JP2014117547A - Instrument for improving swelling - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique which can improve effectively and simply swelling of lower limbs.SOLUTION: A instrument for improving swelling includes a vapor warming tool 1 that includes a water vapor generating unit using heat evolution by oxidation reaction of oxidizable metal and gives water vapor to the skin, and a supporter 2 that is used for holding and fixing the vapor warming tool 1 and is formed of a cylindrical body with both ends opened. The vapor warming tool 1 contains menthol, and has tensile strength of 2-25 N/50 mm produced when the supporter 2 is elongated in circumferential direction by 300%.

Description

  The present invention relates to a swelling improvement device applied to a lower limb.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, steam heating devices are known in which a steam generating composition containing an oxidizable metal, salts, and water is contained in a breathable bag body to generate steam. There exists a thing of patent documents 1-3 as such a steam heating tool.

  In Patent Document 1, a bag body is formed by joining a double breathable sheet and a non-breathable sheet, and the breathable sheet is made of a spunbond nonwoven fabric, a meltblown nonwoven fabric, and a heat-fusible fiber nonwoven fabric in this order. A steam generator composed of a composite non-woven fabric bonded together is described.

Patent Document 2 has a water vapor generation part with an area of 1500 to 4000 mm ² that can apply heat accompanied by water vapor, and the water vapor generation part extends from the user's inner eye angle to the outer 20 mm of the outer eye angle, and It has a shape that covers the upper and lower eyelids in a closed eye state, and further, the skin average temperature of the contact portion is 38 ° C. for 8 to 15 minutes in a state where the device is in contact with the periphery of the user's eyes. A skin color improving instrument that reduces the dullness and swelling generated around the eyes by having the ability to generate water vapor that can be maintained below 45 ° C. is described.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a heating tool that can simultaneously impart a warm feeling and a cool feeling without lowering the user's skin temperature by including a cooling sensation agent such as l-menthol in the heating part. Have been described.

  In addition, a holder that prevents the occurrence of deviation of the heating tool is also known. Patent Document 4 includes a cylindrical body that is open at both ends, and has a first region that extends in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body in a central region in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body, and is at least more than the first region. A supporter having a second region located near one opening end and having lower extensibility in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body than the first region is described.

  Furthermore, Patent Document 5 describes that knee pain can be alleviated by holding and fixing a steam heating tool with a supporter.

JP 2004-8564 A JP 2006-34028A JP 2010-158507 A JP 2008-54918 A JP 2008-18174 A

  The present inventor has found that the circumference of the lower limb is reduced by applying the steam heating device to the lower limb. Therefore, by further studying such knowledge, we thought that it would be possible to provide a technology that can effectively and easily improve swelling of the lower limbs.

According to the present invention,
A steam heating device having a water vapor generating part utilizing heat generated by an oxidation reaction of an oxidizable metal, and applying water vapor to the lower limbs;
A supporter composed of a cylindrical body having both ends opened, used to fix the steam heating device to the lower limbs;
With
The steam heating device contains menthol,
The supporter is provided with a swelling improvement device having a tensile strength of 2 to 25 N / 50 mm when the region covering the steam heating device applied to the lower limb is stretched by 200% in the circumferential direction.

  According to the present invention, the circumference of the lower limb can be reduced by adding menthol to the steam heating device and applying an appropriate pressure with a predetermined supporter. Therefore, it becomes possible to effectively and easily improve the swelling of the lower limbs.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the technique which can improve the swelling of a leg effectively and simply is provided.

It is a figure which shows the example which applied the swelling improvement apparatus which concerns on embodiment to the knee back. (A) shows the figure which applied the steam heating tool, (b) shows the figure which wore the supporter. It is a figure which shows the example which applied the swelling improvement instrument which concerns on embodiment to a calf. (A) shows the figure which applied the steam heating tool, (b) shows the figure which wore the supporter. It is a top view which shows an example of a steam heating tool. It is a perspective view in the state where a heating element was partly cut away. It is a disassembled perspective view of a steam heating tool. It is a top view which shows the positional relationship of the joining site | part of the 2nd 1st and 2nd sheet | seat by a joining means, and a heat generating body. It is BB 'sectional drawing of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows an example of a supporter. It is a perspective view which shows the other example of a supporter. It is a figure which shows the evaluation result of an Example. It is a figure which shows the evaluation result of an Example. It is a figure which shows the evaluation result of an Example. It is a figure which shows the evaluation result of an Example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the same components, and the description will be omitted as appropriate.

