JP2010057804A - Living body stimulating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a living body stimulating apparatus mitigating pain and tiredness of muscle, strengthening the muscle and promoting the metabolism in a short therapy time. <P>SOLUTION: The living body stimulating apparatus which makes electrodes 21 abut on a living body and applies an electric current from the electrodes 21 to the living body and stimulates the living body, applies the stimulus to the living body by alternately outputting a voltage consisting of a low-frequency pulse group LF and a voltage consisting of a high-frequency pulse group HF between the electrodes 21. This apparatus outputs the voltage by changing over between the voltage consisting of the low-frequency pulse group LF and the voltage consisting of the high-frequency pulse group HF without any downtime. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a biostimulation apparatus that abuts a conductor containing an electrode on a living body and applies a current to the living body from the conductor to give a stimulus.

  Some conventional biostimulators send a pulse current from a conductor to a living body for the purpose of giving a soft sense of stimulation (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this living body stimulating device, a conductor is applied to the living body, and a current composed of a pulse group of rectangular waves is caused to flow from the conductor. The density of the plurality of on-pulses constituting the rectangular wave pulse group is variable during the output period of the current consisting of the rectangular wave pulse group.

A biostimulator has been proposed that employs a configuration in which the duty ratio of a rectangular wave pulse is variable each time a rectangular wave pulse group is output (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2004-344444 A JP 2005-224387A

  According to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, a repetitive signal of a rectangular wave pulse group including a plurality of on-pulses having a variable density is output from a conductor to a living body. Then, since the living body has the characteristics of a capacitor, its impedance is lowered by the on-pulse, which is a high frequency signal component, and the waveform of the entire rectangular wave pulse group is distorted inside the living body, resulting in low overall. It becomes a frequency distortion waveform. Therefore, it is possible to give a softer feeling of stimulation than a rectangular wave pulse having the same current and frequency. However, although the rectangular wave pulse group includes a plurality of on-pulses, the individual rectangular wave pulse groups are composed of the same pattern. And the rectangular wave pulse group of the same pattern repeatedly stimulates the living body with a certain rest period inserted, and does not stimulate the living body in the rest period. As a result, there is a problem that the stimulation becomes monotonous and the treatment takes a long time.

  In addition, according to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2, the duty ratio of the rectangular wave pulse is made variable every time the rectangular wave pulse group is output, and the repetitive signal of the rectangular wave pulse group is output from the conductor to the living body. The In this case, if the duty ratio is increased, a strong stimulus can be given. However, the strong stimulus is changed to pain for the living body, and the duty ratio cannot be increased without darkness. In addition, if the rest period is extended to alleviate the pain, there is a problem that a long time is required for the treatment.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and by giving a living body a stimulation pulse that continuously contracts and relaxes muscles, the treatment time is shortened, pain relief, muscle fatigue relaxation, muscles It is an object of the present invention to provide a biostimulator capable of strengthening and promoting metabolism.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a biostimulation apparatus in which a conductor is brought into contact with a living body and a current is passed from the conductor to the living body to stimulate the living body. Is a living body stimulating device characterized in that the living body is stimulated by alternately outputting between the conductors.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the biostimulator according to the first aspect, the voltage composed of the low-frequency pulse group and the voltage composed of the high-frequency pulse group are switched and output without providing a pause time. It is a feature.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the biostimulation apparatus according to the second aspect, the pulse frequency of the low-frequency pulse group and the pulse frequency of the high-frequency pulse group are changed and output continuously or stepwise. It is characterized by.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the biostimulator according to any one of the first to third aspects, the amplitude or duration of the low-frequency pulse group is the amplitude or duration of the high-frequency pulse group. It is characterized by having different amplitudes or durations.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the biostimulator according to any one of the first to third aspects, the amplitude or duration of the low-frequency pulse group is changed for each pulse group. Is.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the muscle contracts during the period when the low-frequency pulse group is output, and the muscle relaxes during the period when the high-frequency pulse group is output. As a result, the living body senses the stimulus only during the period when the low frequency pulse group is output, and does not feel the stimulus during the period when the high frequency pulse group is output. However, even during a period in which a high-frequency pulse group in which the living body does not feel stimulation is output, a pulse current flows through the living body, and the living body is stimulated to improve blood circulation and promote metabolism. Therefore, pain relief, muscle fatigue relief, muscle strengthening, and metabolism promotion can be effectively performed.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, a pulse current flows through the living body even during a period in which a high-frequency pulse group in which the living body does not feel a stimulus is output, and a treatment effect such as pain relief can be obtained. Therefore, the treatment time can be shortened.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since a sudden muscle contraction does not occur, a soft stimulation feeling can be obtained, and the burden on the user of the biological stimulation device can be reduced.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, habituation of muscle exercise due to monotonous stimulation can be prevented, and rhythmic stimulation can be applied.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, even when there are individual differences in the living body, it is possible to give an optimal feeling of stimulation according to the individual differences.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a biostimulation apparatus showing a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a stabilized power source that converts an AC input to a DC output in a stabilized state. Here, AC 100V AC voltage is converted to DC 15V and DC 5V DC voltages, respectively. Reference numeral 2 denotes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as a control means that operates by a DC 5V DC voltage from the stabilized power source 1 and a reference clock signal from the crystal oscillator 3. As is well known, the CPU 2 incorporates input / output means, storage means, arithmetic processing means, and the like, and outputs an output voltage instruction signal and a pulse drive signal of a predetermined pattern in accordance with a control sequence stored in the storage means. (Not shown).

