GB2143131A

GB2143131A - Therapeutic devices

Info

Publication number: GB2143131A
Application number: GB08318530A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ken Hashimoto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-09-21
Filing date: 1983-07-08
Publication date: 1985-02-06
Also published as: CA1237783A; JPS5955260A; KR850000986A; FR2533131B1; KR860001942B1; AU575779B2; GB2143131B; BR8303948A; FR2533131A1; AU1683883A; IN158110B; DE3327920A1; JPS621736B2; GB8318530D0

Abstract

An electromagnetic therapeutical device is designed for performing therapy on the affected part of the human body by application of a fluctuated magnetic field generated from the coil 1 in which voltage charged in the capacitor 13 is caused to discharge by the switching of the switching element 14 and a pulsing electric current waveform whose relative time ratio of rise and fall is above 5:1 which is caused to flow through the coil to generate the electromagnetic field whose waveform is similar to that of the electric current in the coil. The device includes an adjustable A.C. supply, a voltage doubler 12 and a relaxation oscillator 15 to produce a pulsed magnetic field. A low frequency pulse repetition rate i.e. 4 to 20 Hz is considered essential. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electromagnetic Therapeutical Device It has been known that the magnetism is effective for therapy of affected parts for such problems as stiffness of the shoulders, pains in the waist, extreme sensitivity to cold and the like.

The idea behind such therapy is considered to be that when a magnetic field is applied to the human body, the electromotive force is generated in the human body, and electro-chemical changes are caused to occur, by the electromotive force, in the human body which consists of chemical substances which generate the ions and increase the ions in the blood which change the function of the autonomic nerve system and facilitate the smooth circulation of the blood. The foregoing facts are substantiated by over 20 years of study by Dr. Kyoichi Nakagawa of Isuzu Hospital of Japan.

In order to generate the necessary electromotive force by means of a magnetic field, it is necessary to vary the magnetic field working on the human body being treated or to move the body within the stationary magnetic field.

Heretofore, with magnetic therapeutical device of this kind, devices involving fixing permanent magnets fabricated from metal granules to the affected part of the body by adhesive material, and a device for generating a fluctuating magnetic field by means of an electric current with a power source frequency of 50-60 Hz for commercial use passed through a coil wound on an iron core have been proposed and are in use.

However, since the former device uses a permanent magnet, there is entirely no fluctuation of the magnetic field in relationship to the affected part of the body being treated body, and accordingly, when the blood flows through the blood vessel in the fixed magnetic field, the electromotive force is generated in the inner wall of the blood vessels, but the generated electromotive force is insignificant. For this reason, the therapeutical effect is low and there is no immediate effect.

On the other hand, in the latter magnetic therapeutical device utilizing a power source of 100 V at 50/60 Hz, since the electric current flowing in the coil has a sine wave configuration that changes by a function of time as shown in Fig. 1(a), the magnetic field generated from the coil takes a similar waveform to that of the electric current. Accordingly, when the sine wave configuration electric current is made to flow in the coil whereby the resulting line of magnetic force passes through the part of the body being treated, electromotive force of the sine wave whose phase is different by 900 as shown in Fig.

1 (b) is generated by electromagnetic induction, but the voltage waveform is symmetric vertically so that even if the ions are generated by electrochemical action, the resulting cations and anions are neutralized each other and thus electrochemical reaction helpful for improving the therapeutical effect on the human body cannot be anticipated.

Also, although the latter magnetic therapeutical device has been approved as a therapeutical device by Japan's Ministry of Health and Welfare, the specification is such that the surface magnetic flux density is 800 gauss+50% (B max), rated application time is 30 minutes, rated capacity is 260/210 VA, and rated power source is 100 V 50/60 Hz. As will be obvious from the foregoing specification, the time of continuous use of the therapeutical device is 30 minutes. When used longer than the specified time, overheating condition which brings about a danger of causing burns to the body becomes a problem. The reason for this is that the electric current flowing in the coil is always a relatively strong current of 2.67 amperes.

Also, heretofore, the therapy of applying electromagnetic fields of ultra-shortwave type to the human body is well known. Since these ultrashortwave therapeutical devices have a very high frequency as compared with the frequency of commercial power source, a strong electromotive force can be generated and applied to the affected part. However, the body is comprised of bio-chemical substances. Thus, even if ions are generated in the human body by the electrochemical action when the frequency is excessively high, the waveform of the electromotive force generated is substantially the same with the one shown in Fig. 1(b), so that both the cations and anions produced by the electromotive force are immediately neutralized, and only thermotherapeutical effects can be anticipated.

In order to generate therapeutic electrochemical reaction in the human body effectively, the electromotive force to be induced in the affected part of the body being heated should be a low frequency (below 20 Hz) with a DC pulse.

Object of the Invention: This invention has solved the conventional prior art problems described above. The primary object of this invention is to provide a magnetic therapeutical device providing both significant and rapid therapeutical effect.

