JP2011072640A - Breast warming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a breast warming device for preventing and treating breast cancer. <P>SOLUTION: Heat generated by a heating heater 22 is transmitted to the surface of a breast 5 of a subject from the distal end face of a cylinder plate part 21D of a probe body 21, so that a state is obtained wherein temperature in the inner breast part 6 of the mamma 5 coincides with temperature in the surface of the mamma 5 surrounded by a portion on which the distal end face 21A of the cylinder plate part 21 is abutted. In this case, the heat generated by the heating heater 22 is changed into a level to be required for a warming treatment, consequently the temperature in the inner breast part 6 of the breast 5 is raised to the temperature for improving immunizing power, and thereby the breast warming device 11 for safely and reliably preventing and treating the breast cancer is achieved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a breast heating device, and particularly to prevent or treat the occurrence of breast cancer.

  In recent years, as shown in FIG. 11, it has been pointed out that the incidence of breast cancer tends to be high for cancers involving women, and studies on breast cancer risk factors have been conducted (see Non-Patent Document 1).

Keiichi Nakagawa Cancer textbook Sanseido 2006. Textbook of Body Temperature Physiology by Bakudo 2003. Michiaki San'in “Let's eliminate the physical problems caused by hypothermia” Living and Health 2008.08, pp. 26-29. Special table 2005-532868 Special table 2006-502802 JP2007-244400

  It is said that the background of the increasing breast cancer is the westernization of lifestyle habits.

  Recently, as a countermeasure, early detection represented by the so-called pink ribbon exercise has been effective, and three major therapies, that is, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy have been effective.

  However, as a technique for preventing breast cancer, a thermotherapy method has been proposed (see Patent Documents 1 to 3), but it has not yet been spread as a specific therapy.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to propose a breast heating apparatus effective for preventing or treating the occurrence of breast cancer.

  In order to solve such a problem, in the present invention, a cylindrical plate portion 21D having one end closed by a closing plate portion 21C, a probe main body 21 made of a heat conductive material, and disposed inside the probe main body 21, A heater 22 that heats the probe main body 21, a heat insulating member 23 that holds the heater 22 so that heat generated from the heater 22 is transmitted to the probe main body 21 inside the probe main body 21, and a heat insulating member 23 A heating probe 13 including a surface temperature sensor 24 provided on the outer surface of the probe body 21 so that the tip surface 21A of the cylindrical plate portion 21D of the probe main body 21 and the surface temperature sensor 24 come into contact with the surface of the breast 5 of the subject. In addition, the heating probe 13 is attached to the surface of the breast 5 so that the heat of the distal end surface of the cylindrical plate portion 21D of the probe main body 21 is transmitted to the surface of the breast 5. More, while detecting the surface temperature of the breast 5 at a surface temperature sensor 24 is heated operated heater 22 based on the detection result, thereby the breast interior 6 of the breast 5 heated treated.

  According to the present invention, the heat generated by the heater is transferred from the distal end surface of the cylindrical plate portion of the probe body to the surface of the subject's breast, so that the temperature inside the breast of the breast and the distal end surface of the cylindrical plate portion are matched. By obtaining a state in which the temperature of the surface portion of the breast surrounded by the contacted part matches, the temperature inside the breast of the breast is changed by switching the heat generated by the heater to a size necessary for heating treatment. The temperature of the breast can be raised to a temperature at which immunity is improved, thereby realizing a breast heating apparatus that can prevent or treat the occurrence of breast cancer safely and reliably.

It is a basic diagram with which it uses for description of the temperature distribution of a human body. It is an approximate line figure used for explanation of a principle of a breast heating technique. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a breast heating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the specific structure of the heating probe of FIG. It is a basic diagram with which it uses for description of the method of mounting | wearing the breast with a heating probe. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure of the system control part 14 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the heating operation processing procedure of the central processing unit (CPU) 31 of FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a heating processing data memory unit 39 in FIG. 6. It is sectional drawing which shows the specific structure of the heating probe of 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining how to attach the warming probe of FIG. 9 to the breast. It is an approximate line figure used for explanation of a matter known as a breast cancer development risk factor.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) Principle of breast heating technique Cancer prevention by immunity has been advocated by some doctors, and focusing on the fact that body temperature correlates with immunity, cancer prevention by keeping body temperature high It is something to try.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (see Non-Patent Document 2), the temperature distribution of the human body is greatly influenced by the outside air temperature. The temperature distribution of the human body 1 when the room temperature is 35 [° C.] is relatively The temperature of the deep part 2 has a core temperature 37 [° C] over a wide range, and the temperature of the surface of the human body 1 is reduced to about 1 [° C], that is, about 36 [° C]. It only declines.

