JP2004321242A - Apparatus and method for promoting circulation of cerebrospinal fluid and dementia delaying device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and method by which the circulation of a cerebrospinal fluid can be promoted, and to provide a dementia delaying device that delays the progress of doter. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus 100 for promoting circulation of cerebrospinal fluid is provided with a stimulus imparting section 101 which imparts a physical stimulus to a prescribed stimulation portion 11 of an organism and a control section 103 which controls the imparted amount of the physical stimulus so that a slope is formed toward the sacrum of the organism from the cervical vertebrae of the organism in a prescribed physical quantity of the cerebrospinal fluid. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting device and method for promoting cerebrospinal fluid circulation, and a blur retarding device for delaying the progress of blur.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional side view of the central nervous system for explaining the location of cerebrospinal fluid. In FIG. 3, the central nervous system, that is, the brain and spinal cord, which are one of the important tissues for the living body, are wrapped in a membrane called cerebrospinal membrane. The cerebral meninges have a three-layer structure consisting of a dura 203, an arachnoid 202, and a pia 204. The dura mater 203 is the outermost and is particularly thick and durable. In the spinal cord, the dura mater (spinal dura 203-1) is clearly divided into two inner and outer layers (outer lobe and inner lobe), and in the brain, Although the two dura maters (brain dura 203-2) are fused at most places, they are divided into two parts inside and outside at a small point, and there is a venous sinus or a nerve trunk between them. I do. The arachnoid film 202 is in close contact with the film on the inner side (inner lobe) of the dura mater 203, and the soft film 204 is the innermost film. Both the arachnoid 202 and the buffy coat 204 are thin films, of which the buffy coat 204 is attached to the surface of the brain or spinal cord, and if there is a groove on those surfaces, it penetrates to the bottom of the groove and covers the surface, The arachnoid 202 extends over the opposite shore near its entrance without entering the ditch. Therefore, between the arachnoid membrane 202 and the buffy coat 204, there is a cavity called the subarachnoid space 201, and depending on the location, there is a large cavity called the buffy coat. The cerebrospinal fluid 200 exists in the subarachnoid space 201.
[0003]
The cerebrospinal fluid 200 is about 125 to 150 ml for an adult, about 25 ml of which is in the ventricle and the rest is in the cerebral cistern and the subarachnoid space 201. In addition, when divided into a brain part and a spinal part, about の of the cerebrospinal fluid 200 is in the brain part, and the rest is in the spinal part.
[0004]
Cerebrospinal fluid 200 is mainly produced in the choroid plexus in the ventricle, but is also produced in the ventricular ependymal cells and intracranial subarachnoid space. Its production is about 18-24 ml per hour and about 500-600 ml per day. On the other hand, the cerebrospinal fluid 200 is absorbed into the main sinus via the arachnoid villi protruding from the subarachnoid space 201 into the sinus. The cerebrospinal fluid 200 is also absorbed through the capillaries of the cerebral pia, the choroid plexus, the walls of the ventricle, the brain and spinal subarachnoid space, the arachnoid around the cranial nerve sheath and the spinal nerve root, and the like.
[0005]
Since the production and absorption of cerebrospinal fluid 200 are balanced under physiological conditions, the amount of absorption is equal to the amount of production. The production amount of cerebrospinal fluid 200 decreases when the cerebrospinal fluid pressure is abnormally elevated or at hypothermia. However, from the cerebrospinal fluid volume and the production amount per day, the cerebrospinal fluid 200 generally has 3 to It is believed to have been substituted four times. In addition, absorption has several times the reserve capacity of normal absorption and is pressure-dependent. In humans, absorption begins at 68 mm water column and increases at a rate of 7.6 μl / min / mm with increasing pressure, but equilibrates with production at 112 mm water column.
