JP2000051368A - Conducting element for electric medical treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conducting element with one side 100 mm or more long to treat the wide area of the body, having uniform resistance on the whole surface of a treating contact surface of the conducting element to produce the treatment effect in a wide range. SOLUTION: A conducting element 5 for an electric medical treatment device is formed by a conductive rubber elastic body 1 having a treating contact surface 3 and an electrically insulating protective member 4 provided to cover the back of the treating contact surface 3. The conductive rubber elastic body 1 is so constructed that at least two surfaces which have volume resistivity of 30 Ω.cm or less and are different in the volume resistivity are connected to each other, and the surface located remote from an terminal insert hole 2 is formed of a material with a smaller volume resistivity than that of the material of the surface located near the terminal insert hole 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a conductor for an electric therapy device (hereinafter simply referred to as a "conductor") suitable for use in a low-frequency or medium-frequency therapy device for treating stiffness, paralysis, pain and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a conductor, as shown in FIG. 19, a back surface of a treatment contact surface 3 of a conductive rubber-like elastic body (hereinafter simply referred to as a conductive elastic body) 1 is an electrically insulating protective member. (Hereinafter referred to as a protective member) 4 and the conductive elastic body 1
Is provided with a terminal insertion hole 2 for electrode connection at one end. The conductor 5 is made of an integral conductive elastic body 1,
The conductive gel layer provided on the treatment contact surface 3 is used in close contact with the body. The size of the treatment contact surface 3 is usually
The general household type is a square type of about 50 x 50 mm, the round type is about 50 mm in diameter, and the commercial type is a square type of 100 x 50 mm.
It was about 100 mm, round and about 100 mm in diameter.

[0003]

Conventional conductors use a conductive elastic body having a single volume resistivity, and this conductive elastic body is formed into a powdery or scale-like material in an insulating rubber. The conductivity-imparting material is dispersed, and the current flows through the conductivity-imparting materials that are in contact with each other, but when the dispersion state is the same, the resistance of the current flowing increases as the length of the transmitted path increases, The resistance value increases according to the distance from the terminal insertion hole, and conversely, the flowing current decreases.

[0004] In order to treat a large area of the body, the size of the conductive elastic body of the conductor is increased or the shape of the conductor is made oblong in a horizontal direction. Then, the flowing current becomes small, and the therapeutic effect is reduced. Sufficient current flows to the end of the conductor away from the electrode,
In order for the therapeutic effect to appear, it is necessary to increase the current flowing through the electrode terminals to a certain extent. As a result,
In the vicinity of the terminal, the current value is high, and the electrical stimulation becomes too large to be uncomfortable, and also causes danger to the human body. This phenomenon becomes gradually remarkable when the dimension from the tip of the electrode terminal to the farthest end of the conductive elastic body exceeds 100 mm, and when the dimension exceeds 100 mm, a conductor having a stable therapeutic effect is obtained. There was a problem that can not be.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to treat a large area of the body, so that the length of each side is 1 unit.
An object of the present invention is to provide a conductor having a size exceeding 00 mm, having a uniform resistance value over the entire treatment contact surface of the conductor, and exhibiting a therapeutic effect over a wide range.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a guide for an electrotherapy device comprising a conductive elastic body having a treatment contact surface and a protective member provided to cover the back surface of the treatment contact surface. A conductive element, wherein the conductive elastic body has a volume resistivity of 30 Ω ·
cm or less at least two surfaces having different volume resistivity are connected to each other, and a material farther from the terminal insertion hole is formed of a material having a smaller volume resistivity than a material near the terminal insertion hole. I have. This conductive elastic body is
It is formed by adding a conductivity-imparting material to silicone rubber.
In the conductor of the present invention having such a configuration, the distance from the distal end of the terminal insertion hole to the farthest end of the conductive elastic body is one.
Even if the thickness is not less than 00 mm, a uniform resistance value is provided over the entire surface in contact with the treatment, and the therapeutic effect is exhibited in a wide range.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to these descriptions. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the conductive elastic body of the conductor of the present invention has two surfaces, and FIG. 2 shows a conductor using the conductive elastic body of FIG. 1 and 2, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view, and (c) is X in (a).
It is sectional drawing which follows the X-ray. In the figure, a conductive elastic body 1 is composed of two surfaces A and B, and a terminal insertion hole 2 is provided at one end of the A surface. The back surface of the treatment contact surface 3 is covered with a protective member 4 to form a guide 5. The treatment is performed by bringing the treatment contact surface 3 of the conductive elastic body 1 into contact with the treatment site.

