for rectifying the AC current generated in the power supply unit to a DC current and a microcurrent output unit for generating a microcurrent applied to the electrical stimulation unit 300, through rectification and clinical experiments, etc. It serves to adjust the appropriate amount of current that best suits the obtained therapeutic effect. The current control unit 200 may be simply configured as a device such as a semiconductor device, a resistor, and the like. The current control unit 200 may be a component independent from the power supply unit, and may be mounted on the outer surface of the belt 110 of the power supply unit.

The electrical stimulation unit 300 serves to inject a current to the treatment site through the current applied from the current control unit 200, as shown in Figure 1, may be in the form of a metal needle electrode or a metal patch electrode. . Metal needle electrode can be easily attached to the treatment area of the human body in the form of metal needle attached to the band, injects a microcurrent by the metal needle, and has the advantage of adding the stimulation effect of the needle to the treatment area. have. The metal patch electrode is made of a metal material in the form of a patch, and has the advantage of being easily attached to any part of the human body in the form of an attachment type parser.

2 is an embodiment of the present invention, and shows an application example thereof. As shown in FIG. 2, pressure is applied to the piezoelectric element 150 periodically due to vibration of the human body such as a pulse in the arm by surrounding the belt 110 in which the piezoelectric element 150 is attached to the arm of the human body. The piezoelectric element is generated, and the piezoelectric element generates a microcurrent having an AC characteristic (about several nA to several tens of microamperes). The generated microcurrent is delivered by the current control unit 200 to the electric stimulation unit 300 of the smallest current of the most appropriate size predetermined by clinical experiments, etc. In the electrical stimulation unit 300, a metal needle electrode or a metal patch electrode Microcurrent is injected into the treatment area such as the shoulder.

The configuration of the present invention does not require an external power source, compared to the conventional electrical stimulation device composed of each independent device, has the advantage of being portable and easy to install on the human body, as well as fine current without additional devices There is an advantage that can be easily generated.

In addition, it is preferable to install a display unit 120 such as an LCD on the outer surface of the belt 110, which displays the amount of current applied to the treatment site, thereby forcibly removing the user when an unexpected excessive amount of current is applied. In order to display the application time, the user can use it appropriately for the electric stimulation treatment time generated in the paper.

3 is a view illustrating a configuration of an electric stimulation device that is integrally configured as another embodiment according to the present invention. As shown in Figure 3, the belt 110, so as to surround the treatment area of the human body, the piezoelectric element 150 to generate a microcurrent by the vibration (pulse, etc.) of the human body, in the piezoelectric element 150 The current control unit 200 and the electric stimulation unit 300 for applying the microcurrent generated by the current control unit 200 to the treatment site are generated by adjusting the generated current to a specific current applied to the treatment site. ) Are all mounted. Here, the current control unit 200 may be mounted on the outer surface of the belt 110 in a small size, and may be attached to the belt 110 in the form of a thin substrate.

When the amount of current applied to the treatment site is insufficient due to the weak or irregular generation of microcurrent due to the vibration of the human body, it is also preferable to mount the battery 250, which is an auxiliary power supply, to the belt 110. The battery 250 may be connected to the current control unit 200 to serve as an assistant for stably supplying an appropriate microcurrent applied to the treatment site.

Such an integrated structure is a structure that generates a micro current by the vibration generated from the treatment site, and applies the generated current directly to the treatment site, which separates and connects the power supply unit and the electrical stimulation unit 300 by a wire. Not only eliminates discomfort, but also generates a current generated only in the treatment site different from the normal site, and has a structure that can be applied to the treatment site based on the current has the advantage of proceeding more effective treatment. That is, the current value applied to the electric stimulation unit 300 by the current control unit 200 may be determined according to the current generated by the power supply unit.

While the invention has been shown and described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it is well known in the art that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as indicated by the claims. Anyone who owns it can easily find out.

1 is a view illustrating a configuration of an electric stimulation apparatus according to the present invention,

2 is an embodiment of the present invention, a view showing an application example thereof,

3 is a view illustrating the configuration of an integrated electrical stimulation device, which is an embodiment according to the present invention.

<Description of main parts of drawing>

100: power supply unit, 110: belt, 115: Velcro, piezoelectric element: 150

200: current control unit, battery: 250, electrical stimulation unit: 300

Claims (9)

A power supply unit configured of a piezoelectric element for generating current through its own vibration of the human body; A current control unit connected to the power supply unit and adjusted to a current having a predetermined value; And an electrical stimulation unit connected to the current control unit and configured to apply an electrical current of the predetermined value to apply electrical stimulation to a treatment site. The method of claim 1, And the power supply unit, the current control unit, and the electrical stimulation unit are mounted on at least one band-shaped belt surrounding a human body part of a predetermined portion. The method of claim 1, The piezoelectric element is an electrical stimulation device, characterized in that made of PVDF. The method of claim 1, And the power supply unit, the current control unit, and the electrical stimulation unit are integrated. The method according to claim 1 or 2, An electrical stimulation device further comprising an auxiliary power battery. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And the current control unit includes a rectifying unit rectifying the AC current generated by the power supply unit into a DC current and a microcurrent output unit generating a microcurrent applied to the electric stimulating unit. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The electrical stimulation unit is an electrical stimulation device, characterized in that the metal needle electrode or metal patch electrode. The method of claim 2, An electrical stimulation device, characterized in that the display unit for displaying the current amount or the time applied to the electrical stimulation portion is provided on the back of the band-shaped belt. The method of claim 4, wherein And a current value applied to the electric stimulation unit by the current control unit according to the current generated by the power supply unit.

Images