[0006]
This cerebrospinal fluid 200 provides nutrients to the brain, removes substances produced and functioning in nerve cells and their metabolites from extracellular fluid, and rapidly releases substances harmful to the central nervous system in the cerebrospinal fluid. It has the effect of weakening its effect by dilution. In addition, the cerebrospinal fluid 200 also has a function of reducing the weight by floating the brain of 1 kg or more.
[0007]
Because of this function of the cerebrospinal fluid 200, its circulation is very important.
[0008]
The cerebrospinal fluid 200 circulates periodically, and the cerebrospinal fluid 200 generated in the lateral ventricular choroid plexus first flows to the third ventricle 211 through the interventricular hole 210. In the third ventricle 211, it merges with the cerebrospinal fluid 200 generated in the third ventricular choroid plexus 212, and flows through the middle cerebral aqueduct 213 to the fourth ventricle 214. In the fourth ventricle 214, it merges with the cerebrospinal fluid 200 generated in the fourth ventricular choroid plexus 215, and flows into the subarachnoid space 201 through the fourth ventricular median opening 216 and the fourth ventricular outer opening. . In the subarachnoid space 201, a portion of the cerebrospinal fluid 200 ascends toward the superior sagittal sinus 217, while in the subarachnoid space 201, a portion of the cerebrospinal fluid 200 descends around the spinal cord. . Circulation velocity in the spinal cord is higher in the descending than in the ascending. And finally, it is absorbed at each of the above-mentioned absorption sites (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).
[0009]
In addition, the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid 200 decreases with aging (for example, see Non-Patent Document 2), and particularly in patients with Alzheimer's dementia, the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid 200 further decreases (for example, see Non-Patent Document 2). 3). In Alzheimer-type dementia patients, senile plaques are formed by aggregation of a protein called Aβ protein between neurons in the cerebral cortex (for example, see Non-Patent Document 4). It is thought to be caused by a decrease in waste metabolism (for example, see Non-Patent Document 5).
[0010]
Thus, in Non-Patent Document 5, when the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid 200 was improved in a patient with Alzheimer's dementia using a device called a shunt, the cognitive function of the patient was improved.
[0011]
The shunt is a device used for a surgical operation (shunt operation) of a patient with hydrocephalus in which the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid 200 is reduced, and includes a shunt valve and a tube. The shunt operation is a bypass operation that newly creates a flow path of the cerebrospinal fluid 200, and is a ventricular-peritoneal shunt that flows the cerebrospinal fluid 200 from the ventricle to the abdominal cavity, and the cerebrospinal fluid 200 from the ventricle to a large vein near the heart. And a lumbar-peritoneal shunt for flowing cerebrospinal fluid 200 in the spinal cord to the abdominal cavity. For example, a ventricle-peritoneal shunt uses a shunt composed of a short ventricular tube, a long peritoneal tube, and a shunt valve provided between the two tubes for unidirectional flow of cerebrospinal fluid 200. A hole (bar hole) with a diameter of about 1.5 cm was made in the skull, a ventricular tube was inserted into the ventricle from there, a shunt valve was implanted under the head, and an abdominal tube was passed under the neck through the chest under the chest. This is a surgical procedure that leads to the abdominal cavity and approximately from the side of the navel to the abdominal cavity.
[0012]
In addition, there is a technique for creating a new exit in the ventricle of a patient with hydrocephalus using a neuroendoscope.
[0013]
[Non-patent document 1]
Kiyoshi Kobayashi, "Clinical Biochemistry of Psychiatry and Neurological Diseases", Kongo Publishing, 1985.1.10, pp. 17-23
[Non-patent document 2]
C. May, et al. "Cerebrospinal fluid production is reduced in healthaging," Neurology, 1990, Vol. 40, pp. 500-503
[Non-Patent Document 3]
GD. Silverberg, et al. "CSF production is reduced in dementia of the Alzheimer's type", Neurology, 2001, Vol. 57 pp. 1763-1766
[Non-patent document 4]
S. Gautier and JL. Cummings (edition) "Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Annual 2002", Martin Dunitz, 2002
[Non-Patent Document 5]
GD. Silverberg, et al. "Assessment of low-flow CSF drainage as a treatment for AD", Neurology, 2002, Vol. 59 pp. 1139-1145
[0014]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, as described above, cerebrospinal fluid has an important function, and it is important to promote its circulation. In particular, when the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid is decreased due to aging or when the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid is further decreased as in patients with dementia, promoting the circulation is particularly important. is there. However, the promotion of cerebrospinal fluid circulation was conventionally achieved by surgery, as described in the case of hydrocephalus patients, so it was not possible without a doctor to perform the procedure, and the cerebrospinal fluid circulation was easily promoted. Is difficult to realize.
