DE2538289A1 - DEVICE FOR TEMPORARY ARTHRITIC PAIN REMEDY - Google Patents

Description

DR. ING. H. NEGENDAJVK (1973). DIPL.-ING. H. HAUCK BIPX.-PHYS. W. SCHMITZ

dipping. E. GRAALFS · DiPL-ING. W. WEHNERT graduate phys. W. CARSTENS

HAMBURG-MUNICH

ZIJSTELI-XTNGS ADDRESS: 20OO HAMBURG 36 NEW WAXI, 41 tbiefon (04O) 36 74 28 AND 36 4115

TELKGR. HTBQEBAFATBNT HAMBTTRQ Saul Liss sooo Munich 2 ·> mozartstr. 23

.. «^ Tv ^ ^ .r» j_-L <-. J- j. TEtBFON (089) 5 38 05 86

555 East 27th Street

TELEGR. NEQBDAPATENT MUNICH

Paterson. New Jersey 07 51 ^ / USA Hamburg, August 19, 1975

Device for the temporary elimination of arthritic pain

For the treatment of pain and suffering in the human body there are already low and high voltage electrical strong and Low power pulses have been used. Pain and suffering are the plight of arthritis, and many attempts have been made has been made to relieve the symptoms of arthritic pain temporarily, of which numerous patents are an example in which alleviation or healing of arthritis is described and / or claimed individually or generally. Most of them With electrotherapeutic devices, stimulation of the muscles appears to be achieved, and evidence of the effectiveness of such Devices for muscular stimulation are closed in the changing rooms of athletic teams, spas, etc. Find. In many cases the electrical source is AC power from a wall socket. The voltage can be between 2 and

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5 volts, and in some cases used for physical therapy Treatment up to 250 volts from American Medical Association approved.

The present invention is unique in that the desired suppression of arthritis is achieved by applying very small currents at low voltage (18 vdc). This current is used to pump the nerve cord between the treated contact points. The patient's impedance is balanced by the constant circuit, which is automatically readjusted according to the patient's needs. The current flow for the pumping activity is achieved by applying a high carrier frequency of 20 kHz to 1 MHz with a number of periods between 10 and kO Hz and 759έ switch-on time and 25% switch-off time. This high frequency is generated by a multivibrator with a duty cycle of $ 50, so that all periods are above the reference line. The low frequency modulation vibrator produces an output in the form of a square wave.

The choice of the modulation frequency between 10 and k0 hz. prevents a transient signal from being transmitted to the brain whose period frequency is 8 or less or to the heart whose frequency is 50 or more. The control of the voltage to 18 volts direct current with a current flow of δ / 10 mA ensures that repeated use beyond the normal application time of 3 to 4 minutes is absolutely safe under all circumstances.

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In practical use, the device is included the power supply of very small size. The application can be carried out personally by the person in need of the treatment will. Many patients are assumed to be elderly citizens, and for this reason the device must, in the event of possible misuse, Short circuits in the device or even in the Immersion in water or a similar medium must be completely foolproof. The low frequency feed and use a solid electronics ensures that the device according to the invention is absolutely safe under all circumstances.

The invention can be summarized, at least in part, by reference to the objects of the invention.

The object of the invention is to provide a small electronic device by means of which a one-way electrical current flow is controllably emitted. This current is controlled in a specific time _o long applied, for example, 3 i / 2 minutes to a localized source of pain The current flow is applied in the form of a pumping effect which apparently supported the synaptic Kettenfluß in the nerve to bring about a liberation of the nerve by their voltage . The applied current has a fundamental oscillation of 20 khz up to 1 mhz; this current is modulated by an astable multivibrator with a power factor of 75 $ to provide a current flow with an on-time of 75 $ and an off-time of 25 $ at a period frequency of 10 to 40 Hz, the

Current flow is automatically controlled so that it does not exceed 8 / OK mA. A special feature of the invention consists in the creation of both a device and a method in which a very low voltage of, for example, 18 volts direct current is fed to a supply current control circuit and from there to a gated multivibrator circuit that uses an astable multivibrator with a power factor ^{of 50 c} / o contains. This high-frequency current of 20 kHz to 1 MHz is gated by a second astable vibrator with a power factor of 75 ° / ° , in which the period is between 10 and kO Hz, the resulting local current flow when applied to the diseased area to alleviate the arthritic Pain is automatically limited to 8/10 mA. Samples have shown pain relief to be effective for periods of 1 to 7 hours.

It has been found that since this controlled flow is in the nature of a one-way flow of current which is asymmetrical, the placement of the contacts on the patient, with or without the use of a conductive gel, is extremely important in controlling the flow of current through those associated with the localized pain area Nerves must pass through.