1 and 2 are views in which the swelling improvement device of the present embodiment is applied to the lower limbs. 1 shows a view applied to the back of the knee, and FIG. 2 shows a view applied to the calf. This swelling improvement instrument has a water vapor generating part that uses heat generated by an oxidation reaction of an oxidizable metal, and is used for holding and fixing the steam heating tool 1 that imparts steam to the skin, and the steam heating tool 1. And a supporter 2 composed of a cylindrical body having both ends opened. The steam heating tool 1 contains menthol. The supporter 2 has a tensile strength of 2 to 25 N / 50 mm when the region covering the steam heating device 1 applied to the lower limbs is stretched by 200% in the circumferential direction.
By applying the steam heating tool 1 containing menthol while applying an appropriate pressure by the predetermined supporter 2, blood flow can be promoted and the circumference of the lower limb can be reduced. Therefore, it becomes possible to effectively and easily improve the swelling of the lower limbs.

[Steam Heater 1]
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of the steam heating tool 1. The steam heating tool 1 of the present embodiment includes a bag body 10 and a heating element 20, and the heating element 20 is accommodated in the bag body 10. The heating element 20 includes a container 22 and a water vapor generating part 21, and the water vapor generating part 21 is accommodated in the container 22. FIG. 3 shows a diagram in which two steam heaters 1 are connected, and the two can be separated by a center line L. FIG.

  The steam heating tool 1 includes menthol. In the present invention, examples of menthol include l-menthol, dl-menthol, and derivatives thereof. Any one or more of these can be used as menthol. Also, essential oils containing menthol such as peppermint oil and peppermint oil may be used. Of these, l-menthol is preferable.

  More preferably, menthol is included in the heating element 20. By carrying out like this, menthol can be volatilized effectively with the heat generated from the heating element 20, and can be given to the lower limbs together with water vapor. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the heating element 20 is partially cut away. Menthol may be contained in the steam generation part 21 in the heating element 20 or may be contained in the container 22 that houses the steam generation part 21, but is more preferably contained in the steam generation part 21. By carrying out like this, what mixed water vapor and menthol well can be given to a leg.

  In order to contain menthol in the bag 10 or the heating element 20, for example, a solution in which menthol is dissolved in a dissolving agent in advance is prepared, and can be added by a method such as dripping, spraying, coating, or dipping.

  The solubilizer used at this time is preferably a solvent that dissolves menthol and is not harmful to the body. For example, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, glycerin, polyethylene glycol 200, Examples thereof include polyethylene glycols such as polyethylene glycol 400, polyhydric alcohols such as polypropylene glycol and 1,3-propanediol, and monohydric alcohols such as ethanol. Any one or more of these can be used. Of these, a liquid polyhydric alcohol at 25 ° C. is preferable in that a large amount of menthol can be dissolved.

  Hereinafter, the steam heating device 1 in which menthol is contained in the steam generation unit 21 will be described in detail as an example. The content of menthol contained in the water vapor generating part 21 is preferably 0.01 to 10% by mass with respect to the whole water vapor generating part 21.

  FIG. 3 shows a state where two steam heating devices 1 are connected. Since the heating element 20 does not exist in the center line L of the two steam heating devices 1, the center line L can be bent inside and outside with the folding line as the center line L. Further, a straight cut (slit) 15 or a perforation (not shown) may be provided at the position of the center line L. By doing so, the folding becomes easy and can be separated. For example, the straight cut 15 may be provided with a plurality of short cuts as a continuous row, or may be provided with a plurality of continuous cut rows. Further, it may be in the form of an elongated hole such as one or two or more rhombuses, rectangles or ellipses.

  FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the steam heating tool 1 of FIG. The bag body 10 has a first bag body sheet 11 located on the side close to the lower limbs during use and a second bag body sheet 12 located on the supporter 2 side. The first and second bag sheets 11 and 12 have the same shape, and are substantially rectangular having a major axis and a minor axis. The 1st and 2nd bag body sheets 11 and 12 are piled up, and it is set as the bag body 10 which has space inside by joining those peripheral parts by the joining means 13. FIG. The bag 10 is preferably stretchable. As the joining means 13, for example, various adhesives such as a hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive, heat seal, ultrasonic seal and the like are used. In order not to impair the stretchability of the bag body 10, it is preferable to join the first and second bag sheets 11 and 12 with various adhesives such as a hot-melt pressure-sensitive adhesive.

  It is preferable that the first and second bag sheets 11 and 12 have elasticity in at least one direction. When the 1st and 2nd bag body sheets 11 and 12 have a stretching property only in one direction, it is preferable that this direction corresponds with the major axis direction in the substantially rectangular bag body 10. When the first and second bag sheets 11 and 12 are stretchable in two directions orthogonal to each other, the directions coincide with the major axis direction and the minor axis direction orthogonal to the substantially rectangular bag body, respectively. Is preferred. Here, the term “stretchability” refers to having either one or both of the below-described stretchability and stretch recovery property (shrinkability). For example, it suffices that at least one of the first and second bag sheets 11 and 12 is extensible in one direction. It is preferable that one of the first and second bag sheets 11 and 12 has extensibility, and the other has extensibility and elongation recovery. Furthermore, as another preferable form, it is preferable that the 1st and 2nd bag body sheet | seats 11 and 12 can be expanded-contracted in the two directions orthogonal to each other, and have a stretchability and a stretch recovery property. The first and second bag sheets 11 and 12 are preferably stretchable materials having air permeability. Since the first bag sheet 11 directly touches the user's lower limb, the material has a good texture. It is preferable that it is comprised. Specifically, a fiber sheet made of one or more of synthetic fibers made of polyester such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), polyolefin such as PE (polyethylene) and PP (polypropylene), polyamide, polyacryl, etc .; cellulose, silk, Examples thereof include a fiber sheet composed of one or more natural fibers composed of cotton, wool, etc .; or a fiber sheet composed of fibers obtained by combining them. As the fiber sheets of the first and second bag sheets 11, 12, any one or more of these fiber sheets can be used. An air-through nonwoven fabric or a spunbond nonwoven fabric containing elastic fibers is preferable.

  The heating element 20 is used to apply water vapor heated to a predetermined temperature generated from the water vapor generation part 21 included in the heat generation element 20 to the lower limbs of the user through the bag body 10. The heating element 20 is accommodated in the space in the bag body 10 described above. In this case, the heating element 20 is accommodated in the bag body 10 so that each side thereof faces the major axis and the minor axis direction of the bag body 10.

  As shown in FIG. 5, on the outer surface of the first bag sheet 11 in the bag body 10 of the steam heating device 1, fixing means 14 for fixing the steam heating device 1 to the lower limb of the user is provided. Yes. The fixing means 14 is present with a predetermined width over substantially the entire periphery of the four sides of the first bag sheet 11. As the fixing means 14, for example, an adhesive such as a hot melt pressure-sensitive adhesive can be used.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the positional relationship between the heat generating element 20 and the joining portion of the first and second bag sheets 11 and 12 by the joining means 13. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the steam heating device 1 as seen from the sheet surface side, but the joining means 13 is hatched for easy understanding. In FIG. 6, the fixing means 14 is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 3, the size of the bag body 10 is larger than the size of the heating element 20. In FIG. 6, the two first and second bag sheets 11, 12 constituting the bag body 10 are heated. A configuration extending outward from the periphery of the body 20 is shown. Further, the joining means 13 is present with a predetermined width over the entire periphery of the four sides of the two first and second bag sheets 11, 12. In FIG. 6 and the like, an example in which a substantially square heating element 20 is accommodated in a substantially rectangular bag body 10 is illustrated, but the shape of the bag body 10 and the heating element 20 may be the same or similar. It may be a shape or a different shape. As the shape of the bag 10 and the heating element 20, for example, a rhombus, a rectangle, an ellipse, and a circle can be taken.