  A plurality of switches 4 serving as mode selection means for selecting a specific stimulation mode from various stimulation modes are connected to the input side port of the CPU 2. Correspondingly, a plurality of LEDs 5 serving as mode display means for indicating which stimulus mode is selected and executed are connected to the output side port of the CPU 2. In addition, a segment LED 6 is connected to the output side port of the CPU 2 as time display means for counting and displaying the stimulation time. In the present embodiment, only one segment LED 6 is shown for convenience, but in reality, two or more segment LEDs 6 are arranged in parallel. For example, the LED 5 and the segment LED 6 may be integrated and displayed by a common LCD display or the like.

  Further, a setter composed of a plurality of variable resistors 7 capable of setting operation is connected to the input side port of the CPU 2. These variable resistors 7 can vary the pulse frequency, pulse duration, and amplitude of the stimulation mode to arbitrary values. On the other hand, an output voltage instruction signal and a pulse drive signal are output from the output side port of the CPU 2 in accordance with the selected stimulation mode and the value set by the variable resistor 7.

  The output voltage control circuit 8 operates with a DC voltage of 15 V DC from the stabilized power supply 1 and outputs a DC voltage corresponding to the output voltage instruction signal output from the CPU 2. That is, a variable output signal having a predetermined voltage level designated in the range of DC0V to DC15V is supplied to the stimulus generating means 11.

  On the other hand, the stimulus generating means 11 converts the variable output signal from the output voltage control circuit 8 into a pulse group such as a rectangular wave, and in addition to the FET 13 as a switching means, the primary side and the secondary side are insulated. It is configured with a transformer 15. Specifically, one end of the primary winding 17 of the transformer 15 is connected to the variable output signal line of the output voltage control circuit 8, and the primary winding 17 of the transformer 15 is connected to the drain of the FET 13 whose source is grounded. Are connected at the other end. Further, both ends of the secondary winding 19 of the transformer 15 that outputs the stimulation signal are connected to a pair of conductors 21 that are output terminals. The pulse drive signal from the CPU 2 is supplied to the gate which is the control terminal of the FET 13. The FET 13 is an example of a switch means, and other switch means such as a transistor can be used.