In practical use and medically monitored evaluation it was found that a very low current flow, such as 8/10 mA or less of the dual frequency current, for example when applied to a localized area for one

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the
Duration of about 3½ minutes / arthritic pain had substantially alleviated to painlessness. Since the arthritic pain can occur at any time, the apparatus has been designed to be portable in the form of a package with a size corresponding to that of about two packets of cigarettes. A significant portion of this dimension is used to accommodate two 9 volt DC batteries in this device. In the circuit which will be described in more detail below, these batteries are of the rechargeable type and the circuit diagram shows a possibility of recharging.

The treatment current that goes through this circuit has two When a combination of multivibrators is created, it creates a pulsating current effect for the sick person Area. The current flowing forward is "on" over $ 75 and "off" over 259ε and forms a square wave, which by a astable multivibrator with a power factor of $ 75. This square wave also controls an astable one $ 50 power factor multivibrator. The emerging Application current has a frequency of 20 khz to 1 mhz at a modulated frequency from 10 to 4θ hz. A power control limits the current flow to a maximum of 8/10 mA at a maximum application voltage of nominally 18 volts, but independently the actual voltage at the contacts. This current output is led to two contacts, one of which referred to as a positive and one as a negative or common electrode.

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The circuit diagram has the form of a block diagram in which the various punctures of the components are shown that form the circuit and the special current output for the Device for the control of arthritis-causing pain. In this circuit diagram and in the following description the same markings are expediently used for the same components, but this is not necessarily a restriction means.

Reference will now be made to the electronic device for combating arthritic pain, as shown in the attached and above-mentioned switchgear. The desired current flow is initiated by an on-off switch 1, which is preferably spring-loaded into the "off" position. When the switch is operated, it causes the circuit to be switched on, with the remainder of the functions being performed automatically. When the switch is operated, a time control circuit 2 is switched on. When switched on, this time control circuit has a predetermined fixed time cycle and in practice preferably extends over 3 to k minutes, as was determined by monitored samples. At the same time when the time circuit is switched on, the feed current control circuit 3 is also switched on. This supply current control circuit 3 is connected to the timing circuit 2 by means of conductors h and 5, and it is actuated by closing switch 1 when this signal is transmitted through conductor 6. The energy for this device is supplied by and from an 18 volt direct current source 8,

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which is regarded as two rechargeable 9 volt batteries, led to the supply current control circuit. This voltage source, denoted by 8, is connected by a conductor 9 to the positive side of the battery 8 and to the current control circuit 3. From this supply current control circuit 3, the current through a conductor 10 becomes three interconnected and related components at the same time guided. An astable multivibrator 12 which generates pike waves is well known to those skilled in the art. This astable multivibrator has a power factor of $ 75 and is set to produce a period of 10 to kO hz; it is connected to another astable multivibrator 16 by means of a conductor "\ h" , which has a power factor of $ 50 and is effective anywhere between 20 kHz and 1 MHz.

The resulting oscillation current from the astable multivibrator 16 is connected to a current control device 20 by a conductor 18 connected, which allow a setting of the current flow to a maximum of 8/10 mA in the present device target. The amount of current is also displayed to a user or monitor of the device by connecting the output of the Current control through conductor 22 with and by a micro-ammeter 24 which is connected by a conductor 28 to a positive outlet receiving sleeve 26. This receiving sleeve 26 is sized so that it can accommodate a plug 29 that is in it is introduced to establish an electrical connection · This is of course only a convenient device, and

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As far as the circuit is concerned, the use of the jack connection can be omitted by removing the output of the micro-ammeter 24 connects directly to the conductor 28 and from there to a contact body 30. This contact holding body is preferably a spring-loaded clamp of the type used on flexible conductors normally used in EKG equipment to be used. In this body 30, a contact 32 is mounted, which has an adhesive outer holding device. These contacts are interchangeable in the connector 30 stored. To improve conductivity between the conductive portions of contact 30 and the patient's skin a gel 34 is shown applied to the contact before and at the time the contact is made on the patient's skin. The negative or ground side of the battery 8 is preferably connected to a receiving socket 40, which by a pawl 42 and a conductor 44 with a spring clip holder 46 is connected.

A disposable adhesive contact 48 is removably held by this holding body 46, and the conductivity to and from the skin is increased by the use of a gel swab 34 «This Commercially available gel 34 is applied to the contact as is common with an EKG.

