GB2231270A - Electrotranquillizing device - Google Patents

Description

-1 - -1 -:2:2 3 -1-::j'7 0 ELECTROT.WQUILLIZING DEVICE The present

invention relates to medical equipment and in particular to electrotranquillizing devices.

The invention may be used in physiotherapy as a stress prevention and treatment means suitable for individual use by the patient at home or in organization-owned antistress therapy rooms.

Adaptability of an individual is known to be substantially reduced due to a lasting psychoemotional strain or a str-ess caused by different factors. Capaci- ty for work is, thus, adversely affected. It Is particularly important to prevent fatigue by subjecting the patient to electrotranquillizing in psychophysical training, antistress therapy or tension-relieving rooms whereupon normal work can be resumed. The use of pharmacological tranquillizers and psychotropic remedies is not recommendable on a mass scale due to undesirable side effects characterized by depression, inattentiveness and impaired capacity for work. 20 Clinical experience shows that, %Yith changing environments. the need for fast adaptation and stress prevention frequently increases. It is, therefore, advantageous that electrotranquillizing should be resorted to when time zones are crossed or climatic condi- tions change.

Effectiveness of such a procedure is particularly high in prevention of fatigue in production processes under complicated conditions. more specifically, during night shifts, in the presence of noise and vibration, at elevated temperature, with rolling or pitching causing sickness and In underground or undexTiater operations.

As a fatigue prevention means, the use of the electroturanquillizing method is equally important for increa- sing the compensation capabilities of the human organism in different functional states which include Deriods subsequent to an operation, birth or abortion, the initial stage in recovery from various diseases, the climacteric syndrome and menstrual disorders.

The indications for use of the electrotranquillizing method are an unsatisfactory vascular tone. troubled slumber, a neurotic state and depression due to conflict situations.

To prevent pregnancy and delivery complications, it is generally advantageous that current Pulses should be appropriately used at critical moments, that is, when the expectant mother and the fetus she carries may have such complications.

Prior art devices for affecting the central nervous system with current pulses are generally designed for use in hospitals.

For example, a known device for affecting the cent- 1 ral nervous system with current pulses comprises such series-connected components as a unit producing a rhythmic effect, a unit designed to provide a constant period-to-pulse duration ratio, a pulse shape changing unit, a switching unit, a pulse amplitude regulator, a mean current measuring unit, a unit for protecting the patient, and a power unit (cf. SU, A No. 557,796).

The foregoing device Is used for relieving the pains of childbirth.

In such a device, the electrotranquillizing effect may be obtained by a complicated Procedure flor adjusting the necessary parameters of current pulses affecting the patient's central nervous system, which is a limiting factor.

There is also known an electrotranquillizing device comprising a power unit electrically connected to a unit rhythmically affecting the patient's central nervous system with current pulses, a means for intensifying the effect of current pulses on the patient's central nervous system, which is electrically connected to the unit producing a rhythmic effect, a current pulse preamplifier electrically connected to the means for intensifying the effect of current pulses and a power amplifier having its input connected to the out- put of the preamplifier and a first output thereof connected to the preamplifier through a unit for protecting the patient, which is electrically connected to 1 k 4 the power unit, while its second output is electrically connected to a mean current Indicator which is, in turn, electrically connected to the power unit and to electrodes, more specifically, to an anode attached at the site of the patient's neck under the mammiform appendices and to a cathode attached at the site of the patient's forehead (cf. SU, A No. 605.62o.

In the aforesaid device, the means for intensifying the effect of current pulses on the patient's central nervous system comprises a unit designed to provide a constant period-to- pulse duration ratio, a pulse duration adjusting unit and a pulse shape changing unit, said units being placed in series and electrically connected to the povier unit.

In the known device, the electrotranquillizing ef- fect nay be obtained by intensifying the effect of current pulses, for example, before childbirth. DeDending on the expectant mother' state, such parameters as the period-to-Dulse duration, the pulse repetition frequen- cy, length and amplitude may be suitably varied to increase the desired effect.

So, the foregoing device permits intensifying the pulse effect by adjusting several output signal parameters, more specifically, the pulse lengths repetition frequency and amplitude, and also the period-to-pulse duration.