  In the biological stimulation apparatus having the above configuration, when a specific stimulation mode is selected by the switch 4 and a start switch (not shown) is operated, the LED 5 corresponding to the stimulation mode selected by the CPU 2 is lit. Further, the CPU 2 controls each part of the stimulus generating means 11 including the output voltage control circuit 8 and the FET 13 so that a stimulus signal corresponding to the selected stimulus mode is output from the conductor 21.

  In this series of controls, when an output voltage instruction signal is output from the CPU 2 to the output voltage control circuit 8, the output voltage control circuit 8 generates a predetermined voltage corresponding to the amplitude of the selected pulse group in the stimulation mode. Is output repeatedly for the duration of. When the voltage levels of the low frequency pulse group and the high frequency pulse group are the same, as a result, a continuous DC voltage is output. This output voltage is supplied from the output voltage control circuit 8 to the stimulus generating means 11. Note that the voltage corresponding to the low frequency pulse group can be appropriately varied in the range of DC0V to DC15V by the variable resistor 7 described above, so that the user changes the voltage of the low frequency pulse group by changing the setting of the variable resistor 7. Can be amplitude.

  Further, the CPU 2 outputs a pulse drive signal to the FET 13 which is a switching element so that the DC voltage from the output voltage control circuit 8 is converted into a low frequency pulse group and a high frequency pulse group. That is, when a DC voltage corresponding to a low frequency pulse group is output from the output voltage control circuit 8, switching is performed in a cycle corresponding to the low frequency pulse frequency, and the output voltage control circuit 8 switches to a high frequency pulse group. When a corresponding DC voltage is output, switching is performed at a period corresponding to a high-frequency pulse frequency.

  A DC voltage controlled by the output voltage control circuit 8 is applied to the primary winding 17 of the transformer 15. When a pulse drive signal is supplied from the CPU 2 to the FET 13 in this state, the FET 13 is turned on by switching and the primary winding is turned on. The other end side (non-dot side) of 17 is grounded. The switching of the FET 13 induces a rectangular wave pulse voltage on one end side (dot side) of the secondary winding 19. Therefore, when an on / off signal is supplied to the gate of the FET 13, a stimulus signal having a predetermined amplitude and a predetermined frequency is output to the secondary winding 19 in a pulse shape. The stimulation signal is supplied to the conductor 21.

  In this way, between the pair of conductors 21, the stimulation signal that is modulated by the FET 13 into a low-frequency pulse group and a high-frequency pulse group at a voltage level proportional to the amplitude corresponding to the selected stimulation mode is repeated. Supplied. This stimulus signal is not only simply changed in amplitude and frequency but also composed of a pulse group whose amplitude and period change when observed as a low frequency pulse group and a high frequency pulse group. When the stimulus signal is output, the stimulus mode is displayed, and a timer (not shown) built in the CPU 2 measures the time and displays the result on the segment LED 6. .

  Next, the effect | action is demonstrated based on the waveform diagram of each stimulation mode shown in FIG. 2 regarding the said structure. In the stimulation mode shown in FIG. 2A, a voltage composed of a low frequency pulse group LF and a voltage composed of a high frequency pulse group HF are alternately output between the conductors 21. However, since the living body has characteristics like a capacitor, the waveform of the rectangular pulse is slightly distorted inside the living body when the conductor 21 is in contact with the living body. In this stimulation mode, after the low-frequency pulse group LF is output continuously for t1 time, the high-frequency pulse group HF is continuously output for t2 time, and then the low-frequency pulse group LF continues for t1 time. The voltage composed of the low frequency pulse group LF and the voltage composed of the high frequency pulse group HF are alternately output. The low frequency pulse and the high frequency pulse have the same amplitude A. Further, the durations t1 and t2 of the low-frequency pulse group LF and the high-frequency pulse group HF are periodically repeated without change, and usually t1 = t2. Here, the number of pulses shown in FIG. 2 is only a schematic representation and is small, but in an actual biological stimulation apparatus, both the low-frequency pulse group LF and the high-frequency pulse group HF are larger than the number of pulses illustrated. It consists of pulses.