The volume resistivity of the surface A of the conductive elastic body 1 near the terminal insertion hole 2 is ρ ₁ , the area is S ₁ , the volume resistivity of the surface B farther from the terminal insertion hole 2 is ρ ₂ , the area Is defined as S ₂ , as will be described in detail later, ρ ₁ >
The relationship of ρ ₂ , S ₁ <S ₂ holds. In this specification, the measurement of the volume resistivity is based on the Japan Rubber Association Standard / Volume resistivity test method for conductive rubber and plastic;
RIS 2301-1969 (hereinafter SRIS 230
1). In order to cover the conductive elastic body 1 with the protective member 4, the conductive elastic body 1 is placed in the cavity of the mold.
After setting the surface A and the surface B, are molded integrally with the protection member 4. Alternatively, the conductive elastic body 1 and the protective member 4 may be separately formed, and then both may be integrally bonded using a conductive rubber-based adhesive.

The conductive elastic body is formed by adding a conductive material to a raw material of an insulating rubber-like elastic body (hereinafter simply referred to as an insulating elastic body) as a base. Examples of the insulating elastic body include synthetic rubbers such as silicone rubber, EPDM, SEP, polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene copolymer, butyl rubber, chloroprene rubber, acrylic rubber, and acrylic silicone rubber, and thermoplastic rubbers such as SIS, SBS, and SEBS. Among them, silicone rubber, which is excellent in heat resistance, weather resistance, and electrical insulation, and has appropriate hardness and elasticity as a rubber-like elastic body, is most preferable.

Powders, fibrous materials,
Needle-like and plate-like conductive fillers may be added. As conductive filler, metal (powder, fiber) such as carbon (carbon black, graphite (graphite), carbon fiber) or nickel, or conductive filler such as zinc oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, etc. is coated with a fatty acid to prevent aggregation. And those to which a metal oxide or the like whose surface has been subjected to a conductive treatment is added. These can be used alone or in combination of some.

The amount of the conductivity-imparting material to be added to the insulating elastic material varies depending on the combination of the type of the insulating elastic material and the type of the conductivity-imparting material. In general, the insulating elastic body 1
The amount is 30 to 150 parts by weight, preferably 40 to 100 parts by weight, based on 00 parts by weight. If the addition amount is less than 30 parts by weight, the obtained conductive elastic body may have a high volume resistivity, in which case the current efficiency is poor and the conductor cannot be practically used. On the other hand, if it exceeds 150 parts by weight, the flexibility and mechanical properties of the conductive elastic body will be reduced, and the conductor will not be practically usable.

Further, the conductive elastic material used in the present invention has a volume resistivity after curing of 30 Ω · cm or less, preferably 10 Ω · cm or less, and particularly preferably 0.5 to 7 Ω · cm.
Those having a range of 0 Ω · cm are used. Volume resistivity is 3
If it exceeds 0 Ω · cm, the resistance is too high and an extremely high electric output is required for electrotherapy, which is not preferable. Also,
As long as the properties after curing fall within the above range, the conductive elastic body is not limited to a single layer, but may be a layered layer.

As the protective member for covering the back surface of the treatment contact surface of the conductive elastic body, the insulating elastic body used for the base of the conductive elastic body is used. It is more preferable in consideration of the properties, but is not necessarily limited to the same type of insulating elastic body. The conductive elastic body is coated on the back surface with a protective member, and examples of the coating form include those shown in FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (d). The surface of the treatment contact surface should be coated to prevent contamination to the human fat of the user, and the surface should be roughened by polishing and blasting the mold to reduce surface tack. preferable.

In the present invention, at least two conductive elastic members are provided.
The surface elastic structure is connected to the surface with the terminal insertion hole and the volume resistivity of the conductive elastic body far from the terminal insertion hole is made of a material lower than the volume resistivity of the surface with the terminal insertion hole. As a result, the current flowing over the entire surface is stabilized, and a stable therapeutic effect is exhibited. Here, the magnitude relationship of the volume resistivity of the material of the conductive elastic body having a plurality of connected surfaces will be described. Assuming that the conductive elastic body has a structure in which n surfaces are connected, and the volume resistivity of the conductive elastic body is ρ1, ρ2, ρ3.
When n-1 <ρn / 2, and when pn-1 ≧ ρn / 2, the effect of the connection is small, and there is no superior difference from the case where the same material is used.

