JP2003290267A - Maxillary joint disease treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a safe maxillary joint disease treatment apparatus in which diseased parts of all factors of a maxillary joint disease can be directly touched and treated, meeting with a doctor is completed in a short time as medical equipment, every body can easily perform treatment as welfare equipment, an infrared energy irradiation means, a heat conduction means for conducting heat by touching the diseased parts and a cooling means for suppressing inflammations such as pains of muscles, swellings and redness are summarized into one. <P>SOLUTION: In the maxillary joint disease treatment apparatus, a planar heating element and an infrared radiator each having a temperature self-control function are used for thermotherapeutic means and provided as a base for simultaneously applying thermotherapy from the both, a temperature control means is equipped with temperature control due to a temperature sensor and temperature control due to said planar heating element having the temperature self-control function as a base for simultaneously performing the temperature control from the both, a cooling treatment means uses an electronic cooling element as a base for performing cooling treatment and these three means are integrally provided within a casing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for treating temporomandibular disorders, and in recent years, temporomandibular disorders tending to increase rapidly mainly in the twenties, and their symptoms are the neck and facial muscles centering on the masticatory muscles. , Sedation (pain relief) or healing (pain relief) of various symptoms for stiffness and pain in the surrounding muscles related to temporomandibular disorders, and troubles in the temporomandibular joint itself. is there. In addition, acts that may cause temporomandibular disorders in those who have latent symptoms and those who have no symptoms (vocalization with complete opening, prolonged full opening due to dental treatment, clenching in hard sports).
Relating to temporomandibular disorder treatment device that directly heats or cools the skin of the head, face, affected area, etc. as a preventive measure against Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a background, the number of patients with temporomandibular disorders is increasing rapidly, especially in the younger age group, which has become a social problem. One of the causes is the lack of development of muscles related to mandibular growth and mastication due to soft diet (hamburger generation). Furthermore, lack of tolerance to stress is also a cause. In addition, it is considered that the general public lacks knowledge about temporomandibular disorders as a reason why it has not come to the surface even though there have been many temporomandibular disorders in Japan. However, the School Health Law Enforcement Regulations were partially revised in 1994, and items related to temporomandibular disorders were supplemented in the examination of teeth and oral cavity (related to Rule 1 No. 9). Also, the awareness and knowledge about temporomandibular disorders has increased mainly in high school students, and latent temporomandibular disorders patients are beginning to surface at once. For example, all professional athletes and singers who are engaged in work that involves maximum effort (maximum clenching), act of maximal opening, or work that requires excessive movement of the temporomandibular joint are all considered to be the temporomandibular disorder reserve army. It is often featured in newspapers and television.

Temporomandibular disorders are not limited to problems in the temporomandibular joint,
It is a symptom that appears as a collection of various disorders related to human chewing food in the mouth (chewing system). Symptoms include mandibular movement limitation, mastication-related muscle sclerosis (stiffness, spasm), joint noise, temporomandibular joint pain, facial pain, earache, headache, neck pain, etc. give. There are various causes, and daily habits, habits, and psychological stress are more closely related than organic changes in joints. The prevalence of temporomandibular disorders (those with subjective or objective symptoms), which is extremely high compared to knee pain and shoulder pain. In addition, FIG.
As can be seen in the graphs of the yearly trends and age and gender distribution in patients with temporomandibular disorders,
The number increased sharply between the ages of 5 and the early 20s, and the ratio of men to women was 1: 3 to 1
It is often seen in women by pair 9. In particular, many young women have severe symptoms that they may suddenly stop their mouth one day and may not be able to eat for days.

The concept of temporomandibular disorders worldwide is as follows:
Symptoms directly originating from the temporomandibular joint are just a few and are comprehensive, such as orofacial pain (all over the shoulder) and associated disorders, including the tissues around the joint. There are various causes, and it is common knowledge about temporomandibular disorders that not only a single factor but multiple factors develop simultaneously. The so-called temporomandibular disorder is considered to be a major part of so-called headaches and jawaches whose causes have been unknown in Japan.

However, in Japan, the cause of temporomandibular disorders, that is, dentists and orthopedic surgeons of the classical concept of occlusion (occlusion) still dominate. Therefore, in Japan, as a treatment for patients with temporomandibular disorders, a treatment of scraping teeth is often performed in order to change the bite. During the usual dental treatment, the act of allowing the patient to open the maximum opening for a long time, which he or she does not normally do, becomes temporomandibular joint disorder, and the muscles of the face are already injured due to inflammation. Then, without improving and solving lifestyle factors first, it is judged only by the occlusal problem on the spot, the teeth are scraped and the balance of the face is deteriorated. There is. And, there are not a few cases in which doctors causing temporomandibular disorders and patients who have suffered from repeated treatment and diagnosis without being aware of the fact.

[0006] Nowadays, in the advanced nation of treatment of temporomandibular joints in the United States, it is taken for granted from the viewpoints of academic societies and theories that temporomandibular disorders are more largely due to factors such as stress, muscles and posture than tooth correction. Such irreversible treatments (treatments that cannot be undone again) are rarely performed, and dentists, physiotherapists, psychotherapists, etc. cooperate with each other to perform treatments centered on physical therapy. In Japan as well,
Of course, as with other diseases, the temporomandibular disorders are also proceeding in the direction of common sense in advanced foreign countries, and while the number of patients is rapidly increasing with the inclusion of concepts, it is safe, easy, and A device that can efficiently treat temporomandibular disorders and a device that can improve the treatment satisfaction of patients are indispensable, but in the field of preventive treatment, it is still behind the advanced treatment countries for temporomandibular joint treatment. .