[0015]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device that can relatively easily and non-invasively promote cerebrospinal fluid circulation. . And it aims at providing the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion method used for this cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion apparatus. It is another object of the present invention to provide a blur retardation device that delays the progress of blur by promoting the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting device according to claim 1 includes a stimulating unit that applies a physical stimulus to a predetermined part of a living body, and a direction from the cervical spine to the sacrum to a predetermined physical quantity of the cerebrospinal fluid. And a control unit for controlling the amount of the physical stimulus so as to form a gradient. In a cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting method according to a fifth aspect, a physical stimulus is applied to a predetermined portion of a living body so that a predetermined physical quantity of the cerebrospinal fluid forms a gradient from the cervical vertebra to the sacrum.
[0017]
In the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device and the method having such a configuration, a physical stimulus is applied by the stimulating unit so as to form a gradient from the cervical vertebra to the sacrum to the predetermined physical amount of the cerebrospinal fluid, so that the predetermined physical amount The gradient promotes cerebrospinal fluid circulation. The gradient is formed locally or over a certain range according to the number of predetermined parts and the physical quantity to be provided.
[0018]
In the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting device according to claim 2, in the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting device according to claim 1, the stimulating unit is a temperature applying member that applies a temperature stimulus to a predetermined part of a living body. .
[0019]
In the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device having such a configuration, a temperature gradient is formed in the cerebrospinal fluid by the temperature imparting member, so that the cerebrospinal fluid circulation is promoted by convection.
[0020]
Also, in the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting device according to claim 3, in the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting device according to claim 1, the stimulating unit is an electrical stimulating member that applies electrical stimulation to a predetermined part of a living body. .
[0021]
In the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device having such a configuration, a potential gradient is formed in the cerebrospinal fluid by the electrical stimulation member, so that it acts on ionic substances in the cerebrospinal fluid to promote the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid.
[0022]
Furthermore, in the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting device according to claim 4, in the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting device according to claim 1, the stimulating unit is a pressurizing member that pressurizes a predetermined part of a living body. .
[0023]
In the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting device having such a configuration, a pressure gradient is formed in the cerebrospinal fluid by the pressurizing member, so that the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid is promoted.
[0024]
The blur retardation device according to claim 6 is a stimulating unit that applies a physical stimulus to a predetermined part of a living body, and the physical stimulating unit is configured to form a gradient in a predetermined physical quantity of cerebrospinal fluid from the cervical vertebra to the sacrum. And a control unit for controlling the amount of stimulation.
[0025]
In the blur retardation device having such a configuration, a physical stimulus is applied to the predetermined physical quantity of the cerebrospinal fluid by the stimulating unit so as to form a gradient from the cervical vertebra to the sacrum. Circulation is promoted. As a result, the progress of the blur can be delayed.
[0026]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting device and a living body site that gives a physical stimulus. FIG. 1A shows the side of a human body, and FIG. 1B shows the back of the human body and the configuration of a cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting device.
[0027]
In FIG. 1, the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device 100 includes a stimulating unit 101, a driving unit 102, a control unit 103, a storage unit 104, a display unit 105, and an input unit 106.