The occupied area ratio of the connected conductive elastic bodies is as follows: when the conductive elastic body has a structure in which the n-plane is connected, the occupied area of the conductive elastic body is S1, in order from the terminal insertion hole. S2, S3... Sn-1, Sn, the total area is ΔS
Then, Sn-1 <Sn and S1 <ΣS / n
It is. When Sn-1 ≧ Sn or S1 ≧ ΣS / n, the occupied area ratio of the surface having the largest volume resistivity is too large, and the variation in the resistance value of the treatment contact surface is not preferable.

In order to form a conductor having a structure in which conductive elastic bodies are connected in two planes, two types of conductive elastic materials having different volume resistivity are prepared. First, a material having a larger volume resistivity is used. Only the surface having the terminal insertion holes for electrode connection is molded, and then the surfaces separately molded with the material with the smaller volume resistivity are connected and arranged, and the entire back surface is covered with an insulating elastic body. What is necessary is just to integrally mold so that it may perform.

[0017]

EXAMPLES Prior to the examples, preparation of a conductive elastic body and an insulating member will be described. a. Preparation of Conductive Elastic Body To 100 parts by weight of diorganopolysiloxane, 60 parts by weight of acetylene black was added as a conductivity-imparting material, and 30 parts by weight of conductive silicone rubber composition A, Ketjen black and 10 parts by weight of graphite were added. Then, conductive silicone rubber composition B, 40 parts by weight of Ketjen black and 15 parts by weight of graphite were added, and conductive silicone rubber composition C was mixed with a pressure kneader. To each of them, 1 part by weight of 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-bis (t-butylperoxy) hexane was added as a curing catalyst,
It was kneaded with two rolls.

These conductive silicone rubber compositions A,
B and C (hereinafter referred to as A material, B material and C material in this order) are press-formed (forming conditions: 170 ° C. for 10 minutes, pressure 200 kgf).
/ Cm ² ) to form a sheet, and further subjected to secondary vulcanization for 4 hours with a hot air drier at 200 ° C. to produce a sheet having a thickness of 1 mm. Hereinafter, the volume resistivity (according to SRIS 2301) of the A sheet obtained from the A material, the B sheet obtained from the B material, and the C sheet obtained from the C material was measured. The sheet is 5Ωcm,
The C sheet was 1 Ω · cm.

B. Preparation of Insulating Member As a protective member for covering the back surface of the treatment contact surface of the conductive elastic body, 40 parts by weight of wet silica as a reinforcing filler and an appropriate amount of a dispersant are added to 100 parts by weight of diorganopolysiloxane. The mixture was mixed with a pressure kneader, and 0.5 parts by weight of 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-bis (t-butylperoxy) hexane was added as a curing catalyst, followed by kneading with two rolls. An object, that is, a protection member was obtained.

(Embodiment 1) A material and a B material are separated into sheets by two rolls, and a conductive portion is formed by using a material near the terminal insertion hole as a material and a material far from the terminal insertion hole as a material B. Press molding with a metal mold (molding condition: 10 at 170 ° C)
(A pressure of 200 kgf / cm ² ), and integrally molded to produce a conductive elastic body having a two-plane connection structure as shown in FIGS. 1 (a), 1 (b) and 1 (c). Next, the above-mentioned protective member is separated into a sheet shape by two rolls, and is press-formed with a conductive elastic body having a two-plane connection structure prepared above and a conductor forming die (forming condition: 170 ° C.). For 10 minutes, pressure 30kgf / cm
² ) After integration, secondary vulcanization (2
2 at 00 ° C. for 4 hours to obtain a 200 mm-long conductor as shown in FIG.

(Embodiment 2) Materials B and C are separated into sheets by using two rolls, and a portion close to the terminal insertion hole is made of material B and a portion far from the terminal insertion hole is made of material C to form a conductive portion. Press molding with a metal mold (molding condition: 10 at 170 ° C)
And a pressure of 200 kgf / cm ² ), and integrally molded to produce a conductive elastic body having a two-plane connection structure as shown in FIG. Next, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the length 200 shown in FIG.
mm was obtained.

Example 3 Materials A, B, and C are separated into sheets by two rolls, and materials A, B, and C are sequentially separated from a portion having a terminal insertion hole to a portion distant from the portion. And press-molding (molding conditions; 17)
6 minutes at 0 ° C. for 10 minutes under a pressure of 200 kgf / cm ² ) to form a conductive elastic body having a three-plane connecting structure as shown in FIG. Next, a 200 mm long conductor shown in FIG. 7 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

Comparative Example Diorganopolysiloxane 10
A conductive silicone rubber composition D was prepared by adding 25 parts by weight of acetylene black as a conductivity-imparting material to 0 parts by weight, and a conductive silicone rubber composition E was obtained by adding 15 parts by weight of acetylene black. Mix in a kneader. A mixture obtained by adding 1 part by weight of 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-bis (t-butylperoxy) hexane as a curing catalyst was kneaded with a two-roll mill.