  On the other hand, when the room temperature is lowered to 20 ° C., the range of the deep portion 2 having the core temperature 37 ° C. is reduced to a relatively narrow range of the upper body or the head, and the lower body, both arms, The temperature of the outer parts such as both feet is extremely low from the temperature 37 [° C.] of the deep part 2.

  In this regard, in the temperature distribution of the human body, since the breast belongs to the outer part, it is a part that is easily cooled by the influence of the outside air temperature.

  In addition to this, since the breast is a part sandwiched between the pectoralis major muscle and the skin, there is no large artery that contributes to the movement of heat, and blood movement of capillaries is important in order to maintain a high temperature.

  However, as shown in FIG. 11, many breast cancer risk factors inhibit capillary blood flow, and great efforts are required to improve lifestyle habits in order to prevent cancer.

  On the other hand, the breast belonging to the outer shell is easily affected by the outside air temperature, and thus is easily cooled, but conversely is also easily heated.

  According to the experiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, the surface temperature of the breast 5 is 35.2 for a subject whose sublingual temperature is 37.1 [° C.] and armpit temperature is 36.9 [° C.]. At [° C.], the internal temperature of the breast interior 6 was 35.5 [° C.].

  However, as a function of the human body 1 against cancer, as shown in FIG. 2 (B), cancer cells tend to proliferate at a low temperature of about 35 ° C., but are weak at high temperatures. (See Non-Patent Document 3).

  Considering such a function of the human body 1, cancer cells are likely to proliferate when the internal temperature of the breast interior 6 is 35.5 [° C.]. Therefore, as shown in FIG. By heating the breast 5 from the outside by means 7, the internal temperature of the breast 6 is increased to a temperature at which immune power is activated (for example, 41.0 [° C.] of 37.0 [° C.] or higher in FIG. 2B). If it is heated to a degree), it is possible to prevent or treat the occurrence of cancer cells in the breast 6 from the viewpoint of the function of the human body 1. If it exceeds 41 [° C.], there is a risk of burns on the skin surface, which is not preferable.

(2) Configuration of Breast Warming Device Based on this operating principle, the breast warming device 11 according to this embodiment is provided with a warming probe 13 on the skin surface portion 12 of the breast as shown in FIG. By controlling the warming probe 13 by the system control unit 14, the temperature of the deep part 15 of the breast is increased to a temperature at which breast cancer can be prevented (38.0 [° C.] in the case of this embodiment). The function of the deep part 15 is enhanced, thereby preventing or treating breast cancer.

  The warming probe 13 is provided with a heater 22 for heating the inner surface of a cylindrical bowl-shaped probe body 21 made of a heat-conducting material and closed at one end. A surface temperature sensor 24 made of a thermistor for measurement is arranged at the lower surface of the central portion of the opening of the probe main body 21 through the heat insulating member 23 made of the heat insulating material packed so that it can directly contact the skin surface portion 12 of the breast. To do.

  By supplying a heating current S1 from the system control unit 14 to the heater 22, the amount of heating heat is supplied to the probe main body 21, and the amount of heat conducts the probe main body 21 and contacts the skin surface portion 12. It is transmitted from the distal end surface 21A to the skin surface portion 12.

  Thus, the amount of heat transferred from the annular tip surface 21A of the probe main body 21 to the skin surface portion 12 is exposed to the outside air at a portion of the skin surface portion 12 outside the probe main body 21. When the heat is naturally radiated from the skin surface, a temperature gradient as shown by an isotherm 25 is exhibited so that the temperature decreases as it approaches the outer surface of the skin surface portion 12.

  On the other hand, in the skin surface portion 12, the skin surface portion in the central portion 21B is surrounded by the annular tip surface 21A of the probe main body 21 and is in contact with the heat insulating member 23. The surface temperature of 12 becomes equal to the temperature of the deep portion 15 without being affected by natural heat dissipation.

  By applying this principle, the temperature of the deep part 15 can be detected by the surface temperature sensor 24 by blocking the heat dissipated from the skin around the surface temperature sensor 24 into the outside air (this method is a heat flow compensation method). is called).

  The heating probe 13 in FIG. 3 can be heated to a temperature higher than the temperature of the deep portion 15 when the heating probe 13 is not provided from the probe body 21 to the skin surface portion 12 using the heat flow compensation method. By utilizing the fact that the temperature of the deep portion 15 becomes higher by giving the amount of heat in this way, and obtaining the equilibrium between the amount of heat supplied and the amount of heat dissipated while the temperature of the deep portion 15 is increased, A temperature equal to the temperature of 15 is detected by the surface temperature sensor 24.