[0028]
The stimulus applying unit 101 is a member that applies a predetermined physical stimulus to the stimulating site 11 of the human body 10 that is an example of a living body, and an appropriate member described below is used by the predetermined physical stimulus. The stimulus imparting unit 101 is arranged at a predetermined site in a living body where the physical stimulus substantially acts on the cerebrospinal fluid, at a position where the physical stimulus output from the stimulus imparting unit 101 acts. In addition, since the stimulating unit 101 is directly or indirectly disposed on or near the stimulating site 11, the stimulating unit 11 and the stimulating unit 101 are represented by the same symbol in FIG. The predetermined site of the living body is determined according to the type of the physical stimulus, the amount of the applied physical stimulus, the number of the stimulating sites 11, and the like, and the cerebrospinal fluid is as described in [Prior Art]. Since the blood is circulating in the skull and the spine, and these are located on the midline 12 of the human body 10, the predetermined part of the living body is preferably on or near the midline 12 of the human body. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, the predetermined part of the living body is a stimulating part A11-A which is the upper back (neck) on the midline 12, and a stimulating part B11-B which is slightly above the center of the back on the midline 12. And a stimulus site C11-C at the lower back on the midline 12. Although FIG. 1 shows three places, the present invention is not limited to this, and any number of one place, two places, or four places or more may be used. The driving unit 102 is a circuit that is connected to the stimulus applying unit 101 and drives the stimulus applying unit 101.
[0029]
The control unit 103 controls the drive unit 102 to control the stimulus amount, the stimulus time, the stimulus timing, and the like of the physical stimulus applied by the stimulus applying unit 101 so as to form a gradient from the cervical vertebra to the sacrum in the predetermined physical quantity of the cerebrospinal fluid. This is a circuit that is controlled via a microprocessor, for example. The storage unit 104 is a circuit that stores a control program for controlling each unit of the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device 100, data necessary for executing the control program, data during execution of the control program, and the like. For example, a RAM (Random) Access Memory) or a memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory).
[0030]
The input unit 106 is a device for inputting power on / off, operation mode, operation start, operation stop, operation time, and the like to the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device 100, and includes, for example, a plurality of push button switches. You. The display unit 105 is a device that displays input contents input by the input unit 106 and displays an operation state of the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device 100 and the like, and includes, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic EL display. is there.
[0031]
Hereinafter, the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting device will be further described with reference to examples of physical stimulation. First, a case where a temperature stimulus is used as an example of a physical stimulus will be described.
(Temperature stimulation)
In the case of using a temperature stimulus as an example of the physical stimulus, the stimulus imparting unit 101 is a member that gives heat energy to the cerebrospinal fluid at a predetermined part of the living body to make the cerebrospinal fluid higher or lower than the normal temperature. A temperature applying member is used. The temperature applying member may be a member that raises or lowers the normal temperature by directly applying heat to the cerebrospinal fluid, or by attaching to a living body to raise or lower the temperature of the skin surface above or below the body temperature. A member that conducts heat to the cerebrospinal fluid to indirectly heat or lower the cerebrospinal fluid above or below the normal temperature may be used. Examples of the temperature applying member include a microwave generation source, a far-infrared ray generation source, and a Peltier device.
[0032]
In general, cerebrospinal fluid production decreases during hypothermia. Under physiological conditions, the production and absorption are in equilibrium, so that at hypothermia, the absorption of cerebrospinal fluid also decreases. As a result, the overall cerebrospinal fluid circulation will be reduced. Therefore, during hypothermia, the ability to nourish the brain and remove metabolites / waste products is reduced. Conversely, during hyperthermia, the cerebrospinal fluid circulation increases and the ability to nourish the brain and remove metabolites / waste products increases. Therefore, even if the predetermined site of the living body to which the temperature stimulus is applied is a single predetermined site, there is a certain effect in promoting the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid.
[0033]
Also, since cerebrospinal fluid is mainly composed of water, convection occurs when heat energy is applied so as to generate a temperature gradient, rather than uniformly when heat energy is applied. Because of the traffic, the convection further promotes the cerebrospinal fluid circulation.