These conductive silicone rubber compositions D,
E (hereinafter, referred to as D material and E material, respectively) is press-formed (forming conditions: 170 ° C. for 10 minutes, pressure 200 kgf / c)
m ² ) to form a sheet, and further subjected to secondary vulcanization for 4 hours using a hot air dryer at 200 ° C. to produce a sheet having a thickness of 1 mm. Hereinafter, when the volume resistivity (according to SRIS 2301) of the D sheet obtained from the D material and the E sheet obtained from the E material was measured, it was 40 Ω · cm for the D sheet and 80 Ω · cm for the E sheet.

(Comparative Example 1) A material and a D material were separated into sheets by using two rolls, and a conductive portion was formed by using a D material near the terminal insertion hole and a A material far from the terminal insertion hole. Press molding with a metal mold (molding condition: 10 at 170 ° C)
And a pressure of 200 kgf / cm ² ), and were integrally molded to produce a conductive elastic body having a two-plane connection structure as shown in FIG. Next, the protective member is separated into sheets by two rolls, and a conductive elastic body having a two-plane connecting structure manufactured earlier,
Press molding (molding conditions: 170 ° C. for 10 minutes, pressure 30 kgf / cm ² ) using a mold for forming a conductor, and integrated, followed by secondary vulcanization (4 hours at 200 ° C. with a hot air drier). Thus, a conductor having a length of 200 mm as shown in FIG. 9 was obtained.

(Comparative Example 2) A material B and a material D were separated into sheets by two rolls, and a portion near the terminal insertion hole was formed as a D material, and a portion far from the terminal insertion hole was formed as a material B, thereby forming a conductive portion. Press molding with a metal mold (molding condition: 10 at 170 ° C)
10 minutes and a pressure of 200 kgf / cm ² ).
A conductive elastic body having a two-plane connection structure as shown in FIG.
Next, the protective member was separated into a sheet by two rolls, and the conductive elastic body having the two-plane connecting structure prepared above was press-formed with a mold for forming a conductor (forming condition: 170 ° C.). At 10
And a pressure of 30 kgf / cm ² ), followed by secondary vulcanization (at 200 ° C. for 4 hours with a hot air drier) to obtain a 200 mm long conductor as shown in FIG.

(Comparative Example 3) Materials A, B, and E are separated into sheets by two rolls, and the materials E, A, and B are sequentially separated from a portion having a terminal insertion hole to a portion far from the portion. And press-molding with a conductive part molding die (molding conditions: 170
12 minutes at a temperature of 200 ° C. and a pressure of 200 kgf / cm ² ) to produce a conductive elastic body having a three-plane connection structure as shown in FIG. Next, in the same manner as in Example 1, a conductor having a length of 200 mm shown in FIG. 13 was obtained.

(Comparative Example 4) Material B was separated into a sheet by two rolls, and press-formed with a metal mold for forming a conductive part (forming conditions: 170 ° C for 10 minutes, pressure 200 kgf / cm ² ). A conductive elastic body having a one-plane structure as shown in FIG. 14 was produced. Next, the length 2 shown in FIG.
A 00 mm lead was obtained.

(Comparative Example 5) The D material was separated into sheets by two rolls and press-formed (forming conditions: 170 ° C for 10 minutes, pressure 200 kgf / cm ² ) using a conductive part forming die. A one-sided conductive elastic body as shown in FIG. 16 was produced. Next, the length 2 shown in FIG.
A 00 mm lead was obtained.

[Measurement of Resistance Value] The resistance values of the conductors obtained in Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 5 were measured for 12 points on the treatment contact surface 3 as shown in FIG. The resistance value was measured. In addition, the resistance value between each measurement point of the terminal insertion hole 2 and the treatment contact surface 3 was measured using the 3224 digital high tester (trade name, manufactured by Hioki Electric Co., Ltd.).
As a result, as can be seen in Table 1, the difference in resistance between the vicinity of the terminal insertion hole 2 and the vicinity of the end of the conductor is 2 times larger than that of the one-sided structure.
Those with a structure connecting the faces or more were smaller. In addition,
In the column of the effect of electrotherapy, a mark 〇 indicates that good electrical stimulation was obtained over the entire treatment contact surface of the lead, and a mark △ indicates that there was an inconvenience as a guide, and was used as a guide at all. Those that could not stand were marked with x.