[0007] As a common example of temporomandibular disorders,
Recently, the number of women with thin lines, such as small faces, has rapidly increased in the world, and conversely, mouth opening is large due to eating habits such as hamburger, which requires treatment and preventive treatment. Also, due to the reduced chances of using muscles around the face due to physiological phenomena (wasteful, lean, away from rice), sudden muscle movements or clenching of teeth cause muscle spasms and cause of failure. Becomes Furthermore, in entertainment, overuse of the jaw in karaoke or the like causes stress to build up, which is a cause. In the eating habits, cooked foods are so prevalent that they do not chew and may come from the teeth themselves. As for people's emotions, as you can see from the action of laughter, unlike ordinary middle-aged and elderly laughter, young people often do not change their facial expressions much and often open their mouth and make only voice, jaw In recent years, the places where you can move your body and use your facial muscles have changed significantly.

[0008] The conventional techniques include physical therapy for treatment of temporomandibular disorders such as head, face, and muscle diseases, treatment with a low-frequency electrical stimulation device, treatment with an ultrasonic treatment device, and treatment with a heating device. In the case of treatment with a heating device, use a heating device with a resistance heating element such as nichrome wire or a hot pack device using hot water or steam to warm the affected area of the skin, improve blood circulation, relax muscles The way you are doing is.

In the case of conventional treatment with a heating device, a rather high temperature is constantly applied to the affected area and is transmitted only by conduction of heat, so that it is easy to cause low-temperature burns on the skin, and long-term treatment is possible to prevent low-temperature burns. However, the relaxation of the muscle was insufficient, and there was a period of treatment. Especially for hot pack devices,
Since it can only heat the surface of the skin, it does not reach deep inside the skin. Then, heat is released and immediately affected by the outside air temperature, and the effect is less likely to appear than other treatment methods.
As a result, it could not be used as a cure for the purpose of healing or improvement like other therapies, but could be played only as an auxiliary role such as treatment with a low-frequency electrical stimulation device or an ultrasonic treatment device. .

In the case of treatment with a low-frequency electrical stimulator or an ultrasonic treatment device, a treatment method in which only two types of cycles are used, the skin adaptation due to treatment acclimation (stimulation habituation) depends on the healing time of the affected area. Was faster and was the cause of prolonging the improvement. However, treatment accustomed (stimulation accustomed)
Until recently, it is unlikely that it was the cause,
In the case of temporomandibular disorders, it has been considered that it takes a long time to improve the disease.

The reason why the treatment with the low-frequency electrical stimulation device or the ultrasonic treatment device has a sufficient therapeutic effect, but the reason why the effect cannot be exhibited and maintained is that the role of the thermal treatment with the heating device is insufficient. Therefore, it has not been possible to use a low-frequency electrical stimulation device or an ultrasonic treatment device for treatment in a wider area, and a possibility has not been found.

[0012] Conventional thermal equipment cannot reach deep inside the skin as energy, unlike the treatment with low-frequency electrical stimulation equipment or ultrasonic treatment equipment, and such equipment has existed to date. There wasn't.

As a treatment with a heating device, there is an infrared treatment device which is a noteworthy device and is expected to penetrate the thermal energy into the skin. However, since it is currently irradiated with infrared rays in a high temperature region, it is against burns of patients. Very dangerous. It is difficult to handle and requires the presence of a doctor, so it cannot be used as a consumer device. Furthermore, it was not possible to directly contact the skin or affected areas such as the head, face, and muscles for treatment, and there was no thermotherapy device that could reach deep in such a low temperature range. .

Treatment of temporomandibular joints In the case of hyperthermia treatment in developed countries, hot water or cold water of 50 ° C. or less is poured into a container as a heating device and sealed, and the sealed container is pressed against the affected part to warm or cool it. I am taking the treatment method to do. However, it is very difficult to control the temperature of hot water, and low temperature burns due to unstable temperature and burns due to hot water leaks occur frequently. Therefore, as a countermeasure, it can be dealt only by injecting hot water at a low temperature, applying a steaming towel to the affected area, or using an electric heating device at a low temperature.

[0015]

At present, there is no established physiotherapy device for temporomandibular disorders, and the affected skin is facial skin, nape of the neck, temporal skin, shoulder skin, etc. It is a very sensitive area, and if the treatment method is wrong, it may cause a secondary disaster such as burns, so it is necessary to be careful. Under these circumstances, the conventional problem is insufficient safety of the treatment device.

When using a heating device, as a way of thinking of a stable temperature with respect to the temperature of the heating element, in a conventional heating device using a resistance heating element such as a nichrome wire, the room is at room temperature (20
In the case of a heating element whose surface temperature is stable at 40 degrees, the amount of energy radiated at this time and the amount of heat generated at this time are in a state where the temperature is the same, The temperature of the heating element at 40 degrees is rapidly kept warm. Since the resistance heating element is constantly supplied with electric power, the heating element raises the temperature of the surface of the heating element in an attempt to balance heat generation and heat radiation. This results in low temperature burns to the skin. Therefore, a temperature sensor is required and the temperature must be controlled.