[0034]
For this reason, as a more preferred embodiment, the predetermined parts of the living body are the above-described stimulation part A11-A, stimulation part B11-B, and stimulation part C11-C even in the case of thermal stimulation.
[0035]
Then, as the first operation mode of the heating method, the control unit 103 controls the temperature applying member via the driving unit 102 according to the control program so that the temperature of the cervical vertebra is higher than that of the sacrum. That is, the control unit 103 performs control such that the heating amount of the stimulation site A11-A> the heating amount of the stimulation site B11-B> the heating amount of the stimulation site C11-C. By performing such control, a temperature gradient can be formed in the cerebrospinal fluid in the spinal cord from a high temperature to a low temperature in accordance with the flow direction of the cerebrospinal fluid in the spinal cord, so that the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid is promoted.
[0036]
Further, as the second operation mode of the heating method, the control unit 103 controls the temperature applying member via the driving unit 102 according to the control program in a case where the temperature of the cervical vertebra is higher than the temperature of the sacrum and a case where the temperature of the cervical vertebra is lower than the temperature of the sacrum. Control is performed so as to be repeated alternately. That is, the control unit sets the heating amount of the stimulating site A11-A <the stimulating site B11 so that the heating amount of the stimulating site A11-A> the heating amount of the stimulating site B11-B> the heating amount of the stimulating site C11-C. The control is such that the heating amount of −B <the heating amount of the stimulation site C11−C is alternately repeated. If the first operation mode is maintained for a long time, the living body may become accustomed to temperature stimulation. Therefore, each stimulus site 11 is heated so as to temporarily eliminate the temperature gradient, and the living body is refreshed. Therefore, the first time for controlling the temperature applying member so that the heating amount of the stimulating site A11-A> the heating amount of the stimulating site B11-B> the heating amount of the stimulating site C11-C, and the heating of the stimulating site A11-A The second time for controlling the temperature applying member so that the amount <the amount of heating of the stimulating site B11-B <the amount of heating of the stimulating site C11-C does not necessarily have to be the same, and the size and size of the human body 10 need not be the same. It is appropriately adjusted depending on the magnitude of the temperature gradient to be applied and the like.
[0037]
Further, as a third operation mode of the heating method, the control unit 103 controls the temperature applying member via the driving unit 102 according to the control program so as to sequentially heat each stimulation site 11 cyclically. That is, the control unit 103 first heats the stimulus site A11-A, then heats the stimulus site B11-B, then heats the stimulus site C11-C, and then heats the first stimulus site A11-A. The temperature applying member is controlled so as to return to heating. The heating time and heating amount of each stimulation site 11 are appropriately adjusted depending on the size of the human body 10, the size of the temperature gradient to be formed, and the like, and need not necessarily be the same. By moving the heating applied to each stimulation site 11 from the neck toward the lumbar region in this manner, the cerebrospinal fluid can be sent out from the cervical vertebra to the sacrum, and the circulation can be further promoted. In addition, since the heating part moves sequentially, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the living body gets used to the temperature stimulation. In the present embodiment, the third operation mode is realized by the plurality of temperature applying members, but the third operation mode may be realized by moving the temperature applying member relatively to the human body 10.
[0038]
Thus, by applying a temperature stimulus to a predetermined part of the living body, the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid can be promoted. In particular, when the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid is reduced due to aging, the circulation can be improved, and the ability to feed the brain and remove metabolites / waste products can be improved. According to Non-Patent Document 5, by promoting the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, the cognitive function of dementia can be improved, and the progress of blur can be delayed.
[0039]
Next, a description will be given of a case where electrical stimulation is used transdermally as an example of physical stimulation.