  In the biostimulator according to the present invention, the low frequency means a frequency region of about 1 kHz to several kHz, and the high frequency means a frequency region of about several tens kHz to several hundred kHz. That is, in the pulse group LF in the low frequency region, the muscles of the living body contract by stimulation, and in the pulse group HF in the high frequency region, the muscles of the living body relax and become insensitive to the stimulation.

  In this stimulation mode, the muscle contracts at time t1 when the low-frequency pulse group LF is output, and the muscle relaxes at time t2 when the high-frequency pulse group HF is output. As a result, the living body senses the stimulus only at the time t1 when the low frequency pulse group LF is output, and does not feel the stimulus at the time t2 when the high frequency pulse group HF is output. However, even at the time t2 when the high-frequency pulse group HF where the living body does not feel stimulation is output, a pulse current flows through the living body, and the living body is stimulated to improve blood circulation and promote metabolism. Therefore, pain can be reduced, muscle fatigue can be reduced, muscles can be strengthened, and metabolism can be promoted in a short stimulation time, and the treatment time can be shortened.

  The stimulation mode shown in FIG. 2 (b) is similar to the stimulation mode shown in FIG. 2 (a), but the voltage composed of the low-frequency pulse group LF and the voltage composed of the high-frequency pulse group HF are set as the pause time. When switching and outputting without providing, it differs in that the pulse frequency of the low-frequency pulse group LF and the high-frequency pulse group HF is continuously changed and output. Of course, the pulse frequency can be changed stepwise instead of continuously.

  In this stimulation mode, since rapid muscle contraction does not occur, a soft stimulation feeling can be obtained, and the burden on the user of the biological stimulation device can be reduced.

  In the stimulation mode shown in FIG. 2C, the amplitude A1 or duration t3 of the low frequency pulse group LF is set to an amplitude or duration different from the amplitude A or duration t4 of the high frequency pulse group HF. That is, after the low-frequency pulse group LF is continuously output for t3 hours, the high-frequency pulse group HF is continuously output for t4 hours, and further, the low-frequency pulse group LF is continuously output for t3 hours. As described above, the voltage composed of the low frequency pulse group LF and the voltage composed of the high frequency pulse group HF are alternately output. The times t3 and t4 at which the low-frequency pulse group LF and the high-frequency pulse group HF are output are different and are usually t3> t4.

  In this stimulation mode, habituation of muscle exercise due to monotonous stimulation can be prevented, and rhythmic stimulation can be applied.

  In the stimulation mode shown in FIG. 2D, the amplitudes A2, A3, A4 or durations t5, t7 of each group of the low frequency pulse group LF are changed for each pulse group. That is, the durations t5 and t7 of the low frequency pulse group LF are different for each pulse group. As a result, the durations t6 and t8 of the high frequency pulse group HF are also different for each pulse group. The amplitude A of the high-frequency pulse group HF is constant, but the amplitude of the low-frequency pulse group LF is different for each pulse group, such as A2, A3, and A4.

  In this stimulation mode, even if there are individual differences in the living body, an optimal stimulation feeling can be given according to the individual differences.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the biostimulation apparatus showing the second embodiment of the present invention. The components common to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. In the living body stimulating apparatus shown in the first embodiment, the output voltage control circuit 8 and the FET 13 generate a high-frequency pulse group HF and a low-frequency pulse group LF having arbitrary amplitude and frequency. The pulse group HF and the low-frequency pulse group LF can be generated alternately by different stimulus generation means.