7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB ′ of FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the heating element 20 is arranged so that only the upper side and the lower side overlap the joining means 13. Therefore, only the upper side and the lower side of the heating element 20 are joined to the joining means 13, and the other parts of the heating element 20 are not connected to the two bag sheets 11, 12, as shown in FIG. Joined state.

  The heating element 20 is fixed to the inner surface of the bag body 10 in such a manner that the stretchability of the bag body 10 is not impaired. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6 described above, the heating element 20 is fixed to the bag body 10 at the upper side and the lower side. This prevents the heating element 20 from being displaced in the bag 10 while the steam heating tool 1 is being carried or while the steam heating tool 1 is being affixed to the lower leg of the user. Therefore, the heating element 20 stays at a site where water vapor is desired. As long as the stretchability of the bag body 10 is not impaired, the fixing position of the bag body 10 and the heating element 20 is the position where the bag body 10 and the heating element 20 overlap when the steam heating tool 1 is viewed in plan view. It is preferable that the body 10 is fixed so that it can be expanded and contracted, because the bag 10 can have a large stretch margin.

  Returning to FIGS. 3 and 4, the heating element 20 includes a water vapor generation part 21 and a container 22 for accommodating the water vapor generation part 21. The container 22 is flat and forms the contour of the heating element 20. The container 22 having a flat shape is a first container sheet 23 located on the side close to the user's lower limb when in use, and the second container located on the side opposite to the supporter 2 on the opposite side. A sheet 24 is provided. And the container 22 of the heating element 20 is formed at the periphery thereof by the container connecting means 25 formed by bonding the peripheral portions of the sheet materials constituting the first container sheet 23 and the second container sheet 24 to each other. have. The container joint means 25 has a closed shape and is formed continuously. The first container sheet 23 and the second container sheet 24 are not bonded to each other at a portion inside the container bonding means 25. As a result, a single sealed space in which the water vapor generating part 21 is accommodated is formed in the accommodating body 22. The heating element 20 is used such that the first container sheet 23 side faces the wearer's lower limb side and the second container sheet 24 side faces the supporter 2 side (outside). The water vapor generated by the heat generation of the water vapor generating part 21 is applied to the user's lower limbs through the first container sheet 23 and the bag body 10.

  The water vapor generating unit 21 includes an oxidizable metal, a reaction accelerator, an electrolyte, and water, and is heated to a predetermined temperature using heat generated by an oxidation reaction caused by the oxidizable metal coming into contact with oxygen. Generates water vapor. Examples of the oxidizable metal include powders and fibers of iron, aluminum, zinc, manganese, magnesium, calcium, and the like. Among these, iron powder is preferably used in terms of handleability, safety, and manufacturing cost. When the oxidizable metal is a powder, the particle size is preferably 0.1 μm or more, more preferably 300 μm or less, and even more preferably 150 μm or less. Especially, it is preferable that it is 0.1-300 micrometers, and it is preferable to use what contains 50 mass% or more of things with a particle size of 0.1-150 micrometers especially. As the reaction accelerator, it is preferable to use a reaction accelerator that functions as a water retention agent and also has a function as an oxygen retention / supply agent for the oxidizable metal. For example, activated carbon (coconut shell charcoal, charcoal powder, calendar bituminous coal, peat, lignite), carbon black, acetylene black, graphite, zeolite, perlite, vermiculite, silica and the like can be mentioned. Among these, activated carbon is preferably used because it has water retention ability, oxygen supply ability, and catalytic ability. In view of effective contact with the oxidizable metal, the particle size of the reaction accelerator is preferably 0.1 to 500 μm, and more preferably 0.1 to 200 μm. .

  The steam heating tool 1 of the present embodiment includes menthol in the steam generation unit 21. In order to mix menthol with the water vapor generation part 21, it can mix by adding to the water vapor generation part 21 with the dissolving agent which melt | dissolves menthol. In particular, by adding menthol to the water vapor generating part 21 in a solution state in which the menthol is dissolved, even if a small amount of menthol is used, the menthol can be uniformly distributed throughout the water vapor generating part 21. It becomes. The solubilizer can be selected in consideration of compatibility with menthol and solubility, and as described above, a polyhydric alcohol that is a liquid substance at 25 ° C. is preferable, and among them, polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol have good volatility. Is preferable.

