JP2001224655A - Earring - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve usability of a device to give an electrical stimulus to the ear and the appearance during use. SOLUTION: An electrical stimulus is given to a prescribed site by providing a rear lid 7 that can be mounted to and dismounted from the body 1 of an earring with a substrate 2 in which an oscillation circuit is integrated and a solar cell 3 supplying power to the oscillation circuit and electrode pins 4a and 4b to output an electrical pulse from the oscillation circuit to the ear and arranging the electrode pins 4a and 4b in a manner that makes the tips contact a prescribed site of the ear at a time when the body 1 is hooked onto the ear.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an earring having a function of applying electrical stimulation to an ear.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ear needle method for recovering and managing health by applying needle stimulation to various acupoints (ear needle points) of an ear is known. As the auricular point, for example, a hunger point, a stomach point, a lung point and the like are known as acupoints having an effect of suppressing appetite.

In this ear needle method, an acupuncturist or the patient himself gives stimulation to any of the ear needle points using a dedicated circular needle or the like. However, it is troublesome to continuously stimulate the ear with a certain intensity,
Since it is also difficult to firmly fix the perforated needle or the like to the ear, an electric stimulator capable of applying electric stimulation to the ear has been developed.

[0004] An electric stimulator has a built-in oscillating circuit for generating an electric pulse at a predetermined intensity and frequency;
It is composed of an electrode pin for outputting an electric pulse generated by the oscillation circuit, and a connection line connecting the device body and the electrode pin.

[0005] In the case of using the electric stimulator having such a configuration, an electric pulse having a constant intensity is output to the tip of the electrode, so that the tip of the electrode is lightly brought into contact with a predetermined part of the ear. Can provide sufficient stimulation, and the user of the electric stimulator can go to the treatment clinic where this device is installed regularly or use this device at home. Like that.

[0006]

By the way, if this electric stimulator is made light and small and portable, it can be used anywhere, which is very convenient for the user.

However, the body of the electric stimulator is simply reduced in weight.
With only miniaturization, the connection line connecting the main body and the electrode pin is still a hindrance, and this connection line hangs on the ear, and the appearance is not good. Furthermore, there is a problem in how to fix the electrode pins to the ears so that the electrode pins are not displaced or separated from the ears due to vibrations during movement during walking or weights of connection lines.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to improve the usability and appearance of a device for applying electrical stimulation to the ear.

[0009]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an earring according to the present invention, comprising: a pulse generating means for generating a predetermined electric pulse; and a power supply for supplying power to the pulse generating means. The gist of the present invention is to have a supply unit and an electrode pin for applying an electric stimulus to a predetermined part of an ear by an electric pulse from the pulse generation unit.

According to the present invention, the earring includes pulse generating means for generating an electric pulse, power supply means for supplying power to the pulse generating means, and an electrode pin for outputting an electric pulse from the pulse generating means. By letting
By simply holding the earring to the ear, electrical stimulation can be applied to a predetermined part of the ear.

In addition, by eliminating the need for the conventional connection line for connecting the electrostimulation apparatus main body and the electrode pin, the appearance is improved, and the tip of the electrode pin is eliminated by eliminating the influence of the weight of the connection line. Can be easily fixed and arranged at a predetermined part of the ear.

The pulse generating means may be realized by using a general oscillation circuit, or may be realized by other electric or mechanical methods.

As the power supply means, it is desirable to use a small battery or the like in order to reduce the weight.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the earring according to the first aspect, the power supply means is a solar cell.

According to the present invention, the amplitude of an electric pulse required to apply an electric stimulus to the ear is 0.7 to 2.0.
Since the amplitude is as small as about [V], the output capacity of the power supply may be relatively small, and natural light or light such as a fluorescent lamp may easily hit the ears in daily life. By using a solar cell, it is possible to reduce the weight and size as compared with the case of using other small batteries, and it is not necessary to replace the battery and maintenance is easy.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the earring according to the third aspect, the solar cell is disposed inside the main body of the earring, and the light is transmitted through a light opening provided in the main body. Is made to enter the light receiving surface of the solar cell.

In the present invention, the appearance is improved by arranging the solar cell inside the earring main body, and light is incident on the light-receiving surface of the solar cell by providing the lighting port in the main body. Is working.