  Thus, the warming probe 13 of FIG. 3 can perform a warming operation to increase the temperature of the deep part 15 while confirming the temperature of the deep part 15 by the surface temperature sensor 24.

  The surface temperature detection signal S2 obtained by the surface temperature sensor 24 is taken into the system control unit 14.

  In addition, the temperature of the probe main body 21 is detected by a control temperature sensor 26 embedded in the probe main body 21, and this is taken into the system control unit 14 as a control temperature detection signal S3.

  In the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the heating probe 13 has a probe main body 21 having a configuration in which one end of a cylindrical plate portion 21D is closed by a closing plate portion 21C, and the cylindrical plate portion 21D and the closing plate A heating wire constituting the heater 22 is arranged along the inner surface of the portion 21C, and the heater 22 is opposed to the closing plate portion 21C by a disk-shaped heat insulating member 23 having a surface temperature sensor 24 at the outer central portion. In this way, the structure is held down.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (A), the warming probe 13 is prepared so that the surface temperature sensor 24 faces the nipple 8 of the breast 5, and the warming probe 13 is shown in FIG. ), The surface temperature sensor 24 presses and holds the nipple 8 against the tip of the breast 5.

  Thus, by supplying the amount of heat supplied from the heater 22 around the nipple 8 from the annular tip surface 21A of the probe main body 21 constituting the heating probe 13, the amount of heating heat is applied to the skin surface portion 12 of the breast 5. Supply.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the system control unit 14 is configured such that a central processing unit (CPU) 31 having a microcomputer configuration executes a program in a program memory 33 having a ROM configuration using an operation memory 34 having a RAM configuration via a bus 32. As a result, the surface temperature detection signal S2 of the surface temperature sensor 24 is converted into digital data by the surface detection temperature input unit 37, and the control temperature detection signal S3 of the control temperature sensor 26 is input to the control detection temperature input unit. In 38, it is converted into digital data and fetched.

  The CPU 31 performs heating while accumulating the processing data in the heating processing data memory unit 39 by executing the heating operation processing procedure RT1 shown in FIG. 7 based on the acquired surface temperature detection data and control temperature detection data. A heating current S <b> 1 is sent to the heater 22 through the power output unit 40.

  When the operator inputs a heating operation command via the operation input unit 41, the CPU 31 enters the heating operation processing procedure RT1 and detects the surface temperature sensor 24 and the control temperature sensor 26 in step SP1, thereby causing the breast 5 The surface temperature data of the skin surface portion 12 (FIG. 3) is stored in the surface temperature memory M1 of the heating processing data memory portion 39 (FIG. 8) (the temperature is displayed on the surface temperature display portion 42) and controlled. The temperature data is taken into the control temperature memory M2, and the difference data between the two is taken into the difference data memory M3.

  Subsequently, the CPU 31 proceeds to step SP2 to output a heating current S1 having a relatively small value for the heater 22 from the heating power supply output unit 40 as a surface temperature measuring current.

  This surface temperature measurement current is a current for measuring the temperature of the deep part 15 of the breast, and the heating current S1 is released from the skin surface part 12 (FIG. 3) of the breast 5 to the outside via the probe body 21. The current value corresponding to the amount of heat is selected, and the surface temperature measurement current value is stored in advance in the surface temperature measurement current value memory M4 of the heating processing data memory unit 39.

  Thus, the CPU 31 starts heating the skin surface portion 12 by the heater 22, and in the next step SP3, whether or not the surface temperature data of the surface temperature sensor 24 and the control temperature data of the control temperature sensor 26 are balanced. Make a decision.

  If a negative result is obtained here, this means that the surface temperature of the skin surface portion 12 and the temperature of the probe main body 21 are not in an equilibrium state, and further heating by the heater 22 needs to be continued. At this time, the CPU returns to the above-described step SP1 and repeats the operation of taking in the surface temperature of the surface temperature sensor 24 and the control temperature of the control temperature sensor 26 again.

  When an affirmative result is finally obtained in step SP3, this means that the amount of heat supplied from the distal end surface 21A of the probe main body 21 to the skin surface portion 12 and the amount of heat radiated from the skin surface portion 12 to the outside are in an equilibrium state. At this time, it means that the temperature of the deep portion 15 is equal to the temperature of the skin surface at the position where the surface temperature sensor 24 is disposed.