Further, in the conventional heating element, many heating elements are formed by nichrome wire into a planar shape, and the heating is not uniform over the entire surface, and only the heating portion of the nichrome wire has a particularly high temperature.
There is an unavoidable risk of burns due to measurement errors between the temperature sensor and the actual temperature. Furthermore, if only one sensor is used for temperature control, in the unlikely event that the sensor breaks and malfunctions, temperature control will not be possible,
You will get burned, and you will have to put in multiple layers of safety, which adds to the cost. In addition, mainly because the function of the temperature sensor is to detect and control the temperature only after the temperature rises above the set temperature, the patient gradually unknowingly becomes a low-temperature burn and feels a tingling sensation. Contact with the skin was highly discouraged.

The symptoms of temporomandibular disorders include muscle pain, swelling,
Since inflammation such as redness is likely to occur, if the treatment of hyperthermia is performed from the beginning, it may worsen the affected area. Therefore, it is necessary to check the situation and to cool the affected part once if the affected part is feverish, and it is necessary to deal with both treatment methods of heating and cooling. Therefore, a plurality of facilities are required for the treatment device, and the cost becomes too expensive. However, such a treatment device does not exist as a consumer device, but it is currently handled by using ice or a cold storage material, and both of them are dealt with such as cooling adjustment with a towel and heating adjustment. Must. Such coping is burdened by the act of treating the patient itself, and causes pain (stress) on the contrary. Therefore, for temporomandibular disorders, which are often mentally related, it is difficult to completely cure because it takes too much time because of the burdensome medical treatment.

[0019] Symptoms such as muscle tension, convulsions, and sensory paralysis often include overuse of the muscles due to abrupt movements and mental elements due to stress. In particular, stress is high, autonomic imbalance, etc. There are many muscle tensions, convulsions, and sensory paralysis, which are caused by the symptoms of. Among various treatment methods used to improve the autonomic nervous system, stimulation therapy of heat and cooling is given, which is an energy treatment method that makes it easy for patients to receive treatment in a relaxed state. Easy to do on delicate skin. However, as a conventional technique, the treatment of heating and cooling can be alternated, the safety is sufficient, and there is no treatment device as one device.

As in the prior art, it is not for the purpose of alleviating a symptom temporarily, but as an energy therapy, it reaches deep inside the affected area and sedative (analgesic) or cure (pain relief) of various symptoms.
Must be something that does. Moreover, there is an urgent need to develop a treatment device that allows patients to work naturally without stress and is useful for early treatment, and we decided to raise the following issues.

The temperature control of the equipment is accurate, the control can be kept accurate, and it is safer. Be able to uniformly heat the entire surface where the heating part contacts the skin. It is assumed that heat and cooling can be used separately for each cycle for each symptom, and it is premised that the patient does not feel uncomfortable with the treatment temperature during heat treatment and cooling treatment, and a relaxed state and environment without stress. Can be treated with. Moreover, it is premised that the consumer device does not restrain the behavior and time of the patient as much as possible, so that the treatment itself does not cause stress to the patient. And, it can be treated by contacting the affected part of all factors related to temporomandibular disorders, and it is a physical therapy device used in hospitals that does not require a doctor's witness for a long time. It should be a treatment device that can extend the treatment equipment and show the treatment ability even in consumer equipment. It is desirable that the treatment device is capable of easily performing heat treatment and cooling treatment, and is integrated into both of them. Then, it is necessary to make the treatment ability equal to that of other physiotherapy equipment, establish it as heat treatment or cooling treatment, and realize an early treatment with a combined treatment method with other physiotherapy equipment. Is.

[0022]

In view of the actual conditions of treatment and prevention of temporomandibular disorders as described above, the present invention has attracted attention as one of the effective means for the treatment and prevention of infrared rays. A device to enable easy implementation of energy irradiation treatments that utilize the infrared radiation treatment method, and to adjust the degree of the infrared treatment method at any time to respond to the symptoms of the user and individual differences in wearing sensation. As a surface heating element with a self-temperature control function, which can be contacted and irradiated with infrared rays,
Then, as a cooling treatment, focusing on the electronic cooling element, we started development and research on its material and structure, repeated various trial and error and many trial tests, and finally came here, what was once proposed. The present invention succeeds in realizing the product of the present invention having an extremely novel structure without any of the above, and in the following, the structure will be described in detail together with some typical examples.

As can be clearly understood from the representative embodiments shown in the drawings, the present invention basically has the following constitution. That is, with the content described in claim 1,
A treatment for contacting skin with a thermotherapy means, a temperature control means, and a cooling treatment means, which is a temporomandibular disorder treatment device, wherein the thermotherapy means has a self-temperature control function. Using a planar heating element having an infrared radiator and a planar heating element having a self-temperature control function, heat conduction of the planar heating element having a self-temperature control function transmitted by contact with skin and light irradiation by the infrared radiator are simultaneously heated by both. Provided as a base material for treatment, sequentially as the temperature control means, temperature control by a temperature sensor, and temperature control by a sheet heating element having the self-temperature control function, provided as a base material for simultaneously controlling the temperature of both, sequentially, As the cooling treatment means, at least one material of a metal material and a plastic material is used, and the electronic cooling element is adhered to the cooling treatment means and provided as a foundation material for cooling treatment. When the said temperature control means, and the cooling treatment unit, they three, provided to the housing to be integrated, and the gist configuration, a TMD therapy device.