A solubilizer may be used alone or in combination of two or more. In addition, the menthol is sufficiently dissolved and added so as to spread uniformly throughout the water vapor generation unit 21, and from the viewpoint of further reducing the influence on the heat generation characteristics, the dissolving agent is based on the total mass of the water vapor generation unit 21. Preferably, it is 0.01 mass% or more, More preferably, it is 0.1 mass% or more, Most preferably, it is 0.5 mass% or more. The dissolving agent is preferably 20% by mass or less, more preferably 10% by mass or less, and still more preferably 5% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the water vapor generating part 21. Especially, a solubilizer becomes like this. Preferably it is 0.01-20 mass% with respect to the total mass of the water vapor generation part 21, More preferably, it is 0.1-10 mass%, More preferably, it is 0.5-5 mass. % Concentration.
The menthol is preferably 0.01% by mass or more, more preferably 0.1% by mass or more, and still more preferably 0.5% by mass with respect to the total mass of the water vapor generating part 21. That's it. Further, menthol is preferably 10% by mass or less, more preferably 5% by mass or less, and still more preferably 3% by mass or less with respect to the total mass of the water vapor generating part 21.
Further, from the viewpoint of sufficiently dissolving menthol, when the total mass of menthol and the solubilizer is 100, the solubilizer is preferably used in an amount of 5% by mass or more, more preferably 10% by mass or more, and particularly preferably 30%. More than 50% by mass is used, more preferably 50% by mass or more. Further, when the total mass of menthol and the solubilizer is 100, the solubilizer is preferably 99% by mass or less, more preferably 93% by mass or less, and still more preferably 90% by mass or less. More preferably, it is 80 mass% or less. Especially, when the total mass of menthol and a solubilizer is set to 100, it is preferably 5 to 99% by mass, more preferably 10 to 93% by mass, and still more preferably 30 to 90% by mass, Most preferably, it is 50-80 mass%.

The water vapor generating part 21 may be in the form of powder or sheet. Of the exothermic sheet and exothermic powder, it is preferable to use the exothermic sheet from the viewpoint that water vapor can be applied uniformly regardless of the posture of the wearer. Further, the heat generating sheet is more advantageous than the heat generating powder because the temperature distribution of heat generation can be made uniform easily and the ability to support an oxidizable metal is excellent. Examples of the exothermic sheet include those made by wet papermaking, those obtained by sandwiching exothermic powder with paper, and those obtained by applying exothermic powder dispersed in water to paper etc. It is done.
In the case where the water vapor generating part 21 is composed of a heat generating sheet, the heat generating sheet is preferably a water-containing fiber sheet containing an oxidizable metal, a reaction accelerator, a fibrous material, an electrolyte and water. That is, the exothermic sheet is preferably configured by containing an electrolyte aqueous solution in a molded sheet containing an oxidizable metal, a reaction accelerator and a fibrous material. In this case, the exothermic sheet is formed into a molded sheet containing 60 to 90% by mass of an oxidizable metal, 5 to 25% by mass of a reaction accelerator, and 5 to 35% by mass of a fibrous material with respect to the total amount of the molded sheet. It is preferable that 25 to 80 parts by mass of an aqueous electrolyte solution containing 1 to 15% by mass of electrolyte is contained with respect to 100 parts by mass of the molded sheet. By carrying out like this, the oxidation reaction of an oxidizable metal can be performed continuously and efficiently.

  Fibrous materials used in the heat generating sheet include natural fibers such as cotton, caboch, wood pulp and non-wood pulp, or semi-synthetic fibers such as rayon, viscose rayon and cupra, and nylon, acrylic, polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene. Synthetic polymer fibers such as polyurethane can be used. Any one or more of these can be used for the fibrous material used in the heat generating sheet. These fibrous materials preferably have an average fiber length of 0.1 to 50 mm and 0.2 to 20 mm from the viewpoint of securing the strength of the heat generating sheet and water dispersibility of the fibrous material.