Another object of this invention is to provide electromagnetic therapeutical device free of overheating even if used for long hours and consuming relatively low electric power.

Summary of the Invention: In order to achieve the foregoing objects, the electromagnetic therapeutical device which constitutes this invention is constructed in such a way that the waveform of the electric current flowing in the coil generating a fluctuating electromagnetic field is transformed to pulse waveform whose relative time ratio of rise and fall is above 5:1 and the electromotive force generated in the affected part of the body being treated has a DC pulse as the fluctuated magnetic field generated from the coil passes through the body.

Brief Description of the Drawings: Figures 1 (a) and 1 (b) are waveform diagram for illustration of conventional magnetic therapeutical device output.

Figure 2 is an illustration showing an example of the use of the electromagnetic therapeutical device of this invention.

Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of the pulse generator for producing the pulse like electromagnetic field in the electromagnetic therapeutical device of this invention.

Figure 4 is a waveform diagram for illustration of the electromagnetic therapeutical device of this invention.

Description of Embodiments: The preferred embodiments of this invention will be described by referring to the drawings.

In Fig. 2, the ring-like coil 1 of the electromagnetic therapeutical device embodied in this invention was slipped over the knee portion 2 of the leg, and the pulsing electric current (refer to Fig. 4(a)) from the pulse generator 3 was supplied to the coil 1. In this case, when the pulsing electromagnetic field of about 8 Hz was applied to the knee portion, the blood circulation of the knee portion 2 was quickly enhanced such that even for a brief period of this patients normally unbendable knee, the knee could be easily bent.

For the stiffness of the shoulders, the coil 1 was applied to the shoulders, the nape, and also, in order to relieve a pain in the waist, it was applied to the waist. For stomach ache or diarrhoea, the coil 1 was applied to the surface of the stomach.

When it was applied to a part where a pain was felt and trouble with blood circulation occurred, there was a marked therapeutical effect. Fig. 3 shows the actual circuit diagram of the pulse generator 3 that is composed of the power source transformer 11 connected to the commercial power source 10 of 100 V, the voltage doubler circuit 1 2 connected to the secondary side of the transformer 11, the capacitor 13 for charging the double voltage, and relaxation oscillation circuit 1 5 for triggering the thyristor 14 connected in series to the coil 1.

A plurality of taps T1~T6 for handling the output voltage of 25 to 100 V are provided on the secondary winding 1 a of the power source transformer 11, and the output voltage adjusted to 25 to 100 V is produced and flows through the output terminals 1 it and 1 1d by the switching action of the slidable element 1 b from the tap T1 to the tap T6.

Also, the voltage doubler circuit 12 is composed of capacitor 1 2a and diodes 1 2b and 12e for half-wave rectification, and the double voltage of 50 to 280 V is generated according to the output voltage of the transformer 11 from the voltage doubler circuit 12, and this output voltage charges capacitor 13.Also, relaxation oscillation circuit 15 is provided with variable resistor 1 5a and capacitor 1 5b connected in series with variable resistor 1 spa, and this series circuit is connected to a half wave rectification circuit 1 6 consisting of diode 1 6a and capacitor 1 6b connected to both terminals of secondary winding 1 a of the power source transformer 1 The gate cathode of thyristor 14 is connected to both terminals of the capacitor 1 5b by means of the trigger diode 1 sic. The frequency of relaxation oscillation circuit 15 is adjusted to 4 to 20 Hz by varying resistance of variable resistor 1 5a.

The operation of the embodiment of this invention having the foregoing construction will be described in the following.

When the power source switch SW is put in "on" position, the voltage, according to the position of the slidable element 1 b on the taps T1--T6, flows at the output terminals 1 c and lid of the transformer 11. The voltage is converted to the double voltage with the half-wave rectified by capacitor 1 2a and diodes 1 2b and 1 2c, and then is charged in the capacitor 13.

The output voltage of rectification circuit 16 charges the capacitor 1 5b through the variable resistor 1 spa, and charges capacitor 1 sub. When this charge exceeds the trigger voltage of the trigger diode 1 sic, the trigger diode 1 sic is activated, and the trigger pulse is applied to the gate of the thyristor 14. When the trigger pulse is applied, the thyristor 14 is activated, and the electric charge accumulated in the capacitor 13 is discharged through the coil 1, and the coil 1 generates the pulsing electromagnetic field.

When the number of windings of coil 1 are about 40 turns with its diameter of about 17 cm, a strong electric current reaching 25 A flows at the peak. The time constant CR=T of the variable resistor 1 5a and the capacitor 1 5b can determine the frequency of the resulting pulses, and the frequency generated can be changed by the adjustment of the variable resistor 1 5a.

Fig. 4(a) shows the waveform of the electric current flowing in the coil 1, and the resulting change of the magnetic field of the coil 1 against the affected part of the body being treated becomes basically similar to Fig. 4(a). Also, Fig.

