DE102022204919A1 - Medical device and method for operating the medical device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a medical device for physical therapy of a person to be treated, with a handpiece, with an input device which has a sensor device which is arranged and designed in such a way as to detect at least one user input in a contactless or non-contact manner, and with a the control device coupled to the input device, which is designed to evaluate the contactlessly recorded user input and to control the function of the therapy device and in particular its handheld device in accordance with the recorded and evaluated user input. The present invention further relates to a method for operating a medical device for physical therapy.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a medical device for physical therapy. The present invention further relates to a method for operating a medical device for physical therapy.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Physical therapy devices of the type mentioned generally have a handle part and a treatment head for physical therapy as part of a handpiece. Such a physical therapy device is, for example, in the DE 20 2013 000904 U1 described.

Such therapy devices are used, for example, in the field of physical therapy and aesthetics to deliver different forms of energy to or into the body of a test subject or patient. To specifically transfer and introduce the energy into a predetermined region of the body, this energy is typically delivered via an application part in the form of a handpiece. The energy output is controlled manually and/or pedally using specially designed actuating elements, such as (rotary) buttons, buttons, foot switches, touchscreens, etc. These can be located on the therapy device or, more conveniently for the user, directly on the handpiece. For reasons of ease of use, great attention is paid to the type and location of the manual actuation elements. Foot switches or pedals are therefore also used for therapy applications that require the use of both hands and/or, for example, require energy to be released at a specific time.

The manual or pedal actuation elements used to date have more or less serious disadvantages in their handling: For example, a button or switch on the handpiece of a physical therapy device is always exposed to more or less great stress and thus to mechanical wear. There is also the risk of failure due to damage to the actuating element. In addition, the position of the button is typically fixed by the manufacturer and can no longer be changed by the user according to their wishes, which is sometimes viewed as not very user-friendly.

This is a situation that needs to be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Against this background, the present invention is based on the object of enabling improved comfort when using physical therapy devices.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a physical therapy device with the features of patent claim 1 and / or by a method with the features of patent claim 18.

• - Ein medizinisches Gerät zur physikalischen Therapie einer zu behandelnden Person, mit einem Handstück, mit einer Eingabeeinrichtung, welche eine Sensoreinrichtung aufweist, welche derart angeordnet und ausgebildet ist, um zumindest eine Benutzereingabe kontaktlos bzw. berührungslos zu erfassen, und mit einer mit der Eingabeeinrichtung gekoppelten Steuereinrichtung, welche dazu ausgebildet ist, die kontaktlos erfasste Benutzereingabe auszuwerten und die Funktion des medizinisches Geräts und insbesondere dessen Handgeräts entsprechend der erfassten und ausgewerteten Benutzereingabe zu steuern.
• - Ein Verfahren zum Betreiben eines medizinischen Geräts zur physikalischen Therapie, insbesondere eines erfindungsgemäßen medizinischen Geräts, welches ein Handstück aufweist, bei dem die physikalische Therapie auf oder in einen Körper einer zu behandelnden Person unter Verwendung eines Handstücks des medizinischen Geräts erfolgt, und bei dem die Steuerung der Funktion des Handstücks über Benutzereingaben erfolgt, wobei die Erfassung der Benutzereingaben kontaktlos mittels einer im Handgerät vorgesehenen Sensoreinrichtung vorgenommen wird.

Accordingly it is provided:

• - A medical device for physical therapy of a person to be treated, with a handpiece, with an input device which has a sensor device which is arranged and designed in such a way as to detect at least one user input in a contactless or non-contact manner, and with an input device coupled to the input device Control device which is designed to evaluate the contactlessly recorded user input and to control the function of the medical device and in particular its handheld device in accordance with the recorded and evaluated user input.
• - A method for operating a medical device for physical therapy, in particular a medical device according to the invention, which has a handpiece in which the physical therapy takes place on or into a body of a person to be treated using a handpiece of the medical device, and in which the The function of the handpiece is controlled via user input, with the user input being recorded contactlessly using a sensor device provided in the handheld device.