  On the other hand, when the water vapor generating part 21 is made of exothermic powder, the exothermic powder is preferably composed of an oxidizable metal, a reaction accelerator, a water retention agent, an electrolyte, and water. At this time, the exothermic powder is preferably 20 to 60% by mass, more preferably 25 to 55% by mass with respect to the total solid content, more preferably 25 to 55% by mass, 1.5 to 25% by mass, preferably 2%. Preferably it is 0.3-15 mass% with respect to 100 mass parts of solid content containing the reaction promoter which is -20 mass%, and 3-40 mass%, More preferably, the water retention agent which is 5-20 mass%. More preferably, the electrolyte aqueous solution containing 3 to 10% by mass of the electrolyte is preferably 20 to 70 parts by mass, and more preferably 30 to 60 parts by mass. By carrying out like this, the oxidation reaction of an oxidizable metal can be performed continuously and efficiently.

  As various materials constituting the heat generating sheet and the heat generating powder, the same materials as those usually used can be used. Compared with exothermic powder, the exothermic sheet is easy to make the temperature distribution of exotherm uniform, and is also advantageous in that it has an excellent ability to support an oxidizable metal.

  The first container sheet 23 located on the skin side of the container 22 constituting the heating element 20 has air permeability so that air and water vapor can be transmitted. On the other hand, the second container sheet 24 facing the first container sheet 23 positioned on the skin side has a lower degree of air and water vapor transmission than the first container sheet 23. That is, the second container sheet 24 is less breathable or non-breathable than the first container sheet 23. Whether the second container sheet 24 is hardly breathable or non-breathable is appropriately selected according to the specific application of the steam heating device 1. When the second container sheet 24 is non-breathable, it is preferable because water vapor and menthol can be more stably and efficiently applied to the lower limbs.

  The first container sheet 23 and the second container sheet 24 in the heating element 20 are both made of a sheet material. And the container 22 of the heating element 20 is formed at the periphery thereof by the container connecting means 25 formed by bonding the peripheral portions of the sheet materials constituting the first container sheet 23 and the second container sheet 24 to each other. have. The container joint means 25 has a closed shape and is formed continuously. The first container sheet 23 and the second container sheet 24 are not bonded to each other at a portion inside the container bonding means 25. As a result, a single sealed space in which the water vapor generating part 21 is accommodated is formed in the accommodating body 22. As shown in FIG. 7, the water vapor generating part 21 is accommodated so as to occupy almost the entire area of the space formed in the accommodating body 22. That is, a single water vapor generating part 21 is accommodated in the accommodating body 22, and the water vapor generating part 21 is accommodated so as to occupy almost the entire area of the accommodating body 22 excluding the accommodating body joining means 25. In FIG. 7, the water vapor generating part 21 is simply accommodated in the sealed space of the container 22, but a joining means such as an adhesive is used to connect a part of the inner surface of the container 22 and the water vapor generating part 21 to the extent that heat generation is not hindered. You may fix using.

In the heating element 20, water vapor is preferentially released through the first container sheet 23 by appropriately adjusting the air permeability of the first container sheet 23 and the second container sheet 24. It is configured. Specifically, the air permeability of the second container sheet is greater than the air permeability of the first container sheet. Here, the air permeability is a value measured by JIS P8117, and is defined as the time required for 100 ml of air to pass through an area of 6.45 cm ² under a constant pressure. Therefore, a high air permeability means that it takes time to pass air, that is, the air permeability is low. Conversely, a low air permeability means high air permeability. Thus, the magnitude of the air permeability and the level of air permeability are opposite to each other. In this embodiment, when the air permeability of the first container sheet 23 and the second container sheet 24 is compared, the first container sheet 23 is higher than the second container sheet 24. Yes. That is, as described above, the second container sheet 24 is non-breathable or hardly breathable (that is, although it has breathability, it has lower breathability than the first container sheet 23). Or non-breathable.

  The container 22 has a first container sheet 23 located on the skin side and a second container sheet 24 on the side facing the first container sheet 23, and the first container sheet 23 located on the skin side passes through the first container sheet 23. It is configured to generate steam heat. Or the container 22 has the flat form which has the 1st container sheet | seat 23 located in the skin side, and the 2nd container sheet | seat 24 which is a non-breathable surface which opposes it, and the skin side has it. Steam temperature heat is generated through the first container sheet 23 positioned. When the second container sheet 24 is difficult to breathe, the air is given priority through the second container sheet 24 by balancing the air permeability of the first container sheet 23 and the second container sheet 24. As a result, the water vapor is preferentially discharged through the first container sheet 23 while flowing into the container 22.