The present invention based on the structure described in claim 1 includes a temporomandibular disorder treatment device having the following structure. According to the second aspect of the present invention, a sheet-like heat generating member having a self-temperature controlling function in a thermotherapy means is used as a sheet-like heat generating member in which a thin film of a conductive material ink with self-temperature control is printed on a plastic material. A body, a sheet-like heating element in which a plastic raw material and a self-heating control conductive heat-generating ink are mixed, and a sheet-like heating element in which a cloth or a non-woven fabric is impregnated with the self-temperature controlling conductive heating ink,
It is a temporomandibular disorder treatment device having as its gist a configuration including any one of these three heating elements.

The present invention, which is based on the configuration described in claim 1 and claim 2 in sequence, includes a temporomandibular disorder treatment device having the following configuration. that is,
In the contents described in claim 3, as an infrared radiation body in the thermotherapy means, an infrared radiation material in a wavelength band region most effective for the human body is thin-film printed on at least one material of a metal material and a plastic material. At least an infrared radiation body having a self-temperature control function, and an infrared radiation body obtained by mixing the infrared radiation body having the above-mentioned infrared radiation material in the wavelength band region most effective for the human body into the heating material. It is a temporomandibular disorder treatment device having as its gist a constitution comprising a thermotherapy means using one infrared radiator.

The present invention, which is based on the configuration described in claim 1 to claim 3 in sequence, includes a temporomandibular disorder treatment device having the following configuration. According to the contents of claim 4, in the temperature control means, at least one of a pressure sensor and a proximity switch is used to prevent the temperature of the therapeutic purpose from being reached when the device is unused or not attached. The temporomandibular joint treatment device is characterized in that it comprises a temperature rise timing control means for causing a skin or an affected part to reach a temperature for treatment by touching a heat generating part of a housing exterior part.

The present invention, which is based on the configuration described in claims 1 to 4 in sequence, includes a temporomandibular disorder treatment device having the following configuration. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the electrode ink is thin-film printed in a meandering shape on a plastic material having electrical insulation and heat resistance, and another surface of the electrode ink is printed. A device for treating temporomandibular disorders, characterized by comprising: a potential treatment means, which is laminated with the electrically insulating and heat-resistant plastic material for electrical insulation protection and provided with an electrode portion for potential treatment. .

The present invention, which is based on the structure described in claim 1 to claim 5 in sequence, includes a temporomandibular disorder treatment device having the following structure. That is, in the contents described in claim 6, the shape of the housing exterior part forms a bag-shaped accommodating part with a width sufficient to cover the affected part,
The exterior material is a material that easily transmits infrared rays, and is a woven fabric material and a plastic material of a cloth, and is configured as an exterior part that is an exterior part that can be adapted to unevenness using at least one material. It is a temporomandibular disorder treatment device.

The present invention, which is based on the configuration described in claim 1 to claim 5 in sequence, includes a temporomandibular disorder treatment device having the following configuration. In the contents described in claim 7, at least one of a headphone system and a handy system is used as the form of the device, and at least one of an earphone and a speaker is sequentially used in a part of the housing, and this is used. It is a temporomandibular disorder treatment device, which is configured by a music treatment method means provided as an acoustic device for music treatment.

[0030]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cross-section of a constituent material, and is a cross-sectional view constituted from claim 1 to claim 7 except claim 6. As a constitutional content, one contact portion of the casing exterior part is made to be two functional woven fabrics, and is fixed by a cloth pressing cover of 1a. Then, the potential treatment section 4 and the sheet heating element with self-temperature control function 3 are sequentially and closely arranged, and brought into contact with the aluminum alloy 6. Further, the temperature control sensor 5 is installed so as to be housed inside the aluminum alloy 6 and the heat generation temperature of the sheet heating element 3 having the self-temperature control function 3 is sensed. Then, the pressure sensor of 9 is arranged so as to be sandwiched between both ends of the aluminum alloy of 6 and the inside of the housing exterior part, and the close contact thereof is maintained by the pressure spring of 11.
When the affected part is pressed against the functional woven fabric of 2, the gap between the heat insulating material of 7 and the spring pedestal of 12 is narrowed, the spring of 11 is compressed, and both end surfaces of the aluminum alloy of 6 and the pressure sensor of 9 are pressed. There is a gap with. At this time, the pressure sensor 9 operates to raise the temperature of the sheet-like heating element with self-temperature control function 3 to reach the therapeutic target temperature. At the time of cooling, the electronic cooling element of 8 is used, and it is installed in contact with the aluminum alloy of 6, and the plus or minus of the electric current is replaced to assist the temperature rise by the sheet heating element with the self-temperature control function of 3 or to cool it. do. During cooling, heat is generated at the contact surface between the electronic cooling element 8 and the cooling fin 10 so that 10
The cooling fin works to cool it. Thirteen speakers are used when the patient wants to use music therapy together while being mentally relaxed, and in the case of treatment at home with application on consumer equipment,
The speaker is adopted as a preventive measure against the stress caused by the treatment and the fact that the treatment is considered troublesome and not treated.

FIG. 5 is a constructed sectional view of claim 6. In this case, since the casing exterior part that comes into contact with the skin is the entire exterior part, the exterior part is configured to come into uniform contact with the skin against the irregularities, and can be formed into a bag with 14 fasteners. The temporomandibular disorder treatment device of the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration as its gist, but in order to further clearly understand the configuration, an example representing the present invention will be taken up below, and specific description will be added. I will go.