  At this time, the CPU 31 moves to step SP4, and takes the temperature detected by the surface temperature sensor 24 as the deep temperature into the heating temperature setting memory M6 of the heating processing data memory unit 39 (the temperature is the surface temperature display unit 42). Displayed).

  Subsequently, the CPU 31 proceeds to the next step SP5 to flow a breast heating current to the heater 22.

  This current for heating the breast flows to the heater 22 in order to increase the temperature of the deep portion 15 of the breast 5 (that is, the inside of the breast 6) through the skin surface portion 12, and the current value for heating the breast is determined in advance. Stored in the breast heating current value setting memory M5 of the heating processing data memory unit 39, the CPU 31 applies a current having a relatively large current value based on the data of the breast heating current value setting memory M5 to the heater. 22 is supplied.

  As a result, the heating probe 13 gives a heat quantity that is significantly larger than the surface temperature measurement current passed in step SP2 described above to the skin surface portion 12 of the breast 5 from the distal end surface 21A of the heating probe 13, thereby providing a deep portion. Increase the temperature of 15.

  Subsequently, in step SP6, the CPU 31 determines that the surface temperature obtained from the surface temperature sensor 24 is the heating temperature based on the heating temperature setting data stored in the heating temperature setting memory M6 of the heating processing data memory unit 39. Judge whether or not the set value has been reached.

  If a negative result is obtained here, this means that the temperature of the deep part 15 (that is, the inside of the breast 6) has not yet reached the warming set temperature, and at this time, the CPU returns to step SP5 and heats up. The operation of continuing the current for heating the breast to the heater 22 is repeated.

  Eventually, when a positive result is obtained in step SP6, this means that the surface temperature detected by the surface temperature sensor 24 reaches the preset set warming temperature and the temperature rise of the deep portion 15 and the skin surface portion 12 from the outside. This means that the temperature of the deep portion 15 and the temperature of the skin surface are in agreement with each other due to the equilibrium of the temperature release to the skin.

  At this time, the CPU 31 proceeds to the next step SP7 to detect the temperature of the surface temperature sensor 24 at this time as the temperature of the deep portion 15, and thus the temperature of the inside of the breast 6, and the internal temperature detection memory of the heating processing data memory portion 39 Take in M7 (the temperature is displayed on the surface temperature display unit 42).

  Subsequently, in step SP8, the CPU 31 determines whether or not the set heating time has elapsed based on the set heating time data stored in advance in the heating time setting memory M9 of the heating processing data memory 39.

  This heating time means that it is necessary to continue heating for the treatment time required for the prevention or treatment of breast cancer. Therefore, if a negative result is obtained in step SP8, this means that the treatment time is insufficient. Means that

  At this time, the CPU 31 proceeds to step SP9 and confirms that the current temperature of the surface temperature sensor 24 does not exceed the allowable limit temperature.

  This allowable limit temperature is stored in advance in the surface temperature limit value memory M8 of the heating processing data memory unit 39 as a surface temperature limit value in order to ensure safety without causing burns to the breast.

  If the surface temperature does not exceed the limit value, an affirmative result is obtained in step SP9, so that the CPU 31 returns to the above-described step SP5 and repeats the process of continuing to flow the breast heating current to the heater 22 again.

  If an affirmative result is finally obtained in step SP8, this means that the heating treatment for the inside of the breast 6 has been performed for the scheduled treatment time. At this time, the CPU 31 performs heating heater 22, surface temperature sensor in step SP10. 24. The control temperature sensor 26 is turned off, and the heating operation processing procedure RT1 is terminated in the next step SP11.

  On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP9 described above, this means that the internal temperature of the breast exceeds the limit temperature, and at this time, the CPU 31 performs the heating operation via steps SP10-SP11. The processing procedure RT1 is terminated.

  Thus, the breast heating device 11 has performed the heating treatment for the treatment time necessary for the temperature inside the breast 6 to the temperature necessary for prevention or treatment of the occurrence of cancer.

  According to the above configuration, a function capable of preventing or treating the occurrence of cancer, such as activation of immunity, in the inside of the breast 6 is realized by a simple configuration in which the heating probe 13 is applied from the outside to the breast. A breast warming device capable of performing a warming treatment that reliably and safely increases the temperature as high as possible can be realized.

(3) Other Embodiments (3-1) FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the same reference numerals are given to the corresponding parts in FIG. 13X as a whole has a configuration curved so as to bulge outward.