  When the second container sheet 24 is breathable, from the viewpoint of suppressing the release of water vapor through the second container sheet 24 while ensuring the inflow of air through the second container sheet 24, The air permeability of the second container sheet 24 is preferably 1.5 times or more, more preferably 2 times or more the air permeability of the first container sheet 23. Alternatively, the ratio of the air permeability of the first container sheet 23 and the air permeability of the second container sheet 24 (first container sheet / second container sheet) may be 0.7 or less. Preferably, it is further preferable to set it to 0.4 or less. As a result, the release of water vapor through the second container sheet 24 can be further reduced, and the release of water vapor through the first container sheet 23 can be further increased. On the other hand, when the second container sheet 24 is non-breathable, the inflow of air into the container 22 and the generation of water vapor are performed exclusively through the first container sheet 23.

  The air permeability of the first container sheet 23 is preferably 5000 seconds / (100 ml) or more, more preferably 8000 seconds / (100 ml) or more, and even more preferably 10,000 seconds / (100 ml) or more. It is. The air permeability of the first container sheet 23 is preferably 25000 seconds / (100 ml) or less, more preferably 22000 seconds / (100 ml) or less, and even more preferably 20000 seconds / (100 ml). ) Especially, it is preferably 5000 to 25000 seconds / (100 ml), more preferably 8000 to 22000 seconds / (100 ml), and even more preferably 10,000 to 20000 seconds / (100 ml). On the other hand, regarding the second container sheet 24, if it is difficult to breathe, the air permeability of the second container sheet 24 is preferably 30000 seconds / (100 ml) or more, and further 40000 seconds / ( 100 ml) or more. By carrying out like this, the oxidation of an oxidizable metal can be accelerated | stimulated, and the menthol which volatilized with water vapor | steam can be stably and efficiently provided to a leg.

  The first container sheet 23 and the second container sheet 24 in the heating element 20 are both made of a sheet material. As the sheet material that controls the air permeability and prevents the powder from leaking out, a melt-blown nonwoven fabric or a moisture-permeable film is preferably used. The moisture-permeable film is obtained by forming a melt-kneaded product of a thermoplastic resin and an organic or inorganic filler that is not compatible with the resin into a film shape and stretching it uniaxially or biaxially. It has a structure. By configuring a laminated sheet by combining sheet materials having various air permeability and moisture permeability, there is a degree of freedom to set the air permeability of the first container sheet 23 and the second container sheet 24 to a desired value. Increase.

The steam heating tool 1 is entirely packaged by a packaging material (not shown) having an oxygen barrier property before use, so that the steam generation unit 21 does not come into contact with oxygen in the air. As the oxygen barrier material, for example, an oxygen permeability coefficient (ASTM D3985) of 10 cm ³ · mm / (m ² · day · MPa) or less is preferable, and 2 cm ³ · mm / (m ² · day (MPa) or less is more preferable. Specifically, a film such as an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer or polyacrylonitrile, a film obtained by depositing ceramic or aluminum on such a film, or an aluminum laminate film can be used.

  The steam heating tool 1 is manufactured by the following method, for example. First, the water vapor generation part 21 is obtained by uniformly adding a solution obtained by dissolving menthol in a solubilizer to a mixture containing an oxidizable metal, a reaction accelerator, an electrolyte and water. The steam generator 21 is housed in the housing 22 to obtain the heating element 20.

  Here, when the water vapor generation part 21 is a powder composition, solid components constituting the water vapor generation part 21 such as an oxidizable metal and a reaction accelerator are mixed, an electrolyte aqueous solution is added thereto, and menthol is further added. By adding the dissolved solubilizer, the water vapor generating part 21 is obtained, and by storing this in the container 22, the heating element 20 can be manufactured.