[0032]

[Embodiment 1] A configuration in which one surface of a part of the housing exterior part that comes into contact with the skin is made of a functional woven fabric is shown in 2 of FIG.
This is a material with moisture absorption and antibacterial properties, and it may be a photocatalyst-processed woven fabric or a woven fabric with moisture absorption and antibacterial properties on the material itself. The product name Breath Thermo (Toyobo Co., Ltd.) is used as a material suitable for preventing heat, absorbing sweat, and releasing sweat.

Then, the constitution as the cooling treatment means by adhering the electronic cooling element with at least one of the metal material and the plastic material is shown in 8 of FIG. This is a semiconductor element called a Peltier element or a frigitator element, and both sides are switched to fever and cooling by switching the plus and minus of the current, and this is a treatment device for treatment of temporomandibular disorders by alternating heat and cooling. In addition, it is indispensable, and since the Peltier element and the frizzister element have a low DC voltage, they can be utilized in the medical field, and can also serve to shorten the temperature rise time and assist stable temperature supply when heat is generated. , It was adopted because it can deal with unevenness of the affected area by combining small electronic cooling elements such as tiles.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a constitution in which the sheet heating element with a self-temperature control function of 3, which is mentioned in claim 2, is used and which is used as a thermotherapy means. This is a thin film of polyethylene terephthalate resin film 32 made of a plastic material. A pair of 33 electrode inks are comb-shaped and thin film printed, and the electrode inks extending inwardly in parallel from the pair of 33 electrode inks. From the top, 31 is printed with thin film of self-heating temperature controlled heating ink so as to be overcoated, and another 32 of polyethylene terephthalate resin film is laminated for insulation protection and the whole surface is turned inside out. It is a figure of a flat heating element. Further, as other constituent elements of the heating element, a sheet-like heating element in which a plastic raw material and a conductive heating ink with self-temperature control are mixed, and a cloth or a non-woven fabric are impregnated with the conductive heating ink with self-temperature control. Among the sheet heating elements, the sheet heating element produced by any manufacturing method may be used. As the plastic material, one that is compatible with living organisms is desirable, and as an example other than the polyethylene terephthalate resin film used for 32, polyolefin resin or polytetrafluoroethylene resin (PT
A film made of FE) may also be used.

Next, the contents given in claim 3 are as follows.
FIG. 4 shows the structure of the material included in the heat generating material of the sheet heating element having the self-temperature control function. this is,
At the exothermic temperature within the range of 30 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius, using a radiating material that emits the most infrared rays in the wavelength range of 5 to 14 microns, the planar heating element with self-temperature control function It is the figure of the infrared radiator mixed in, and the infrared radiator which carried out the thin film printing to the at least 1 material of the metal material and the plastic material besides may be used. Further, a method of arranging the sheet heating elements having the self-temperature control function of 3 next to each other and forming a multi-layer type to arbitrarily change the radiation amount of infrared rays may be used.

As a constitution of the sheet heating element with a self-temperature control function of 3, a combination of 15 electrically insulating resin, 16 semiconductor resin, 17 conductive resin, and 18 infrared radiation material is used. (A) is a state schematic diagram at the time of energization heat generation, and (B) is a state schematic diagram at the time of reaching a preset temperature. Three
The self-temperature-controlling energizing heat-generating ink 1 is a mixture of 15 electrically insulating resins, 16 semiconductor resins, 17 conductive resins, 18 infrared radiation materials, etc., and is supplied with electricity. It generates heat. In the case of (A), when the temperature is low, the resins are in contact with or close to each other,
When electricity is applied, electricity flows and heat is generated. 1 at the time of this fever
The infrared radiation material of No. 8 also rises in temperature and emits infrared radiation.

On the other hand, in the case of (B), when the temperature reaches the set temperature, the heat-generating ink 31 with self-temperature control undergoes thermal expansion and its volume increases. As a result, the gap between the 16 semiconductor resin and the 17 conductive resin in the 15 electrically insulating resin widens, and the current stops flowing. The 31 self-heating current-carrying ink with self-temperature control repeatedly expands and contracts between the semiconductor resin 16 and the conductive resin 17 according to the outside air temperature and the resistance value of the heating element itself to control the current amount and the heating temperature by itself. ing. The safety against temperature control was increased by using the self-heating temperature-controlled heating ink in these sheet heating elements. Therefore, it is a condition that this self-temperature control function is the most stable, and as the material of the surface heating element with self-temperature control function 3 of this condition, the electrification with self-temperature control manufactured by Mitake Electronics Co., Ltd. Heated ink is used. (JP-A-10-183039)

Next, the contents of claim 4 are as follows.
It is described at 9 in FIG. This is because at least one of a pressure sensor and a proximity switch is used in the temperature control means so that the temperature of the therapeutic purpose is not reached when the device is unused or not attached, and the heat generating part of the housing exterior part is used. FIG. 4 is a diagram including a temperature raising timing control unit that makes the skin and the affected part touch the target temperature for treatment. This means that the surface temperature is already the therapeutic temperature before touching the affected area.
The contact with the skin keeps the heat-generating part warm, and the heat-generating body tries to balance the heat generation and the heat radiation to raise the temperature and cause low-temperature burns. Even if it has a high-performance heating element or a sensitive temperature sensor, it cannot prevent the heating element from rising once. Moreover, since there are individual differences in the treatment temperature setting, and some feel that the normal treatment temperature is hot, it is safest to reach the treatment temperature by touching the skin or the affected area. Therefore, it is decided to use the timing control means for controlling the temperature rising timing by at least one of the pressure sensor and the proximity switch.