However,the known device does not necessarily pre- 7 pare the patient for active work. Moreover, the patient may have to potentiate the pulse effect during the electrotranquillizing procedure in order to decrease the treatment time and Provide for active work thereafter.

Furthermore, complexities involved in Intensifying the pulse effect prevent individual use of the known device prescribed by the doctor and also its utilization under active production conditions.

The foregoing device increases the effect of puls- es on the central nervous system by acting steadily thereon with a sum pulse signal, in which the pulse repetition frequencyg len,l:..th. amplitude and period-topulse duration may be varied. The resultant aftereffect causes prolonged drowsiness.

Thus, the known device used primarily in hospitals does not Drevent overstrain in production, a factor to be accounted for in creation of an electrotranquillizing means for use in factory-owned antistress therapy rooms, When the know:n electrotranquillizing device is to be used at home as a stress prevention remedy prescrib ed by the doctor, it is necessary to limit the treat ment to the time interval prescribed by the doctor.

Depending on age', sex, weight and occupation of patients, the chosen mode of operation should make it possible to Intensify the desired effect without chang- 6 ing preset pulse parameters and exceeding the sensation threshold so that the mean current value in the closed circuit may be increased, if necessa:ryg without using a complicated procedure for additionally adjusting the pulse parameters, which would ensure the electrotranq-qillizing effect with capacity for active workbeing essentially unchanged.

Prom the above discussion it is apparent that the known devices do not allow the patient to properly use current pulses at the electrotranquillizing level without makling intricate adjustments of all the pulse parameters, including the adjustment necessary to intensify individually the desired effect.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an easy-to-use electrotranquillizing device with patients' capacity for active work being essentially unchanged.

Another object of the invention is to ensure individual use of the proposed electrotranquillizing device at home in accordance with physician's Prescriptions.

The invention resides in that an electrotranquillizing device comprises a power unit electrically connected to such components as a unit rhythmically affecting the patient's central nervous system with current pulses.

a means for intensifying the effect of current pulses on the patient's central nervous system, which is electrically connected to the unit producing a rhythmic 1 7 effectg a current pulse preamplifier electrically connected to the means for Intensifying the effect of current pulses and a power amplifier having Its input connected to the output of the preamplifier and a first 5outDut thereof connected to the preamplifier through a unit for protecting the patient, which is electrically connected to the power unit, while Its second output Is electrically connected to a mean current indicator which is. in turn. electrically connected to the power unit and to electrodes, that is, to an anode attached at the site of the patient's neck under the man.miform appendices and to a cathode attached at the site of the. patient's forehead, wherein said means for intensifying the effect of current pulses on the patient's cent- ral nervous system comprises a mode switch connected to first and second outputs of the unit producing a rhythmic effect and such series components as a unit potentiating the electrotranquillizing effect, the Input of which is connected to the mode switch, an amplifier- -limiter and a current pulse amplitude regulator whose output Is connected to the current pulse preamplifier, said series components being electrically connected to the power unit, and also a timer connected to a third output of the unit producing a rhythmic effect and electrically coupled to the power unit, said timer being used to limit the time at which current pulses act on the patient's central nervous system.

It Is advantageous that the proposed electrotranquillizing device should comprise an individual voltage level monitoring means connected to the power unit, to the mean current indicator and to said electrodes.

Such an arrangement of the electrotranqiillizing device according to the invention permits intensifying the desired effect and enables its utilization for fati gue prevention at various enterprises and also as an individual domestic means on physician's directions.

Full operation safety is also provided.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more readily apparent from the description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a block diagram of an electrotranquil- lizing device according to the Invention; and Figure 2 Is a schematic diagram showing individual units of the device of Figure 1.

The electrotranquillizing device forming the sub- ject of the Dresent invention comprises a unit 1 (Figure 1) rhythmically affecting the patient's central nervous system, a means 2 for intensifying the effect of current pulses on the patient's central nervous system, which is electrically connected to the unit 1 producing a rhythmic effect, a current pulse preamplifier 3 whose input 4 Is electrically connected to the intensifying means 2, and a power amplifier 5 having Its Input 6 connected to the output of the preamplifler 3 and an output 7 thereof connected to an Input 9 of the preamplifier-3 through a unit 8 for protecting the patient. while Its output 10 is electrically connect- ed to a mean current indicator 11 through electrodesq more particularly, a split anode 12 attached at the site of the patient's neck under the mammiform appendices and a split cathode 13 attached at the site of the patient's forehead. The anode 12 and the cathode 13 are shown as terminals in the drawing.