The present invention described in claim 4 provides the present invention according to claims 1 to 3
In the earring according to any one of the above, the pulse generating means is formed on a substrate, and the substrate and the sun are so arranged that power from the solar cell is supplied to the pulse generating means via the substrate. The point is that the battery and the battery are overlapped and integrated.

In the present invention, the substrate on which the pulse generating means is formed and the solar cell are overlapped and integrated to reduce the size and weight.

The present invention according to claim 5 provides the invention according to claims 1 to 4.
The earring according to any one of the above, wherein the predetermined part of the ear is an ear needle point of any of a starvation point, a stomach point, a lung point, and a placebo point.

According to the present invention, the effect of reducing the feeling of hunger can be obtained by contacting the electrode pins with ear pin points such as hunger points and stomach points.

The present invention described in claim 6 provides the invention according to claims 1 to 5
In the earring according to any one of the above, the tip of the electrode pin is spherical.

In the present invention, the tip of the electrode pin to be brought into contact with the ear is made spherical, so that the pain when the tip of the electrode pin is applied to the ear is alleviated and the ear is not damaged. .

[0024]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a configuration of an earring according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a state in which a back cover 7 is removed from a main body 1 of the earring. As shown in FIG. 1B, a solar cell 3 for supplying power to the oscillation circuit is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate 2 on which the oscillation circuit is integrated, and the integrated solar cell 3 and the substrate 2 It is mounted inside the back cover 7 with the light receiving surface of the battery facing upward. Outside the back cover 7, a fastener 5 for fastening the earring to the ear is provided, and electrode pins 4a and 4b for the oscillation circuit to output electric pulses are provided.
The earring is arranged at a position such that the tip of the earring contacts a predetermined part of the ear when the earring is held in the ear. The main body 1 is provided with a plurality of entrances 6 for allowing light to enter the light receiving surface of the solar cell 3.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the earring having such a configuration is held on the ear. By fixing the fastener 5 to the earlobe, the main body 1 is fixed to the ear as shown in the figure, and the tips of the electrode pins 4a and 4b come into contact with predetermined portions of the ear to output electric pulses. I have. The wire diameter of the electrode pins 4a and 4b is as thin as about 1 mmφ, and the tip is a sphere having a diameter of about 2 mmφ, thereby reducing pain caused by the tip hitting the ear.

Here, the parts of the ear with which the tips of the electrode pins 4a and 4b are in contact are a starvation point, a stomach point, a lung point and the like as shown in FIG.
If the shape or arrangement of the electrode pins 4a and 4b is determined so as to be an auricle point (acupoint) such as a placebo point,
An effect of suppressing appetite can be obtained. Of course, the present invention is not limited to suppressing appetite, and the tips of the electrode pins 4a and 4b may be brought into contact with other parts according to other purposes and uses for applying electrical stimulation to the ear.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are views showing the positional relationship between the substrate 2 and the solar cell 3, wherein FIG. 3A is a top view, FIG. 3B is a side view, and FIG. Each is shown. Reference numeral 31 in FIG. 3A denotes a light receiving surface of the solar cell 3. The vertical and horizontal size of the solar cell 3 is preferably, for example, about 10 mm × 12 mm or less in order to reduce the size and weight. As shown in FIG. 2B, the substrate 2 and the solar cell 3 are integrated with the front surface of the substrate 2 and the back surface of the solar cell 3 being overlapped. It is desirable that the thickness of the solar cell 3 is, for example, about 1 mm or less. As shown in FIG. 3C, the surface area of the substrate 2 is slightly smaller than that of the solar cell 3. Positive electrode 32a and negative electrode 32b of solar cell
Are connected and fixed to the positive and negative electrodes (not shown) of the substrate 2 by solders 33a and 33b, respectively, so as to supply power to the oscillation circuit. The positive output electrode 34a and the negative output electrode 34b of the substrate 2 are connected to a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal (not shown) of an oscillation circuit outputting electric pulses, respectively.
a, 35b connected to the electrode pins 4a, 4b, respectively.
Fixed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the oscillation circuit. The oscillating circuit shown in FIG. 1 receives a power supply from the solar cell 3 and generates an electric pulse at a predetermined cycle and voltage value, and a positive output terminal for outputting the electric pulse generated by the pulse generating circuit 41. A pulse which is connected to the negative output terminal 44a, the negative output terminal 44b, and the positive output terminal 44a, adjusts the width of the electric pulse to a predetermined value by detecting the electric pulse and performing negative feedback control on the pulse generation circuit 41. The configuration includes a width adjustment circuit 42, a pulse generation circuit 41, and a capacitor 43 for stabilizing the operation of the pulse width adjustment circuit 42.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an output waveform output by such an oscillation circuit. As the output waveform, for example, the period t2 of the electric pulse is about 100 ms,
It is desirable to set the period t1 during which the electric pulse falls to about 1 msec to lengthen the period during which the electric pulse rises. The output voltage value V1 is set at 0. 1 so that the output voltage value V1 is not too high to cause pain due to electrical stimulation, or too low to reduce the effect of suppressing appetite.
It is desirable to set to about 7 to 2V.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the substrate, which is lightweight and compact by integrating the oscillation circuit, the solar cell that supplies power to the oscillation circuit, and the electrode that outputs electric pulses from the oscillation circuit By providing the pin with the earring body, electrical stimulation can be applied to a predetermined part of the ear just by holding the earring to the ear, and the usability of the electrical stimulator can be improved.