The idea underlying the present invention is to equip a medical therapy device, and in particular its handpiece, with a preferably sensor-based user control that records user input completely or at least largely in a contactless or non-contact manner. For this purpose, suitable sensors present in the handpiece of the medical therapy device are used as a contactless input device and serve to control the operating mode of the handheld device in a contactless manner.

The proposed solution is to expand the control by using suitable sensors, such as position and acceleration sensors. These sensors are used to measure and evaluate the spatial movements and the spatial orientation of the handpiece tet. This results in a wide range of application possibilities, even beyond the function as a pure control element.

The user of such a medical therapy device thus has both hands free for therapy, which brings with it an additional comfort and use advantage, especially in applications that require the use of both hands.

Advantageous refinements and further developments result from the further subclaims and from the description with reference to the figures in the drawing.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the sensor device is arranged in the handpiece or at least attached to the handpiece. Additionally or alternatively, the associated control device - or at least parts thereof - can also be arranged in the handpiece, so that both the recognition of the user inputs and their evaluation can take place directly in the handpiece. This is particularly user-friendly because the user can use the handpiece of the medical therapy device to make the corresponding user input directly without manual operation. For this purpose, for example, a corresponding microcontroller can be provided in the handpiece, which is connected to a device controller via a digital interface, for example, and which evaluates the user input recorded by the sensor device in order, for example, to recognize a predetermined movement, position, gesture or the like. This recorded and recognized user input then serves as a trigger for further control of the function of the medical device or its handpiece. However, it would also be conceivable if the sensor device and/or the associated control device were arranged in the main device of the medical device.

In a preferred embodiment, the sensor device and the control device are designed to detect the spatial movements and additionally or alternatively also the spatial orientation of the handpiece when the handpiece is actuated by a user and to evaluate them via an evaluation device provided in the control device.

According to one embodiment, the sensor device has at least one acceleration sensor. An acceleration sensor - often referred to as an accelerometer or accelerometer - is a sensor that measures an acceleration of an object. In the case of the present invention, the object can be the handpiece. The speed and, over the elapsed time, the distance traveled can then be derived from the acceleration. Such an acceleration sensor can also be used to detect vibrations, oscillations, increases and decreases in speed. The acceleration sensor is preferably designed as a gyroscope. However, other microelectric-mechanical systems (MEMS) designed as acceleration sensors or, for example, piezoelectric acceleration sensors would also be conceivable. When using an acceleration sensor, for example, a specific user input can also be made with the user's free hand, for example by tapping the handpiece with the free hand once or multiple times. The acceleration sensor present in the handpiece together with the control device can assign the associated vibrations to a predetermined user input, for example a tap in quick succession can be interpreted as the start or stop of physical therapy.

According to a further embodiment, the sensor device has at least one position sensor. Position sensors usually determine the position and orientation of an object in three-dimensional space relative to a reference point. This includes horizontal and/or vertical alignment as well as a direction related to the earth's magnetic field. The position sensor is preferably designed as a gyroscope. However, other MEMS systems, spirit level and compass systems, GPS (Global Positioning System), magnetometers, etc. would also be conceivable. Since each of these sensor types has specific advantages and disadvantages, these or at least some of them can advantageously also be used in combination with one another .

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the sensor device has an integrated sensor. The integrated sensor is designed to detect both the spatial position, i.e. the position and/or orientation, as well as an acceleration of an object such as the handpiece. A MEMS microsystem with a gyroscope is preferably provided for this.

According to a further development, the sensor device has a computer-aided or computer-aided camera system with which movements or gestures of a user of the medical device can be recorded. The computer-aided camera system preferably additionally has a device for image recognition and image analysis, which is designed to recognize certain predetermined gestures from the recorded movements and to assign corresponding predefined user inputs to these recognized gestures.