Next, the contents of claim 5 are as follows.
It is described in FIG. This is a thin film of 41 electrode ink printed in a meandering shape on the upper surface of one 42 polyethylene terephthalate resin film, and the printed surface of the electrode ink on another 42 polyethylene terephthalate resin film. It is a figure which consists of an electric potential treatment part which adhere | attached and was electrically protected. This is because the electric potential treatment method is already known as medical treatment, and a potential difference is created around the living body.
It is known to exert effects on cells and blood in the body and improve the autonomic nervous system such as stiff shoulders and headaches.
In these conventional potential treatment devices, the potential member usually uses a single nichrome wire or a thin metal foil.
The present invention uses an electric potential portion formed by thin film printing with 41 electrode inks (trade name, Dautite, Fujikura Kasei) as the electrode portion, and is characterized in that it is finished as an ultrathin electric potential portion without fear of disconnection. Therefore, it is possible to superimpose the sheet heating element with self-temperature control shown in FIG. 2 in the same size and to assemble it, and the combined thickness of the potential portion and the heating element can be set within about 2 mm. The plastic material used for the film is preferably one that is compatible with living bodies, and as an example other than the polyethylene terephthalate resin film used for 42, a film made of polyolefin resin or polytetrafluoroethylene resin (PTFE) may be used. Therefore, we decided to use a potential treatment method that is already publicly known and safe and that can easily remove pain such as chronic stiffness and headache associated with temporomandibular disorders.

Next, the contents of claim 6 are as follows.
It is described in FIG. This is one in which the shape of the housing exterior part is formed into a bag-shaped accommodation part, and the exterior material is
It is a material that easily transmits infrared rays, and is the same as the functional woven fabric described in 2 of FIG. This is a material with moisture absorption and antibacterial properties, and it may be a photocatalyst-processed woven fabric or a woven fabric with moisture absorption and antibacterial properties on the material itself. As long as it is a material that prevents heat, absorbs sweat, and dissipates, In addition, a plastic material that can adapt to unevenness may be used.
Then, by using a means for closing the entire outer periphery of the housing exterior part with 14 fasteners and forming a bag-like shape, it is possible to replace the exterior part of the housing when it becomes dirty. In addition to the 14 fasteners, a method of maintaining the bag shape with a strong magic tape (trade name) may be used. Furthermore, by forming it in a bag-shaped housing, it is possible to change the size of the entire housing in various sizes, and it is possible to perform combined treatment such as heating, cooling, and electric potential widely around the shoulders, back, and waist. Therefore, various factors associated with temporomandibular disorders can be eliminated.

Next, the contents of claim 7 are as follows.
It is described in FIG. This is a 19-headphone diagram, in which two housings are connected, the housing is held by supporting the head, and the temporal or facial cheeks are sandwiched from both sides to treat heat and cooling. To do. Alternatively, a handy type may be used in which the housing is directly held by the hand and brought into contact with the skin of the head, the cheeks of the face, the affected area or the like to treat heat or cooling. Further, the controller of 20 is used as a controller that performs all the controls in claims 1 to 7. Then, using earphones or speakers for a part of this housing, this is combined with heat treatment and cooling treatment,
By not only removing stress in treatment of temporomandibular disorders by strengthening mental concentration in sports, warming up masseter muscles, chorus, vocalization, relaxation of muscles during announcement, by using music treatment method, it is possible to use it with consumer equipment. It can be used for various purposes such as utilization of.

[0042]

[Embodiment 2] Next, an embodiment as an actual treatment method will be described. Infrared irradiation, heating, and cooling for treatment of temporomandibular disorders, the device of the present invention is concentrated on the masseter and temporal muscles and their induction points (triggers) and temporomandibular joints, which are described in FIGS. 7 and 8. Apply, irradiate, heat, and cool. The specialists (dentist or physiotherapist) will decide the irradiation, heating, and cooling times according to the symptoms. In addition, as a preventive far-infrared irradiation, the same site as above can be used for 15 minutes to 3 minutes.
After 0 minutes of irradiation, heating, and cooling, start the subsequent actions (sports, vocal training, dental treatment, etc.). Irradiation, heating,
It is desirable to ask a specialist (dentist or physiotherapist) to determine the cooling time, because there are individual differences depending on the blood flow status and constitution. Furthermore, the device of the present invention as a combination treatment method is epoch-making by performing conventional treatment after activating molecules in the living body by the combined use of the device of the present invention without denying conventional treatment equipment. You can expect a great effect.

In the conventional physiotherapy device, each physical stimulus has been taken into the body for treatment.
However, it is considered that the living body retains the state for about one week because the initial response is drastically reduced due to the adaptive reaction to the physical stimulation within a few days. Therefore, it is important to carry out cycle treatment of about 3 kinds of effective physical stimuli at intervals of about 10 days, and if treatment of the temporomandibular joint is supposed to be performed once a day, ultrasonic therapy (3
~ 5 MHz, 1 minute 3 minutes) for 10 days, then infrared thermotherapy (15-30 minutes, once) for 10 days, and finally low frequency electrical stimulation therapy (TENS or MENS, 1)
(15 to 30 minutes at each place) for 10 days to form one cycle of treatment, which is repeated.