4(b) shows the waveform of the electromotive force generated in the affected part by the working of the pulsing magnetic field on the affected part as shown in Fig. 4(a), and as it will be obvious from the foregoing, the waveform of the electromotive force becomes asymmetric vertically, centering around the reference line I, and moreover the difference of the upper level above the reference line I is greater than the lower level from the reference line by more than ten times, and also, the areas of both of the upper level and the lower level are equal.

Accordingly, in case the secondary side on which the electromagnetic field of the coil works is like linear load such as copper wire, alternating positive and negative potential of the electromotive force is subject to cancel each other, but, the affected part of the body being treated at the secondary side on which the magnetic field of the coil 1 works is not a linear load with pure resistance but rather is a nonlinear load which has a threshold value. For this reason, and when the voltage above VTH as shown in Fig. 3(b), namely, when voltage above the threshold value of the affected part in contact with the device (several ten-several hundred mv per cell) is applied, the electric current will flow.

As a result, voltage shown in Fig. 4(b) is generated in the affected part, and the waveform of the upper part only exceeds the threshold value VTH of the affected part being treated so that the DC pulse electric current flows to the affected part as shown in Fig. 4(c).

As described in the foregoing, a DC pulse electric current can be generated in the part of the body being treated, which causes the electrochemical reactions in the affected part thereby demonstrating high significant therapeutic effects in the affected part of the body, especially in cases where imperfect circulation, etc. are involved.

The moist preferable embodiment of this invention will be described in the following.

The number of winding of the coil 1 was set at 40 turns (diameter 17 cm), and the waveform was selected so that the rise time of the electric current flowing in the coil 1 was set at 0.1 msec, and the fall time was set at 1 msec, and the time ratio of the rise and the fall was 1:10 (refer to Fig.

4(b)), and the period of the triangular electric current flowing in coil 1 was set at 8 Hz by relaxation oscillation circuit 15, and the charge voltage of the capacitor 13 was set at 280 V.

A coil 1 operated in the foregoing condition was applied to the knee of a patient suffering from articular rheumatism of the knee as shown in Fig. 1, and therapy was carried out for several periods of ten minutes whereby upon the previously unbendable knee became bendable.

Such cases occurred in large numbers. Examples of the effects of the therapy described above have been substantiated by reports from patients which utilized the electromagnetic therapeutical device of this invention. Also, the reasons for the foregoing therapeutical effect are that the electromotive force generated in treated part of the body is far larger than that of the conventional therapy systems and that the pulse is a DC pulse.

The result of measurements of the electromotive force generated in the body by this invention and those for conventional systems in which the commercial frequency of 50 to 60 Hz is applied to the coil to generate the fluctuating magnetic field will be described in the following.

Several 9-turn coils were prepared. A diode and a capacitor of 0.047 juF were connected in series, and both terminal voltages of the capacitor were measured. In the conventional system, a voltage of 0.34 V was induced while in the system of this invention a voltage of 34.5 V was induced. As a result, the electromotive force on the treated part in this invention is about 100 times greater than the conventional system. The ratio of electric current consumed was 2.63 A:0.9 A i.e. was below 1/30 so that the effectiveness was in the order of 3000 times greater than the conventional systems. The electro-chemical reaction of the treated part of the body was greatly different, and at the same time overheating did not occur and the device of this invention could be used continuously for the therapy of the affected part over long periods.

The capacity of the capacitor, number of windings of the coil, the time ratio of the rise and fall of the electric current flowing in the coil 1, and the switching period in this invention are not limited to the optimum embodiment mentioned in the foregoing and may be set in a range described in the following.

Capacity of capacitor 0.5--50 ,uF Maximum charge of DC 50-500 V capacitor Number of windings 1 0-200 turns of coil Switching frequency 4-20 Hz Furthermore, in the foregoing embodiment, the description was mentioned on the case where the rise time and the fall time of the electric current flowing in the coil 1 were set at 1 :10, but the same effect can be obtained by setting the rise time at 1 msec, and the fall time at 0.1 msec, opposite to the embodiment. However, please note that it is preferable to make the relative time ratio of the rise and the fall of the waveform of electric current set above at above 5:1.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic therapeutical device comprising: a device including a circuit means for generating the AC voltage of a predetermined level, a capacitor for charging the output voltage from the circuit means and generating a discharge voltage of 50-500 V, a coil of 10-200 turns connected to both the terminals of the capacitor by means of a switching element to generate an electromagnetic field, and trigger circuit means for switching the switching element with a frequency of 4-20 Hz to discharge the electric charge of the capacitor to the coil.

2. An electromagnetic therapeutical device according to the claim 1 in which the waveform of electric current flowing in the coil to generate a fluctuating magnetic field becomes a waveform whose relative time ratio of the rise and the fall is above 5:1.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.