[0031]

[Table 1]

[Confirmation of therapeutic effect] The treatment was carried out by attaching the conductor of each of Examples and Comparative Examples to a commercially available low-frequency therapeutic device. In Comparative Examples 1 to 3, discomfort occurs because the intensity of the electrical stimulation varies depending on the position of the treatment contact surface, and Comparative Example 4 in which the conductive elastic body has a one-sided structure is near the terminal portion in a low output state. In the high output state, the electrical stimulus was present at the end, but the electrical stimulus near the terminal was too strong. There was no stimulation, and even in a high output state, there was only electrical stimulation near the terminals, and none of them could withstand use.

[0033]

The conductor according to the present invention has a structure in which two or more conductive elastic bodies are connected to each other, and the volume resistivity decreases as the surface is located farther from the terminal insertion hole. The treatment contact surface can be enlarged, uniform electric stimulation can be obtained over the entire treatment contact surface, and a large area of the body can be treated with one conductor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a conductive elastic body of a conductor according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view, and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of (a). It is.

2 (a) is a plan view, FIG. 2 (b) is a side view, and FIG. 2 (c) is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 2 (a).

FIGS. 3A to 3D show different modes in which the back surface of a conductive elastic body is covered with a protective member.

4A and 4B show a conductive elastic body of a conductor according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A is a plan view, FIG. 4B is a side view, and FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. It is.

5A and 5B show a conductor according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 5A is a plan view, FIG. 5B is a side view, and FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

6A and 6B show a conductive elastic body of a conductor according to a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 6A is a plan view, FIG. 6B is a side view, and FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. It is.

7A and 7B show a conductor according to a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 7A is a plan view, FIG. 7B is a side view, and FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

8A and 8B show a conductive elastic body of a conductor in Comparative Example 1, wherein FIG. 8A is a plan view, FIG. 8B is a side view, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing in alignment with XX of FIG.

FIG. 9 shows a conductor of Comparative Example 1, wherein (a) is a plan view,
(B) is a side view, and (c) is a cross-sectional view along XX of (a).

10A and 10B show a conductive elastic body of a conductor in Comparative Example 2, wherein FIG. 10A is a plan view, FIG. 10B is a side view, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing in alignment with XX of FIG.

FIGS. 11A and 11B show a conductor of Comparative Example 2, wherein FIG.
(B) is a side view, and (c) is a cross-sectional view along XX of (a).

12A and 12B show a conductive elastic body of a conductor in Comparative Example 3, wherein FIG. 12A is a plan view, FIG. 12B is a side view, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing in alignment with XX of FIG.

FIG. 13 shows a conductor of Comparative Example 3, wherein (a) is a plan view,
(B) is a side view, and (c) is a cross-sectional view along XX of (a).

14A and 14B show a conductive elastic body of a conductor in Comparative Example 4, wherein FIG. 14A is a plan view, FIG. 14B is a side view, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing in alignment with XX of FIG.

FIG. 15 shows a conductor of Comparative Example 4, (a) is a plan view,
(B) is a side view, and (c) is a cross-sectional view along XX of (a).

16A and 16B show a conductive elastic body of a conductor in Comparative Example 5, wherein FIG. 16A is a plan view, FIG. 16B is a side view, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing in alignment with XX of FIG.

FIG. 17 shows a conductor of Comparative Example 5, wherein (a) is a plan view,
(B) is a side view, and (c) is a cross-sectional view along XX of (a).

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing a method for measuring a resistance value of a conductor.

FIGS. 19A and 19B show a conventional lead, FIG.
(B) is a side view, and (c) is a cross-sectional view along XX of (a).

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conductive elastic body 2 Terminal insertion hole 3 Treatment contact surface 4 Protective member 5 Conductor 6 Digital high tester 7 Electrode terminal

Claims (1)

[Claims] An electrotherapy device comprising an electrically conductive rubber-like elastic body having a treatment contact surface and an electrically insulating protective member provided so as to cover a back surface of the treatment contact surface. ,
In the conductive rubber-like elastic body, at least two surfaces having a volume resistivity of 30 Ω · cm or less and different in volume resistivity are connected, and a position far from the terminal insertion hole is closer to the terminal insertion hole than a position closer to the terminal insertion hole. A conductor for an electrotherapy device, which is formed of a material having a small volume resistivity.