[0044]

The device of the present invention, as a mechanism of action and effects, irradiates, heats, and cools the masticatory muscles, temporomandibular joints, and the tissues around them, and as a result, relaxation of the muscles and
I had analgesia and pain relief. Then, blood vessels and nerves around the temporomandibular joint, and lymph nodes are irradiated, heated and cooled to promote circulation of blood and lymph, and metabolism of these substances is activated. It mainly activates the molecular movement of the soft tissue by the resonance phenomenon, and the micromassage is performed in the living body.
As a result, muscle spasm, which causes temporomandibular disorders, can be reduced or eliminated. Further, it is used for warming up before the start of a sports competition, for preparing muscle and joint soft tissue before practicing vocalization at the maximum opening, and for treating before dental treatment, thereby preventing the onset of temporomandibular disorders. In sports, in particular, it is possible to improve the overall ability because the back teeth can be squeezed to the maximum extent.

Infrared rays used in the device of the present invention are light rays that organisms have been accustomed to since the sun, and are safe. There is almost no possibility of low-temperature burns, and among the infrared rays, the self-temperature that irradiates a large amount of infrared rays with a wavelength of 5 to 14 microns that matches the natural frequencies of the various molecules that make up the living body. For the first time, a planar heating element with a control function has been applied to a thermotherapy device for temporomandibular disorders. The infrared rays of 5 to 14 microns have the highest depth of light in the infrared wavelength range, and the infrared energy itself is directly converted into the kinetic energy of molecules in the living body. Increase activity. By intensively irradiating this light, cell activity is enhanced by soft deep heating and micro-massaging effect at the molecular level, and pain or muscle stiffness is removed or soothed. Then, the stiffness of the temporal muscle and masseter muscle, which is the main symptom of temporomandibular arthrosis, the induction points thereof, and the entire temporomandibular joint are intensively treated as shown in FIGS. Although urgent removal is important, the device of the present invention can treat these three points uniformly. Furthermore, since it is possible to directly contact the skin, it is possible to treat the muscles under the hair, mainly the temporal muscle, which cannot be treated by the low-frequency electrical stimulation device and the ultrasonic treatment device.

As a treatment for temporomandibular disorders, low frequency electrical stimulation equipment and ultrasonic treatment equipment are currently used. Each time the living body is exposed to these low-frequency stimuli and ultrasonic stimuli, it becomes accustomed to the stimuli, adapts to them, and its efficacy decreases. Therefore, by using the device of the present invention for the purpose of activating cells together with a time lag, it is possible to prevent the living body from becoming accustomed to physical stimulation and perform more effective treatment. In addition, the device of the present invention can be used in combination with any physical therapy means, so that the treatment period can be expected to be shortened.

The apparatus of the present invention is sufficient as an infrared irradiation treatment and a heat conduction treatment by heat, and is not an auxiliary role of other treatment methods as a heat treatment method, but rather infrared radiation treatment and heat treatment itself. Since it is possible to perform the treatment at an intermediate position between the treatment cycle using the low-frequency electrical stimulation device and the treatment cycle using the ultrasonic treatment device at the same position as the method, excessive treatment with each conventional treatment device is possible. It is now possible to prevent medical accidents caused by the expectation of an unreasonable effect.

Since the apparatus of the present invention can be changed to a headphone type specification, music therapy can be used together by equipping a speaker and earphones, and a general relaxation can be obtained. And since the face is very delicate unlike other parts, and because temporomandibular disorders have a considerable influence on psychological factors such as stress, irradiation with soft energy, heating, Cooling, a treatment in the sense of so-called comfort, is essential, and the device of the present invention takes this point into consideration. It is less likely to cause psychological stress due to the treatment to the patient, and thus the therapeutic effect is high.

For temporomandibular disorders, which are often mentally related, it is most important to prevent them on a daily basis, and this temporomandibular disorder treatment device can sufficiently cope with physical therapy and mental therapy.
Moreover, by making the casing exterior part into a bag shape, it becomes possible to simultaneously treat all the factors related to temporomandibular disorders such as the indirect jaw part, each muscle related thereto, the affected part of nerve factors, the acupuncture point, The treatment range of each medical device has been expanded.

In the treatment of infrared irradiation in the low temperature region, the effect is low unless both the heat conducting means for transmitting heat by contact with the affected part and the light emitting means by infrared radiation effective for the human body are simultaneously provided. Also, at that time, if the irradiation power of infrared rays is insufficient,
In order to compensate for this, in the case of the heat conduction means by contact, the heat conduction itself is often made too strong, eventually resulting in the possibility of low temperature burns. However, the device of the present invention is such that the heating element itself emits sufficient infrared radiation while controlling the self-temperature, so that the self-temperature controlling heating element in the low temperature region transmits heat by contact with the affected part, and the human body. It has become possible to simultaneously perform both effective and effective infrared ray irradiation means at the same time and more safely.

The device of the present invention is an extension of the physiotherapy device used in the hospital, and is a treatment device which can sufficiently exert the treatment ability even in the consumer device. In addition, when used in a hospital, it is a treatment device that does not require a doctor's witness for a long time, and anyone can easily perform heat treatment and cooling treatment, and both treatment devices are integrated into one. Then, it should be possible to establish the treatment capability of other physiotherapy devices in the same way, establish it as a heat treatment or cooling treatment, and realize an early treatment with a combined treatment method with other physiotherapy devices. Overcome a task that must be done.