(Electric stimulation)
When electrical stimulation is used as an example of the physical stimulation, the stimulation applying unit 101 uses an electrical stimulation member that is a member that applies a voltage to the percutaneous skin of a predetermined part of the living body to apply a potential gradient to cerebrospinal fluid. As the electrical stimulation member, for example, an electrode used in a low-frequency therapeutic device or the like is used, and electrical stimulation having an amplitude of about 0 to 10 V, a pulse width of about 50 to 500 μs, and a frequency of 2 to 200 Hz finally acts on the cerebrospinal fluid. To be given. In addition, as a stimulation method, there are constant current stimulation, interference wave stimulation, and the like.
[0040]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing each component of the cerebrospinal fluid and the concentration of each component. In addition, FIG. 2 is Kojiro Matsuda et al. Transcribed from 569-570.
[0041]
As can be seen from FIG. 2, the cerebrospinal fluid contains Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻, HCO₃ ⁻And the like. Since the ionic substance moves and diffuses in accordance with the bias of the electric potential, it can accelerate the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and promote circulation. In addition, the sacrum is considered to be the end of the cerebrospinal fluid absorption site. By applying electrical stimulation to the stimulation site C11-C, the activity of the absorption site can be activated and the cerebrospinal fluid circulation can be promoted.
[0042]
For this reason, as a more preferred embodiment, even in the case of electrical stimulation, the predetermined part of the living body is the above-mentioned stimulation part A11-A, stimulation part B11-B, and stimulation part C11-C.
[0043]
In the case of using electrical stimulation, the electrical stimulation method applies a voltage to each stimulation site 11 in the first to third operation modes in the same manner as the heating method.
[0044]
Thus, by applying electrical stimulation to a predetermined part of the living body, the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid can be promoted. In particular, when the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid is reduced due to aging, the circulation can be improved, and the ability to feed the brain and remove metabolites / waste products can be improved. According to Non-Patent Document 5, by promoting the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, the cognitive function of dementia can be improved, and the progress of blur can be delayed.
[0045]
Lastly, a case where pressure stimulation is used as an example of physical stimulation will be described.
(Pressure stimulation)
When pressure stimulation is used as an example of physical stimulation, the stimulating unit 101 uses a pressure member that is a member that applies a pressure to a predetermined part of a living body to apply a pressure gradient to cerebrospinal fluid. The pressurizing member is, for example, a mechanical pressure stimulating member such as a massage ball of a massage chair, an air-type stimulating member, a vibration pressure stimulating member by mechanical vibration or sound wave, and a pressure stimulating member by water flow.
[0046]
According to Non-Patent Document 1, it is generally known that production and absorption of cerebrospinal fluid depend on pressure applied to cerebrospinal fluid. Equilibrium between production and absorption is when the pressure is about 112 mm water column. If the pressure is less than this 112 mm water column, the production is unchanged but the absorption is reduced. As a result, overproduction occurs and the total amount of cerebrospinal fluid tends to increase. On the other hand, when the pressure is larger than the 112 mm water column, the amount of production does not change but the amount of absorption increases. As a result, a state of excessive absorption occurs, and the total amount of cerebrospinal fluid tends to decrease.
[0047]
In addition, as described in [Prior Art], the cerebrospinal fluid production site is generally located inside the skull, while the absorption site is also located inside the skull but also widely in the spinal cord. For this reason, the production site of cerebrospinal fluid is located relatively closer to the head of the living body than the absorption site, while the absorption site is located closer to the lower back of the body than the production site.
[0048]
Therefore, the cerebrospinal fluid pressure is relatively reduced on the head side (neck side) of the living body, resulting in overproduction, while the cerebrospinal fluid pressure is relatively increased on the lumbar side of the living body, resulting in excessive absorption. In this state, the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid can be promoted. By forming a pressure gradient in the cerebrospinal fluid of the spinal cord as described above, circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid can be promoted.
[0049]
For this reason, the predetermined part of the living body when the pressure is applied may be the stimulating part C11-C, but as the more preferred embodiment, the stimulating part B11-B and the stimulating part C11-C described above are used.