According to a preferred embodiment, a device for gesture recognition is provided. Gesture recognition is the automatic recognition of gestures performed by humans using a computer. In principle, any posture or body movement can represent a gesture, although in this case it is essentially about the recognition of hand and head gestures. The gesture recognition device forms a human-machine interface (HMI = Human Machine Interface), which is designed to recognize a gesture of the medical device and in particular of the person operating the handpiece (i.e. the user) and to give the recognized gesture a specific one Assign user input.

Particularly preferably, the device for gesture recognition is provided directly in the handpiece, so that the gesture can be evaluated and recognized directly in the handpiece. For this purpose, a microcontroller, which can be part of the control device, is located directly in the handpiece. The microcontroller can be connected to the system controller (in the device) via a digital interface and the event signals that a predetermined gesture has been recognized and what gesture it is. This gesture is then associated with a specific user input. However, the device for gesture recognition and in particular the corresponding camera system can - additionally or alternatively - also be present in the main device or in the stand-alone device of the medical device.

The device for gesture recognition preferably has an acceleration sensor provided within the handpiece, which is designed, for example, as a gyroscope. This acceleration sensor is designed to recognize a gesture from the user holding the handpiece.

• - Eine Drehbewegung um eine vorbestimmte Achse, beispielsweise Vorwärts- und Rückwärts-Drehbewegung um eine bestimmte Achse. Hierbei sollte sich der Winkel in einem bestimmten Winkelbereich befinden. Zudem muss die Bewegung in einem zeitlich begrenzten Fenster ausgeführt werden.
• - Lineare Vorwärts- und/oder Rückwärtsbewegungen, vorzugsweise mit entsprechenden definierten Schwellwerten. Dies kann auch wiederholt werden (Tap, Double-Tap) und mit der Drehbewegung verknüpft werden.

According to a further development, the gesture recognition device is designed to recognize at least one of the following gestures of a user or the hand holding the handpiece:

• - A rotational movement about a predetermined axis, for example forward and backward rotational movement about a specific axis. The angle should be within a certain angular range. In addition, the movement must be carried out within a time-limited window.
• - Linear forward and/or backward movements, preferably with corresponding defined threshold values. This can also be repeated (tap, double-tap) and linked to the rotation movement.

In one embodiment, a device for voice recognition can be provided, via which voice-assisted user input is possible. This device for speech recognition can be part of an acoustic sensor device that functions as a microphone. This device for speech recognition is particularly preferably provided in addition to the contactless gesture recognition using acceleration and position sensors. For example, it would be conceivable for a user input detected by the sensor device to be confirmed in a suitable manner by means of voice input, for example by answering a computer-generated release request.

Preferably, the sensor device additionally has at least one position sensor. A position sensor - often also called a proximity sensor or proximity switch - is a sensor that can detect objects without contact when they approach. Such a position sensor can be, for example, an inductive sensor that can detect and detect electrically conductive objects. Optical or capacitive position sensors or GPS-based position sensors would also be conceivable, although the latter currently still deliver comparatively blurry results.

Preferably, the sensor device has at least one contact sensor in addition to the already existing contactless sensors, which serve to record user input in a contactless manner. These contact sensors can, for example, work pressure-sensitively or capacitively, for example piezoelectrically, and detect a manual pressure load applied to the handpiece by a user. These sensors can be combined with the contactless sensor devices.

The control device particularly preferably has a time control device. The time control device is designed to correlate a recorded user input with a sequence control. In this way, the function of the sensor device is linked to the time control device, for example in that only a predetermined period of time is available for contactless user input. Additionally or alternatively, the time control device can be designed to control the handpiece to a rest state if no contactless or contact user input is detected for a predetermined period of time.

The handpiece of the medical device typically has a handle part for gripping the handpiece and at least one head part. The headboard is for applying a physical Therapy intended on or into the body of a person to be treated.