In the preferred embodi-ment of the invention the means 2 for intensifying the effect of current pulses on the atient's central nervous system comprises a p mode switch 14 connected to outDuts 15 and 16 of the unit 1 producing a rhythmic effect and such series components as a unit 17 potentiating the electrotranquillizing effect, an input 18 of which is connected to the switch 14, an amplifier-limiter 19 and a current pulse amplitude regulator 20 whose output is connected to the Input 4 of the preamplifier 3, and also a timer 21 connected to an output 22 of the unit 1 producing a rhythmic effect.

The proposed device also Includes a power unit 23 electrically connected to such components as the unit 1 producing a rhythmic effect, the unit 17 potentiating the electrotranquillizIng effect, the amplifier-limiter 19, the current pulse amplitude regulator 20.

the preamplifier 1, the power amplifier 5, the protection unit 8 and the mean current indicator 11. To limit the time at which current pulses affect the patient's central nervous system, the timer 21 is electrically connected to the power unit 23.

The device forming the subject of the present invention also comprises an individual voltage level monitoring means 24 which Is connected to the power unit23, to the mean current indicator 11 and to the elect- rodes, more particularly, to the cathode 13.

The monitoring means 24 comprises a resistor 25 and a switching element 26, which are placed in series, the resistor 25 being connected to the power unit 23. while the switching element 26 is electrically connected to the indicator 11 and to the cathode 13.

The switching element 26 may be, for example, a microswitch.

Figure 2 Is a schematic diaureLn showing the unit 1 producing a rhythmic effect, the mode switch 14, the unit 17 potentiating the electrotranquillizing effect. the amplifier- limiter 19 the current pulse amplitude regulator 20. the timer 21 and the power unit 23 of the device according to the invention.

The other units of the proposed device are not show in the schematic diagram for they do not form the subject of the present Invention and may be otherwise embodied in any known manner i,, ithout departing M 1 k 1 from the spirit of the Invention. The unit 1 (Figure 2) comprises a selfexcited oscillator using integrated circuits 27, 28, 29, diodes 309 31, resistors 32, 33 and a capacitor 34. 5 The mode switch 14 comprises a microswitch 35. The unit 17 uses an Integrated circuit 36. The amplifierlimiter 19 is composed of a transistor 37 and resistors 38, 399 40. The amplitude regulator 20 includes an adjustable resistor 41 and diodes 42, 43.

The timer 21 is essentially a logic unit with a frequency divider using integrated circuits 44, 45, a transistor 46, resistors 47, 48, a switch 49 and a capacitor 50.

The power unit 23 comprises a cell 51, a polarized relay 52 with a contact 53, switches 54, 55 and a capa citor 56.

The device forming the subject of the present in vention operates as follows.

Closing the switches 54 and 55 turns on the Dower unit 23 (Figure 2). After the switchin.F. element 26 (Figure 1) is closed, the mean current Indicator 11 is read to check for presence of supply voltage at the output of the unit 23. Thereafter a mask with electro- des is fitted on the patient's head. 'The split cathode 13 is attached at the site of the patient's forehead, while the split anode 12 is attached at the site of the patient's neck under the mammiform appendices. The amplitude regulator 20 should be set so that there are no output signals across the electrodes before the electrotranquillizing effect is produced.

Then the output signal amplitude is adjusted with the regulator 20 for patient's comfort. In this case the signal produced at the output 15 of the unit 1 producing a rhythmic effect is applied through closed contacts of the mode switch 14 to the input 18 of the unit 17 Dotentiating the electrotranquillizing effect, which converts the input signal and simultaneously matches the input resistance of the aMD1ifier-lim;Lter 19 with the output resistance of the unit 1.

- The ariDlifier-limiter 19 limits and stabilizes the amplitude of the signal fed to Its input. The regulator 20 is used to set the voltage amplitude for patient's comfort and the output signal is amplified to L a required level by the amplifiers 3 and 5. The unit 8 protects the patient by limiting a mean current rise in the operative circuit. The indical-or 11 reads mean current in said circuit. The timer 21 sets the duration of the electrotranquillizing effect. for example. a graduated pulse effect (in the event of a psychoemotional strain or when time zones are crossed or climatic conditions change).