In addition, by eliminating the need for a conventional connection line for connecting the main body of the electric stimulator and the electrode pins, the appearance during use can be improved, and the influence of the weight of the connection line can be reduced. Since it is no longer necessary, it is easy to fix the tip of the electrode pin to a predetermined part of the ear, and it is possible to prevent the electrode pin from being displaced or separated from the ear due to vibration during walking or weight of the connection line. be able to.

Further, by using a solar cell as a power supply for the oscillation circuit, it is possible to reduce the weight and size as compared with the case of using other small cells, and it is not necessary to replace the cell, so that maintenance can be performed. It can be easy.

The spherical shape of the tip of the electrode pin alleviates pain when the tip is put on the ear and prevents the ear from being damaged.

In this embodiment, a switch for stopping the operation of the oscillation circuit is not particularly provided, but such a switch may be provided. In such a case, the oscillating circuit is stopped when there is no need for electrical stimulation, and the device can be used as a normal earring.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The earring is provided with a pulse generating means for generating an electric pulse, a power supply means for supplying power to the pulse generating means, and an electrode pin for outputting an electric pulse from the pulse generating means. Just by holding it, you can apply electrical stimulation to a predetermined part of the ear,
The usability of the electric stimulator can be improved.

In addition, by eliminating the need for a conventional connection line for connecting the main body of the electric stimulator and the electrode pins, the appearance during use can be improved, and the influence of the weight of the connection line can be reduced. Since the electrode pins are not provided, the electrode pins can be easily fixed and arranged on the ears, and the electrode pins can be prevented from being shifted or separated from the ears during movement such as walking.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an earring according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state when earrings are held to ears.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a positional relationship between a small substrate 1 and a solar cell 3;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an oscillation circuit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an output waveform of an oscillation circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main body 2 ... Substrate 3 ... Solar cell 4a, 4b ... Electrode pin 5 ... Fastener 6 ... Lighting opening 7 ... Back lid 31 ... Light receiving surface 32a, 32b ... Power supply electrode 33a, 33b ... Solder 34a, 34b ... Output electrode 35a, 35b: Solder 41: Pulse generating circuit 42: Pulse width adjusting circuit 43: Capacitors 44a, 44b: Output terminals

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A pulse generating means for generating a predetermined electric pulse; a power supply means for supplying power to the pulse generating means; and an electric stimulus to a predetermined part of an ear by an electric pulse from the pulse generating means. An electrode pin that provides: and an earring. 2. The earring according to claim 1, wherein said power supply means is a solar cell. 3. The solar cell is disposed inside a main body of an earring, and light is incident on a light receiving surface of the solar cell through a light opening provided in the main body. The earring according to claim 2, wherein 4. The pulse generating means is formed on a substrate, and the substrate and the solar cell are overlapped so that power from the solar cell is supplied to the pulse generating means via the substrate. The earring according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the earring is integrated. 5. The earring according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined part of the ear is any one of a starve point, a stomach point, a lung point, and a placebo point. . 6. The earring according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the electrode pin has a spherical shape.