In a preferred embodiment, the head part is designed to absorb thermal energy (e.g. cold, heat), mechanical energy (e.g. shock waves), acoustic waves (e.g. ultrasound), electromagnetic waves (e.g. induction), optical waves (e.g. laser beams, red light) and / or to apply electrical impulses (e.g. stimulation current) to a surface of the body to be treated or to introduce them into the body to be treated. The corresponding medical devices are, for example, physical therapy devices for the use of cold, heat, shock waves, ultrasound, induction, laser beams, red light, stimulation current, etc.

In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, after the handpiece has been picked up by the sensor device, the medical device and in particular its handpiece are automatically controlled into an activated operating state. Sensor devices designed as position and acceleration sensors are particularly suitable for this.

In an additional or alternative embodiment, the medical device and in particular its handpiece will be automatically controlled into a deactivated or idle operating state if it has been recognized that the handpiece has not been moved for a predetermined time. Sensors designed for position and acceleration sensors in conjunction with a suitable time control are particularly suitable for this.

• - Eine Energiezufuhr für das medizinische Gerät und insbesondere dessen Handstück oder die Parameter der Energieabgabe werden verändert, sofern eine vorbestimmte Bewegung des Handstücks erkannt wurde.
• - Die Energieabgabe an das Handstück wird bei einer vorbestimmten eindeutigen Bewegung des Handstücks gestartet oder gestoppt.
• - Es erfolgt eine automatische Anpassung/Justierung der Steuerung der Energieabgabe auf Grund der Lage des Handstücks, beispielweise wenn das Projektil der Stoßwelle gegen oder mit der Schwerkraft arbeitet.
• - Es erfolgt eine sensorgesteuerte Hilfestellung bei Anwendung der Therapie auf Grund der Lage des Handstücks, z.B. wird ein Hinweis auf eine nicht optimal durchgeführte Therapie oder ein Hinweis auf mangelnde Kühlung herausgegeben, sofern erkannt wird, dass das Kopfteil des Handstücks bzw. das Handstück selbst für die Therapie nicht optimal eingesetzt werden. Dies kann zum Beispiel durch geeignete Lage- und Beschleunigungssensoren oder etwa auch durch ein computergestütztes Kamerasystem in Verbindung mit einer Bildanalyse erfolgen.

In a further embodiment, it can be provided that at least one setting for the medical device and in particular its handpiece is changed if a predetermined movement and/or position of the handpiece has been detected. A predetermined movement of the handpiece can be, for example, shaking, moving the handpiece away or down, etc. A predetermined position can, for example, be an upright position with the head part facing up or down. The detection can be carried out, for example, with suitable aids on the body, such as position and/or acceleration sensors, and without aids on the body, such as a computer-aided camera system in conjunction with image analysis or using a micromechanical ultrasound transducer. Specifically, the following operating modes are conceivable:

• - An energy supply for the medical device and in particular its handpiece or the parameters of the energy output are changed if a predetermined movement of the handpiece was detected.
• - The energy delivery to the handpiece is started or stopped upon a predetermined, unique movement of the handpiece.
• - There is an automatic adaptation/adjustment of the control of the energy delivery based on the position of the handpiece, for example when the shock wave projectile works against or with gravity.
• - Sensor-controlled assistance is provided when using the therapy based on the position of the handpiece, e.g. an indication of therapy not being carried out optimally or an indication of a lack of cooling is issued if it is recognized that the head part of the handpiece or the handpiece itself is for therapy is not used optimally. This can be done, for example, through suitable position and acceleration sensors or through a computer-aided camera system in conjunction with image analysis.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a therapy area on the body to be treated is identified using the sensor device. For this purpose, it can be provided, for example, that a measurement of the therapy area is carried out, for example, using position and/or acceleration sensors or using a computer-aided camera system in conjunction with image analysis.

In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, it can be provided that the medical device and in particular its handpiece are switched off immediately if a free fall of the handpiece has been detected. This so-called safety shutdown is carried out, for example, if an activated handpiece accidentally falls down. This free fall can be detected, for example, by suitable position and/or acceleration sensors.