[0050]
The pressurizing method is based on the same concept as the heating method, and as the first operation mode of the pressurizing method, the control unit 103 controls the pressurizing member via the driving unit 102 according to the control program so that the cervical vertebral side has a lower pressure than the sacral side. Is controlled so that That is, the control unit 103 performs control so that the amount of pressurization of the stimulation site B11-B <the amount of pressurization of the stimulation site C11-C.
[0051]
Further, as the second operation mode of the heating method, the control unit 103 controls the pressing member via the driving unit 102 according to the control program to determine whether the cervical vertebra side has a lower pressure than the sacral side and the cervical vertebra side has a higher pressure than the sacral side. Control is performed so as to be repeated alternately. That is, the control unit sets the amount of pressurization of the stimulating site B11-C> the amount of pressurization of the stimulating site C11-C so that the amount of pressurization of the stimulating site B11-B <the amount of pressurizing the stimulating site C11-C. Is controlled to be alternately repeated so that
[0052]
Thus, by applying pressure to a predetermined part of the living body, the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid can be promoted. In particular, when the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid is reduced due to aging, the circulation can be improved, and the ability to feed the brain and remove metabolites / waste products can be improved. According to Non-Patent Document 5, by promoting the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid, the cognitive function of dementia can be improved, and the progress of blur can be delayed.
[0053]
In the above-described embodiment, a physical stimulus is applied to the stimulating site 11 by the stimulating unit 101 that applies one type of physical stimulus. However, from the viewpoint of further promoting the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid by a synergistic effect. Alternatively, a plurality of types of physical stimuli may be applied to the stimulus site 11 using a stimulus application unit that applies a plurality of types of physical stimuli different from each other. For example, temperature and pressure may be applied to the stimulating site 11 using a stimulating unit that applies a temperature stimulus and a pressure stimulus, or the stimulating unit 11 may be applied using a stimulating unit that applies an electric stimulus and a pressure stimulus. The electric field and the pressure may be applied to the stimulus site, or the electric field and the temperature may be applied to the stimulating site 11 by using a stimulating unit that applies the temperature stimulus and the electric stimulus. Temperature, electric field, and pressure may be applied to the stimulating site 11 using a stimulating unit that applies a stimulus.
[0054]
The main inventions disclosed in the present specification are summarized below.
(Supplementary Note 1) A stimulating unit that applies a physical stimulus to a predetermined part of a living body, and a control that controls the stimulus amount of the physical stimulus so as to form a gradient from the cervical vertebra to the sacrum in a predetermined cerebrospinal fluid. And a cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting device comprising:
(Supplementary Note 2) The cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the stimulus applying unit is a temperature applying member that applies a temperature stimulus to a predetermined part of a living body.
(Supplementary note 3) The cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device according to supplementary note 2, wherein the temperature applying member applies a temperature stimulus to a single site of a living body.
(Supplementary Note 4) The cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device according to Supplementary Note 3, wherein the temperature application unit applies a temperature stimulus to a plurality of parts of a living body.
(Supplementary Note 5) The cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device according to Supplementary Note 4, wherein the control unit controls the cervical spine side to be higher in temperature than the sacral side.
(Supplementary Note 6) The cerebrospinal fluid according to Supplementary Note 4, wherein the control unit controls to alternately repeat a case where the temperature of the cervical vertebra is higher than the sacral side and a case where the temperature of the cervical vertebra is lower than the sacral side. Circulation promoting device.
(Supplementary Note 7) The cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device according to Supplementary Note 4, wherein the control unit controls to sequentially heat a plurality of parts of the living body sequentially.
(Supplementary Note 8) The cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the stimulus applying unit is an electric stimulation member that applies electric stimulation to a percutaneous part of a predetermined part of a living body.
(Supplementary note 9) The cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device according to supplementary note 8, wherein the electrical stimulation member applies percutaneous electrical stimulation to a single site of a living body.
(Supplementary Note 10) The cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device according to Supplementary Note 8, wherein the electrical stimulation member applies percutaneous electrical stimulation to a plurality of parts of a living body.