To ensure versatility of the facility and to eliminate the need to replace the battery power source thought of a recharger. In the present A charging circuit is therefore built into the device. This charger

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should only be used when the contacts 30 and 46 are interrupted and the pawls 29 and 42 are pulled out. The loading orientation is ensured by the different sizes of the pawls 29 and 42. Correspondingly dimensioned pawls 60 and 62 are inserted into the receiving sockets 26 and 4o in the same way as the pawls 29 and 42. The pawls 60 and 62 are connected by conductors 64 and 66 a charger 68 of known type is connected. These chargers convert an alternating current of 120 volts into the required direct current voltage and usually charge rechargeable batteries. The charger 68 is connected by conductors 70 to the outlet plug 72 which is connectable to an available AC power supply. In order to prevent damage to the power source control 20 and the multivibrators 12 and 16, a diode 74 is inserted into the conductor 28. The positive current flow is then conducted through the conductor 76 from the receptacle 26 to a charging circuit 78 and from dbrt by means of a conductor 80 to the positive side of the battery 8, and the battery can be recharged at the required intervals.

The ^{n on n} switch 1 is depressed to start the timing circuit and energize the supply current control circuit 3 for the various components which generate the oscillating pulse which is applied locally for a set period of time to the nerves in the diseased area in a desired orientation to excite. The time circuit 2 limits the current flow from the power source 3 to a predetermined time

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span such as 3 1/2 minutes after the battery has been powered off. The 18 volt DC battery 8 provides the electromotive force for the entire circuit, and it is done by the supply current control circuit 3 a functional distribution of this energy not only to the timing control circuit and back to the supply current control circuit, but also to the various other parts, such as the multivibrators and the current control circuit.

The astable multivibrator 12 is of a particular type in that it has a power factor of $ 75, which means that it has an "off" time of 75% and an "on" time of $ 50. For safety reasons and for patient use, this particular multivibrator has a cycle time of 10 to 40 Hz. This period is set at the factory and is generally around 25 Hz. The multivibrator 12 is connected to the astable multivibrator 16 by means of a conductor 14 and forms a modulator for this high-frequency vibrator 16, which operates anywhere between 20 kHz and one MHz. The signal from the vibrator 12 is gated to the multivibrator 16 on its input side. The vibrations of the second astable multivibrator 16 are pulsed by the output or flow control of the multivibrator 12, which literally "on" and "off" the second high frequency multivibrator 16 depending on the function of the astable multivibrator 12. The combined output of the Astable multivibrators 12 and 16 are then fed to current source control 20 via conductor 18 as a square wave function.

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All wave oscillations are above a minimum or centerline and occur as a flow of current with an "on" time of $ 75 and an "off" time of $ 25. This current is fed as a square wave signal to the current control source 20 and passed through it, so that a maximum current flow of 8/10 mA is maintained, which is read from the display signal of the microamperemeter 2k. This flow is delivered to the output receiver and ultimately to contact body 30 and circuit board 32 and then to the patient's skin. Although the source has been set to a maximum of 8/10 mA, the amperage current through a patient's diseased part is generally between 3/10 and 6/10 mA. Provision can be made to permit the physician or the user of the device to adjust the power source control by means of a variable control. This setting is generally set at the factory, but can be set for the specific patient and, if necessary, a specific diseased part.

The battery can be charged while the facility is not in use. The pawls 29 and 42 are removed from the receivers 26 and kO and the pawls 60 and 62 inserted therein. The charger 68 is then connected to the AC power source through the plug 72, and the charging circuit 78 feeds the battery 8 with the required charging energy. The diode 7k is a one-way gate, which prevents the current from the charger 68 to / the oscillation and current flow limiting

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components to flow.

The apparatus described above has the particular limitations noted above, which are believed to be important. First, the astable multivibrator limits the forward impulses to a range of 10 to 40 Hz. This limitation is by design. The low limit of 10 Hz prevents any stray pulse signals in the nerves from affecting human brain function at or below 8 Hz. The high limit of 40 Hz is established to prevent any stray pulse signals from affecting cardiac signals by 60 or more. The square wave signal ensures that the "pulses ¹ * are equal and regular during the" on "time. The power factor of $ 50 ensures that all pulses are forward and that no alternating or reversing tetanizing current flows to the diseased nerve area.

The power source controller 20 automatically balances the impedance in the patient's skin as it is used. It was recognized that there are numerous variables involved in making localized electrical contact with the skin are. The impedance in the skin seems to fluctuate from day to day and even from hour to hour. It is inexpedient if not impossible, to apply the contacts to exactly the same areas of skin every subsequent time. It also fluctuates the contact pressure from time to time and especially during and during the patient's movements. To look at a sick person

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Establish an accurate forward oscillating current from one To apply a very small controlled amount, an automatic impedance control is therefore necessary and also provided The device can only be connected to a potentially dangerous power source while the battery is being charged will. With this arrangement, contacts 30 and 46 with pawls 29 and 42 must be removed before the Pawls 60 and 62 are used to carry converted current from the charger 68 to the battery 8.