The above configurations and further developments can be combined with one another in any way, if it makes sense. Further possible refinements, further developments and implementations of the invention also include combinations of features of the invention described previously or below with regard to the exemplary embodiments that are not explicitly mentioned. In particular, the person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the present invention.

CONTENTS OF THE DRAWING

• 1 ein Blockschaltbild eines erfindungsgemäßen medizinischen Geräts zur physikalischen Therapie;
• 2 ein Blockschaltbild eines Handgeräts für ein erfindungsgemäßes medizinisches Gerät.

The present invention is explained in more detail below using the exemplary embodiments shown in the schematic figures of the drawings. It shows:

• 1 a block diagram of a medical device according to the invention for physical therapy;
• 2 a block diagram of a handheld device for a medical device according to the invention.

The accompanying drawings are intended to provide further understanding of embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and, in connection with the description, serve to explain principles and concepts of the invention. Other embodiments and many of the advantages mentioned arise with regard to the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale to one another.

In the figures of the drawing, identical, functionally identical and identically acting elements, features and components - unless otherwise stated - are each provided with the same reference numerals.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

1 shows a block diagram of a medical device according to the invention for physical therapy of a person to be treated.

The medical device designated here with reference number 10 comprises a stand-alone device 20 and a handpiece 30 coupled to an interface.

The medical device 10 can be designed as a device for stimulation current and ultrasound therapy, laser therapy, shock wave therapy, high-energy induction therapy, heat therapy, cold therapy.

The standalone device 20 of the medical device 10 is arranged in a housing 21 in which, for example, the power supply 22, a central device control 23, a display device 24 and a keyboard 25 for device control are arranged.

The handpiece 30 is coupled to the I/O interface 26 and thus to the medical device 20 via a connecting cable 27. However, depending on the application, it would also be conceivable if the handpiece 30 were wirelessly coupled to the stand-alone device 20 (in 1 Not shown). In this case, the handpiece would typically have its own power supply.

The standalone device 20 of the medical device 10 is arranged in a housing 21, in which, for example, the power supply 22, a central device control 23, a display device 24, a keyboard for device control 25, and the like are arranged.

The handpiece 30 has a handle part 31 and at least one head part 32 for applying physical therapy to the body of a patient.

In the present case, the handpiece 30 also has a contactless input device 33 and a control device 34 coupled to the input device. The input device 33 includes at least one sensor 35. The sensor 35 is designed to detect user input in a contactless manner. The control device 34 coupled to the input device 33 evaluates the contactlessly recorded user input and controls the function of the handpiece 30 according to the recorded and evaluated user input. The input device 33 in conjunction with the control device 34 are designed to detect and evaluate a spatial movement and/or a spatial orientation of the handpiece 30 when the handpiece 30 is actuated by a user.

One or more acceleration sensors, position sensors and position sensors can be used as sensors 35. Integrated sensors that combine the functions of different sensors, such as position and acceleration, are particularly preferred.

2 shows a block diagram of a handheld device for a medical device according to the invention, as shown, for example, on the basis of 1 is shown.

The input device 33 has a device 36 for gesture recognition. This gesture recognition device 36 is designed to recognize a gesture of the person operating the handpiece 30.

The input device 33 also has a computer-aided camera system 37 for recording a user's movements. The computer-aided camera system 37 contains, in a manner known per se, a device for image analysis, which can recognize corresponding gestures from the image or video data recorded by the camera.

In the example in 2 A speech recognition device 38 is also implemented in the handpiece 30. This voice recognition device 38 is intended to capture voice commands and recognize them as user input.

In addition to contactless sensors, such as the acceleration and position sensors, the input device 33 can also have a contact sensor 39, via which corresponding user input is possible by actuation. Such contact sensors can be, for example, buttons, buttons, sliders, touchpads and the like.

A time control 40 is preferably provided in the control device 34. By means of the time control 40, for example, contactlessly recorded user input, such as gestures, can be correlated with a time window for the recording period. In this way, it can be avoided that unconscious gestures recorded outside a given time window are interpreted as user input.