(Supplementary Note 11) The cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the stimulus applying unit is a pressure member that applies pressure to a predetermined part of a living body.
(Supplementary Note 12) The cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device according to supplementary note 11, wherein the pressure stimulating member applies pressure to a single site of a living body.
(Supplementary Note 13) The cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device according to Supplementary Note 11, wherein the pressure stimulating member applies pressure to a plurality of parts of a living body.
(Supplementary note 14) The cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device according to Supplementary note 1, wherein the stimulus applying unit applies a plurality of different physical stimuli to a predetermined part of the living body.
(Supplementary Note 15) A method for promoting cerebrospinal fluid circulation, in which a physical stimulus is applied to a predetermined part of a living body so that a predetermined physical quantity of cerebrospinal fluid forms a gradient from the cervical vertebra to the sacrum.
(Supplementary Note 16) A stimulating unit that applies a physical stimulus to a predetermined part of a living body, and a control that controls a stimulus amount of the physical stimulus so as to form a gradient from a cervical vertebra to a sacrum in a predetermined cerebrospinal fluid. And a blur retardation device for delaying the progress of the blur.
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting device according to claim 1 and the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting method according to claim 5, a gradient is formed in a predetermined physical quantity of cerebrospinal fluid from the cervical vertebra to the sacrum. Since a physical stimulus is applied by the stimulating unit to the, the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid is promoted by a gradient of a predetermined physical quantity.
[0056]
In the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting device according to the second aspect, a temperature gradient is formed in the cerebrospinal fluid by the temperature applying member, so that the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid is promoted by convection.
[0057]
Further, in the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting device according to claim 3, since the electrical stimulating member forms a potential gradient in the cerebrospinal fluid, it acts on ionic substances in the cerebrospinal fluid to promote the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid. You.
[0058]
Further, in the cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting device according to claim 4, a pressure gradient is formed in the cerebrospinal fluid by the pressure stimulating member, so that the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid is promoted.
[0059]
In the blur retarding device according to claim 6, since the physical stimulation is applied to the predetermined physical quantity of the cerebrospinal fluid so as to form a gradient in the direction from the cervical vertebra to the sacrum, the cerebral spinal cord is given by the gradient of the predetermined physical quantity. The circulation of the liquid is promoted. As a result, the progress of the blur can be delayed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a cerebrospinal fluid circulation promoting device and a living body site that gives a physical stimulus.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing each component of the cerebrospinal fluid and the concentration of each component.
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional side view of the central nervous system for explaining the location of cerebrospinal fluid.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 human body
11 stimulation site
100 Cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device
101 Stimulation unit
102 drive unit
103 control unit
104 storage unit
200 cerebrospinal fluid
201 Subarachnoid space

Claims (6)

A stimulating unit that applies a physical stimulus to a predetermined part of the living body,
A control unit for controlling a stimulation amount of the physical stimulation so as to form a gradient from a cervical vertebra to a sacrum at a predetermined physical amount of the cerebrospinal fluid. The cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device according to claim 1, wherein the stimulus applying unit is a temperature applying member that applies a temperature stimulus to a predetermined part of a living body. 2. The cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device according to claim 1, wherein the stimulating unit is an electrical stimulating member that applies electrical stimulation to a predetermined part of a living body. 2. The cerebrospinal fluid circulation promotion device according to claim 1, wherein the stimulus applying unit is a pressurizing member that applies pressure to a predetermined part of a living body. 3. A method for promoting cerebrospinal fluid circulation in which a physical stimulus is applied to a predetermined part of a living body so that a predetermined physical quantity of cerebrospinal fluid forms a gradient from the cervical vertebra to the sacrum. A stimulating unit that applies a physical stimulus to a predetermined part of the living body,
A controller for controlling the amount of the physical stimulus so as to form a gradient in the direction from the cervical vertebra to the sacrum at a predetermined physical quantity of the cerebrospinal fluid.

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