  The biostimulator shown in FIG. 3 generates a high-frequency pulse group HF and a low-frequency pulse group LF by separate stimulus generating means 11 and 12. The high frequency pulse group is generated by the stimulus generating means 11 including the output voltage control circuit 8, the transformer 15, and the FET 13. This configuration is exactly the same as that of the first embodiment. That is, the amplitude of the high frequency pulse group is controlled by the output voltage control circuit 8 based on the output voltage instruction signal from the CPU 2. Further, a DC voltage is supplied from the output voltage control circuit 8 to the primary winding 17 of the transformer 15. However, since the FET 13 serving as a switching element is driven by a high-frequency pulse drive signal from the CPU 2, the DC voltage is supplied to the primary winding 17 of the transformer 15. A high frequency pulse voltage is applied. As a result, a high-frequency pulse group having the selected amplitude and frequency is induced in the secondary winding 19 of the transformer 15 and is output between the conductors 21.

  On the other hand, the low-frequency pulse group is generated by the stimulus generating means 12 including the output voltage control circuit 9, the transformer 16, and the FET 14. The amplitude of the low frequency pulse group is controlled by the output voltage control circuit 9 based on the output voltage instruction signal from the CPU 2. In addition, a DC voltage is supplied from the output voltage control circuit 9 to the primary winding 18 of the transformer 16, but the FET 14 as a switching element is driven by a low frequency pulse drive signal from the CPU 2. A low frequency pulse voltage is applied to 18. As a result, a low-frequency pulse group having a selected amplitude and frequency is induced in the secondary winding 20 of the transformer 16 and is output between the conductors 21.

  As described above, the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the high-frequency pulse group HF and the low-frequency pulse group LF are alternately generated by the different stimulus generation means 11 and 12, but the stimulus signal is a living body. There is no difference from the first embodiment with respect to the effect given to the first embodiment. That is, the effect that the waveform of FIG. 2 described for the first embodiment gives to the living body also applies to the second embodiment.

  According to the biostimulation apparatus of each of the above embodiments, even during a period in which a high-frequency pulse group in which the living body does not feel stimulation is output, a pulse current flows through the living body, and the living body is stimulated to improve blood circulation. Will be promoted. Therefore, pain relief, muscle fatigue relief, muscle strengthening, and metabolism promotion can be effectively performed. In addition, since a sudden muscle contraction does not occur, a soft sense of stimulation can be obtained, the burden on the user of the biological stimulation device can be reduced, and the treatment time can be shortened. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent habituation of muscle exercise due to monotonous stimulation, to provide rhythmic stimulation, and to provide an optimal feeling of stimulation according to individual differences in the living body.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the Example, this invention is not limited to these Examples. For example, in the above embodiment, the voltage composed of the low-frequency pulse group LF and the voltage composed of the high-frequency pulse group HF are switched and output without providing a pause time. A negligible downtime may be provided. In addition, a control device having a function equivalent to the CPU, such as a DSP, may be used instead of the CPU 2 as the control means, or a pulse group can be generated in an analog manner using a wideband analog amplifier and a wideband output transformer. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been given using the rectangular wave as the pulse waveform, but the pulse waveform is not necessarily limited to the rectangular wave.

1 is a block diagram of a biological stimulation device showing a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an output waveform diagram of the biostimulator. It is a block diagram of the biostimulation apparatus which shows the 2nd Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

21 Conductor (Output terminal)
LF Low frequency pulse group HF High frequency pulse group

Claims (5)

In a living body stimulating apparatus that abuts a conductor on a living body and applies a current to the living body from the conductor to give a stimulus, a voltage composed of a low frequency pulse group and a voltage composed of a high frequency pulse group are alternately applied between the conductors. A biostimulation apparatus characterized by outputting a stimulus to a living body. The biostimulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voltage composed of the low-frequency pulse group and the voltage composed of the high-frequency pulse group are switched and output without providing a pause time. The biostimulation apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a pulse frequency of the low-frequency pulse group and a pulse frequency of the high-frequency pulse group are output continuously or stepwise. The living body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the amplitude or duration of the low-frequency pulse group is different from the amplitude or duration of the high-frequency pulse group. Stimulator. The biostimulator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the amplitude or duration of the low-frequency pulse group is changed for each pulse group.

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