As described above, the device for treating temporomandibular disorders according to the present invention can achieve the intended purpose uniformly due to its novel structure, is easy to manufacture, and is relatively inexpensive. It is extremely simple and easy in terms of handling operability such as wearing on the affected part of the human body and combined use with equipment for other treatments. Changes in various parts of the human body due to changes such as, especially against the phenomenon of muscle fatigue and temporomandibular joint deterioration of modern people that frequently occur due to overwork and mental stress, are highly evaluated as a therapeutic or preventive device,
It is expected that it will be widely used and popularized by a wide range of people regardless of sex, age and purpose.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall enlarged cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a constituent material.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the back surface of the sheet heating element with a self-temperature control function, which is manufactured according to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an electric potential treatment unit manufactured according to FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic view of a heat generating portion of a planar heating element with a self-temperature control function, in which (A) is a state when heat is generated by energization,
(B) is a state when the set temperature is reached.

FIG. 5 shows the temporomandibular disorder treatment device manufactured according to FIG.
Furthermore, it is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows the temporomandibular disorder treatment device manufactured according to FIG.
It is a front view showing an example of a state of use.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the regions of each muscle involved in treatment of temporomandibular disorders.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing important treatment points related to treatment of temporomandibular disorders.

FIG. 9 is a graph of temporomandibular disorder patients, (A) shows the annual transition, and (B) shows the distribution by age and sex.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Case exterior 1a Fabric holding cover 2 Functional woven fabric 3 Sheet heating element with self-temperature control function 31 Electric ink with self-temperature control 32 Polyethylene terephthalate resin film 33 electrode ink 4 Electric potential treatment department 41 electrode ink 42 Polyethylene terephthalate resin film 5 Temperature control sensor 6 Aluminum alloy 7 insulation 8 Thermoelectric cooler 9 Pressure sensor 10 cooling fins 11 Pressure spring 12 spring pedestal 13 speakers 14 fasteners 15 Electrically insulating resin 16 Semiconductor resin 17 Conductive resin 18 Infrared radiation material 19 headphones 20 controller

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) A61M 21/00 310 A61M 21/00 310 A61N 1/10 A61N 1/10 5/06 5/06 A

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A treatment apparatus for treating temporomandibular disorders, which comprises contacting the skin for treatment and is composed of a heat treatment means, a temperature control means, and a cooling treatment means, wherein the heat treatment means comprises: Using a planar heating element having a self-temperature control function and an infrared radiator, heat conduction of the planar heating element having a self-temperature control function transmitted by contact with skin and light irradiation by the infrared radiator. , Which is provided as a base material for simultaneously performing thermotherapy on both sides, and in turn, as the temperature control means, temperature control by means of a temperature sensor and temperature control by means of a planar heating element having the self-temperature control function are made at the same time for both base materials. As a cooling treatment means, at least one material of a metal material and a plastic material is used in sequence, and an electronic cooling element is adhered to the cooling treatment means, which is provided as a base material for cooling treatment. An apparatus for treating temporomandibular disorders, comprising: the thermotherapy means, the temperature control means, the cooling therapy means, and the three, which are integrally provided in a housing. 2. A thin film of a conductive heat-generating ink with self-temperature control on a plastic material as a sheet heating element having a self-temperature control function in a thermotherapy means for treating by contacting with the skin. Printed sheet heating element, sheet heating element that is a mixture of plastic raw materials and self-heating control conductive ink, and sheet material or non-woven fabric impregnated with self-heating control heating ink The temporomandibular disorder treatment device according to claim 1, comprising a heating element and one of the three heating elements. 3. A method for treating by contacting with skin, wherein an infrared radiation material in a wavelength band region most effective for a human body is used as an infrared radiation body in a thermal treatment means, and a metal material or a plastic material is used. Mixing at least one of the infrared radiation material printed with a thin film and the infrared radiation material in the wavelength band region most effective for the human body into the heating material of the planar heating element having a self-temperature control function. 3. The temporomandibular disorder treatment device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a thermotherapy means using at least one infrared radiator. 4. Treatment for contacting the skin, wherein at least one of a pressure sensor and a proximity switch is used in the temperature control means, and the treatment is performed when the device is unused or not attached. 4. The temperature rising timing control means for preventing the temperature from reaching the target temperature and allowing the skin or the affected area to touch the heat-generating part of the housing exterior part to reach the target temperature for the treatment. Treatment device for temporomandibular disorders. 5. A treatment for contacting skin with a plastic material having electrical insulation and heat resistance, comprising:
Electrode ink is printed in a thin film in a meandering shape, and the printed surface of the electrode ink is pasted with another sheet of the electrically insulating and heat-resistant plastic material for electrical insulation protection and potential treatment. 6. The temporomandibular disorder treatment device according to claim 1, which comprises an electric potential treatment means including the electrode part. 6. A treatment for contacting with skin, wherein the outer casing has a bag-shaped accommodating portion having a width sufficient to cover the affected area. Infrared
The temporomandibular joint according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the temporomandibular joint is made of a material that is easily passed through, and is an exterior part that is an exterior part that is adaptable to unevenness using at least one material of a textile material and a plastic material Treatment device. 7. A treatment for contacting skin with at least one of a headphone type and a handy type as a form of the device, and at least one of an earphone and a speaker in a part of a housing in order. The device for treating temporomandibular disorders according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which comprises a music treatment method means that uses one of them as an acoustic device for music treatment.