Although the present invention has been fully described above using preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not limited to this but can be modified in a variety of ways.

Reference symbol list

10

medical device

20

Stand-alone device

21

Housing

22

power supply

23

central device control

24

Display device

25

Keyboard

26

I/O interface

27

connection cable

30

Handpiece

31

Handle part

32

Headboard

33

Input facility

34

Control device

35

sensor

36

Gesture recognition device

37

computer-aided camera system

38

Speech recognition device

39

Contact sensor

40

Timing control

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 202013000904 U1 [0002]

Claims (24)

Medical device (10) for physical therapy of a person to be treated, with a handpiece (30), with an input device (33) which has a sensor device (35) which is arranged and designed to detect at least one user input in a contactless manner, with a control device (34) coupled to the input device (33), which is designed to evaluate the contactlessly recorded user input and to control the function of the medical device and in particular its handheld device in accordance with the recorded and evaluated user input. Medical device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the sensor device (35) and / or the control device (34) are arranged in the handpiece (30). Medical device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device (35) and the control device (34) are designed to cause a spatial movement and/or a spatial orientation of the handpiece (30) when the handpiece (30) is actuated by a user. 30) to record and evaluate. Medical device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device (35) has at least one acceleration sensor, in particular a gyroscope. Medical device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device (35) has at least one position sensor, in particular a gyroscope. Medical device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device (35) has an integrated sensor which is designed to detect both a position and an acceleration. Medical device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device (35) has a computer-aided camera system (37) for recording movements of a user, the computer-aided camera system (37) having a device for image analysis which is designed to detect gestures from the recorded movements. Medical device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a device for gesture recognition (36) is provided, which is designed to recognize a gesture of the medical device (10) and in particular of the person operating the handpiece (30). Medical device according to Claim 8 , characterized in that the gesture recognition device (36) is provided in the handpiece (30). Medical device according to Claim 9 , characterized in that the gesture recognition device (36) has an acceleration sensor. Medical device according to one of the Claims 9 or 10 , characterized in that the gesture recognition device (36) is designed to recognize at least one of the following gestures: - rotational movements about a predetermined axis; - Linear forward movements; - Linear backward movements. Medical device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a device for voice recognition (38) is provided, via which voice-assisted user input can be entered. Medical device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device (35) has at least one position sensor. Medical device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor device (35) has a contact sensor (39). Medical device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (34) has a time control (40). Medical device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handpiece (30) has a handle part (31) and at least one head part (32) for applying physical therapy. Medical device according to Claim 16 , characterized in that the head part (32) is designed to transmit thermal energy, mechanical energy, acoustic waves, electromagnetic waves, optical waves and / or electrical pulses to a surface of the device to be treated Body to be applied or introduced into the body to be treated. Method for operating a medical device (10) for physical therapy, in particular a medical device (10) according to one of Claims 1 until 17 , which has a handpiece (30) in which the physical therapy is carried out on or into a body of a person to be treated using a handpiece (30) of the medical device (10), and in which the function of the handpiece (30) is controlled. via user input, the user input being recorded contactlessly using a sensor device (35) provided in the handheld device (30). Procedure according to Claim 18 , characterized in that after the handpiece (30) has been picked up by the sensor device (35), the medical device (10) and in particular its handpiece (30) are automatically controlled into an activated operating state. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the medical device (10) and in particular its handpiece (30) are automatically controlled into a deactivated or idle operating state if it was recognized that the handpiece (30) does not move for a predetermined time became. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that at least one setting for the medical device and in particular its handpiece (30) is changed if a predetermined movement of the handpiece (30) was detected. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that at least one setting for the medical device and in particular its handpiece (30) is changed if a predetermined position of the handpiece (30) has been recognized. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that a therapy area on the body to be treated is identified using the sensor device (35). Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that the medical device (10) and in particular its handpiece (30) are switched off immediately if a free fall of the handpiece (30) was detected.

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