  That is, the cylindrical plate portion 21DX of the probe main body 21X extends outward in the shape of a truncated cone, and the closing plate portion 21CX that closes the cylindrical plate portion 21X is curved outward in a dome shape.

  In the case of this embodiment, the heater 22X is arranged so as to bend so as to be opposed to the cylindrical plate portion 21DX and the closing plate portion 21CX, and is substantially outside in a dome shape so as to be supported from the inside. The heat insulating member 23X that is curved is fitted and held in the cylindrical plate portion 21DX.

  Thus, the warming probe 13X is prepared by preparing the warming probe 13X so that the surface temperature sensor 24X provided at the center of the inner surface faces the nipple 8 of the breast 5 as shown in FIG. As shown in (B), it mounts | wears so that it may press on the front-end | tip part of the breast 5. FIG.

  In this mounted state, when the heating operation processing procedure RT1 described above with reference to FIG. 7 is executed, the heat insulating member 23X in which the distal end surface 21AX of the cylindrical plate portion 21DX of the warming probe 13X is fitted from the inside is formed in a dome shape. By being curved, the surface of the breast 5 can be contacted without a gap, and the surface temperature sensor 24X can similarly contact the tip of the breast 5 without a gap.

  Thus, the heat of the probe main body 21X can be efficiently transmitted from the distal end surface 21AX of the cylindrical plate portion 21DX to the surface of the breast 5, so that the transmitted heat can be dissipated from the skin surface portion 12 to the outside. An equilibrium operation between the temperature and the surface temperature sensor 24X provided at the inner central portion of the probe main body 21X can be reliably realized.

  Therefore, according to the above configuration, it is possible to obtain the breast heating device 13X that can perform the heating process for the inside 6 of the breast 5 more safely and reliably.

(3-2) In the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 and FIGS. 9 and 10, the case where the warming probes 13 and 13X are provided so as to contact the distal end surface of the breast 5 has been described. However, the mounting position of the heating probes 13 and 13X may be mounted at a position other than the tip of the breast 5.

  The shape of the warming probe is not limited to the shape shown in FIGS. 4 and 9, and for example, it may be sized to cover the entire breast 5, or the probe main bodies 21 and 21 </ b> X may be configured in a semicircular shape. .

  Furthermore, it may be attached to or incorporated in a brassiere or underwear.

  The present invention can be used for treatment or prevention treatment of breast cancer.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Human body, 2 ... Deep part, 5 ... Breast, 6 ... Inside breast, 7 ... Heating means, 11 ... Breast heating apparatus, 12 ... Skin surface part, 13, 13X ... Warming probe , 14... System control section, 15... Deep section, 21, 21X... Probe body, 21A, 21AX... End surface, 22, 22X. Surface temperature sensor, 25... Isotherm, 26, 26X ... control temperature sensor, 37 ... surface detection temperature input unit, 38 ... control detection temperature input unit, 39 ... heating processing data memory unit, 40 ...... Heating power supply output unit, 41 ... operation input unit, 42 ... surface temperature display unit.

Claims (4)

A probe main body having a cylindrical plate portion whose one end is closed by a closing plate portion and made of a heat conductive material;
A heater that is disposed inside the probe body and heats the probe body;
Inside the probe body, a heat insulating member that holds the heater so as to transmit heat generated from the heater to the probe body;
A heating probe including a surface temperature sensor provided on the outer surface of the heat insulating member, and the tip surface of the cylindrical plate portion of the probe body and the surface temperature sensor are in contact with the breast surface of the subject. The surface temperature of the breast is detected by the surface temperature sensor by attaching the warming probe to the surface of the breast and transferring the heat of the distal end surface of the cylindrical plate portion of the probe body to the surface of the breast. A breast heating apparatus, wherein the heating heater is heated based on the detection result, thereby heating the inside of the breast. A temperature sensor for control for detecting the temperature of the probe body;
A system control unit for controlling a heating heat generation amount in the heater based on a detection signal of the surface temperature sensor and a detection signal of the control temperature sensor, and the system control unit is configured to measure the surface temperature sensor. The breast heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the breast heating apparatus is controlled so as to balance the temperature and the temperature inside the breast. 3. The system control unit according to claim 2, wherein the system controller sets the calorific value of the heater to an internal temperature setting value, thereby matching the measurement temperature of the surface temperature sensor with the temperature inside the breast. 4. Breast heating device. When the coincidence between the measurement temperature of the surface temperature sensor and the temperature inside the breast is obtained, the system control unit sets the heating value of the heater to a setting value for heating, thereby setting the inside of the breast. The breast heating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the temperature is increased to a heating treatment temperature.

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