The device described above forms a device for stimulating the nerves, which despite the charged battery uses so little current that it is often necessary to look at the meter 24 to be sure that the Treatment is under way. This is in stark contrast to such devices which use 25 mA at 120 volts will. This type of device requires a hand control by which the patient can reduce the input so that he can corresponds to its own tolerability until repeated use creates a condition of acceptance. Most known Devices of which the applicant is aware allow contact electrodes to be applied to the patient's skin, without a specific arrangement of positive and negative contacts. This does not apply to the present device, because, as mentioned above, the orientation of the contact electrodes on the patient is extremely important. The orientation is oriented in such a way that it amplifies the nerve current and is carried through Positioning the positive electrode closer to the heart achieved so

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that the applied pulse is only forward going and in the ^{11 on} "state the frequencies are only on one side of a given line.

It should also be noted that although the astable multi-

Performance

/ Vibrator is shown as such with an equal factor of $ 75, other ratios to varying degrees will be successful in pain relief as long as the impulse vibrations are forward. Ratios of 2: 1, 4: 1 and even 5 · 1 have provided pain relief at times. In various patients treated under medical supervision and for whom the results were evaluated by that doctor, the most effective ratio was 3 * 1 "generated by the multivibrator 12"

While a particular circuit diagram has been shown and described here, the invention is of course not based on it and modifications can be made within the scope of the appended claims and protection is given coveted for the widest range that the state of the art allows.

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Claims (10)

Claims j »J Electronic device for the temporary elimination of arthritic pain and the like in limited body parts of a patient, with lines for guiding the output of the device to the contact ends in order to apply a forward impulse conductive to the patient's skin in a localized area, which for a short time how 3 to ^ minutes is automatically continued, characterized by a power source for supplying a direct current voltage to the device, a switching device which in the closed state at least briefly initiates a flow of direct current voltage from the power source to a pulse-forming device, devices for limiting the duration of the Direct current flow to the pulse forming device, a first astable square wave multivibrator with an asymmetrical power factor which can have a minimum value of 2/3 of the period and a maximum value of 5/6 of the period and selected at one A number of not less than 10 and not more than 40 hz works, and which is connected to and a gate control forms for a second astable square wave multivibrator with a power factor of 50 $, which at a selected number of not less than 20 khz and not more works as 1 mhz, whereby the combined forward-going impulse wave is fed into an automatic current control, by which the output height of the impulse wave to an optionally set one 609 8 1 3 / (168? - 16 - Value is maintained that does not exceed 8/10 mA, as well as means for routing this output to two contact bodies in local contact on the patient's skin,
whereby the automatic current control maintains the selected set value regardless of the change in
the impedance that can occur in the local transmission of the current through the patient's skin. 2. Electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching device is a spring-loaded switch which is pressed into its "off" position and causes the formation of a timing circuit in the closed state and the direct current voltage to the first and second multivibrator with a feed current control circuit and
the automatic gate control conducts 3. Electronic device according to claim 2, characterized in that a micro-ammeter with the output conductor
which leads from the automatic current control to the skin contact body, this micro-ammeter being arranged so that it gives a visual indication of the output value flowing through the local skin area 4. Electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the voltage source has about 18 volts direct current, 5. Electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the voltage source is a rechargeable one 60981 3/0682 - 17 - DC battery system is and the circuit of the device contains a charging circuit arranged in such a way that with
that it directs the rectified current received from an / AC powered charger to the rechargeable battery. 6. Electronic device according to claim 5 »characterized in that that the electronic circuit contains a diode which is connected to the circuit that the led from the charger to the DC battery source Charging current is prevented in reverse to the automatic current control and the first and second multivibrator to flow. 7. Electronic device according to claim 6, characterized in that that the device and the power source are enclosed in a small housing to the device to make portable, the devices for conducting the output current to the patient leading lead wires and contain defeat devices that are connected to one of the Housing walls are provided, and through which the lead wires can be interrupted and connected as desired, 8. Electronic device according to claim 7t, characterized in that that the interrupter latches two various shapes and suitable reception facilities included so that reconnection can be achieved in just a single assembly, and that the charger 609813/0682 _ _lg _ is provided with two ladders, one of which is attached to one suitable for connection to a recording device Pawl ends and the other conductor ends at a pawl suitable for connection to the other receiving device, and that the charger is thus able to be connected to the device only when the conductors for the skin contacts are interrupted 9. Electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first multivibrator has a power factor of 3/4 ^{M on} "time and 1/4" off "time. 10. Electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the means for limiting the time is a time circuit which is set to have a period of time for 3 to 4 minutes. S09813 / 0682