To intensify the electrotranquillizing effect and ensure rapid restoration of capacity for active work.

I- A h 13 the mode switch 14 feeds the electrotranquillizing signal. developed at the output 16 of the unit 1 producing, a rhythmic effect.

If the pulse effect has to be increased, the proposed device will operate in a manner similar to that described above.

The electrotranquillizing device forming the subject of the present Invention was experimentally used in 100 cases in antitherapy rooms at plants to prevent fatigue and restore capacity for work in the event of changes in weather and relevant reactions and also in case of a stress resulting from ovexT;ork and conflict situations.

Best results were obtained with working women at the time of menses. Owing to the utilization of the proposed device, their capacity for work was not essentially decreased despite a strain of the neuro- -endocrine system during this complicated period.

In several instances the patients were pregnant women at the critical time with compensation capabilities of the expectant mother and the fetus used to a full extent (conditions characterized by an increased arterial pressure, formation of the central nervous system In the fetus, a psychoemotional strain of the mother).

After 7 to 10 procedures, the electrotranquillizing effect manifested itself in a normal arterial 14 pressure and elimination of fatigue associated with a stress. due to which disorders were found to be merely functional ands consequentlyg use of pharmacological preparations such as tranquillizers and sedatives was unnecessary.

The study of the brain electric activities and characteristics of central haemodynamics shows that the electrotranquillizing effect may be advantageously used at early stages of hypertension instead of tranquillizers and beta-inhibitors (clophilin) and also for prophylaxis of Ischemia by nonmedicinal means.

Patients showing no improvement in vascular disorders (10 to 15% of all cases) were subjected to a through clinical examination which, as a rule, revealed 15 the need for complex therapy in hospitals, The device according to the invention permits obtaining the electrotranquillizing effect. Also, the pulse 1 effect may be suitably intensified If desired.

Lloreover, with the proposed device active work in production may be started without a drawing stage.

The device according to the invention may find applications in fatigue prevention in the course of active work in antistress therapy rooms at enterpsices, airports, health centres. on ships and in clinic conditions, When prescribed by a physician the proposed device 1 may be used individually at home for prophylaxis of hypertension and Ischemia, treatment of menstrual disorders and prenatal preparation according to a special programe 16

Claims (3)

WHAT VIE CLAIM IS: -

1. An electrotranquillizing device comprising a power unit electrically connected to such components as a unit rhythmically affecting the patient's central nervous system with current pulsesq a means for intensifyin,,,, the effect of current pulses on the patient's central nervous system, which is electrically connected to the unit producing a rhythmic effect, a current pulse preamplifler electrically connected to the means for intensifying the effect of current pulses and a power amplifier having its input connected to the outplit of the preamplifier and a first output thereof connected to the preamplifier through a unit for protecting the patient. which is electrically connect- ed to the power unitu, while its second output is electrically connected to a mean current indica4Uor which is, in turng electrically connected to the power unit and to electrodes. that is, to an anode attached at the site of the patient's neck under the mammiform ap- pendices and to a cathode attached at the site of the patient's forehead. wherein said means for intensifying theeffect of current pulses on the patient's central nervous system comprises a mode switch connected to first and second outputs of the unit producing a rhythmic effect and such series components as a unit potentlating the electrotranquillizing effLectq the 17 input of which is connected to the mode switch, an amplifier-limiter and a current pulse amplitude regulator whose output is connected to the current pulse preamplifier, said series components being electrically connected to the power unit, and also a tImer connected to a third output of the unit producing a rhythmic effect and electrically coupled to the power unit to limit the time at which current pulses act on the patient's central nerous system.

2. An electrotranquillizing device as claimed In Claim 1, which comprises an individual voltage level monitoring means connected to the power unit. to the mean current indicator and to said electrodes#

3. An electrotranquillizing device substantially as hereinabove described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Published 1990 at The Patent Office, State House, 66171 High Holborn, LondonWC1R4TP. Further copies maybe obtalnedfrom. The Patent C1nce. Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent, Con. 1187