  On the other hand, when the water vapor generating part 21 is a heat generating sheet, a molded sheet containing an oxidizable metal and a reaction accelerator is prepared, and then a solution obtained by dissolving an aqueous electrolyte solution and menthol in a dissolving agent is added to the molded sheet. The water vapor generation part 21 is obtained by adding in order or substantially simultaneously, and the heating element 20 can be manufactured by storing this in the container 22. By manufacturing the heating element 20 by such a method, the menthol can be spread uniformly throughout the water vapor generating portion 21. The obtained heating element 20 is housed in the bag body 10, whereby the steam heating tool 1 is manufactured.

[Supporter 2]
8 and 9 are perspective views of the supporter 2. The supporter 2 shown in the figure is for a lower limb, and is composed of a cylindrical body having both ends opened. The supporter 2 is formed by knitting fibers as a whole. The supporter 2 is a straight cylinder extending in the longitudinal direction, and extends along a single linear axis X.

  The length of the supporter 2 in the longitudinal direction is longer than the length in the longitudinal direction of the steam heating tool 1 shown in FIG. The supporter 2 preferably has a circumference of about 180 to 550 mm when not stretched in the circumferential direction from the viewpoint that it can be worn on the lower limb with a sufficient tightening feeling. In FIG. 8, the circumference is the same throughout the longitudinal direction of the supporter 2, but as shown in FIG. 9, the circumference may be varied in the longitudinal direction.

  The entire supporter 2 is formed by knitting fibers, and has elasticity. Specifically, it is formed by circular knitting using stretchable fibers. It is preferable that the fibers constituting the supporter 2 are made of a hydrophobic material in addition to having elasticity. Examples of stretchable and hydrophobic fibers include fibers made of polyurethane and composite fibers of polyurethane and polyamide.

  Since the supporter 2 is formed by knitting, the whole has air permeability. The air permeability (JIS P8117) is smaller than the air permeability of the first container sheet 23 of the container 22 of the steam heating tool 1 and the air permeability of the second container sheet 24 (that is, the ventilation rate). The value is not particularly limited.

It is preferable that the supporter 2 has an appropriate degree of stretchability in the circumferential direction from the viewpoint of applying an appropriate pressure to the lower limbs. Specifically, as described above, the supporter 2 has a tensile strength of 2 to 25 N / 50 mm when the region covering the steam heating device 1 applied to the lower limbs is stretched by 200% in the circumferential direction. / 50 mm or more, preferably 20 N / 50 mm or less, more preferably 10 N / 50 mm or less. Especially, it is preferable that it is 8-10N / 50mm. In addition, in this specification, extending 200% means extending to a length twice as long as that before extension, and the elongation and tensile strength in the circumferential direction of the supporter 2 are determined by a tensile tester ( Tensilon; UCT-100W (manufactured by ORIENTEC)). The test piece is prepared by cutting the supporter 2 into a rectangle of 100 mm in the circumferential direction, preferably 50 mm in the longitudinal direction. The measurement is performed at a gripping length of 50 mm and a pulling speed of 100 mm / min.
Furthermore, in the entire region of the supporter 2, it is preferable that the tensile strength when extending 200% in the circumferential direction is 2 to 25 N / 50 mm.
In the supporter 2 in FIG. 8, the tensile strength when the back surface region 2B is extended by 200% in the circumferential direction is preferably in the above-described range. In the supporter 2 in FIG. It is preferable that the tensile strength when stretched 200% in the direction is in the above-described range.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the supporter 2 is located on one half surface side of the supporter 2 and covers the steam heating tool 1 applied to the lower limbs when worn on the lower limbs. It has a back region 2B that presses against the lower limbs, and a front region 2A that is located on the other half surface side of the supporter 2 and located on the side facing the back region 2B. The back region 2B preferably has a higher tightening pressure on the lower limb when worn than the front region 2A. For example, when the front region 2A is stretched with a stress of 10 N / 50 mm in the circumferential direction (perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical supporter 2) with a stress of 100, the back region 2B has the same stress in the longitudinal direction. The elongation when stretched is preferably 20 or more and 90 or less. It is preferably 35 or more, and is preferably 80 or less. In addition, in FIG. 8, the hatching part has shown that the clamping pressure differs from the part without hatching.
Thus, by making the tightening pressure for the lower limbs of the back region 2B higher than the tightening pressure for the lower limbs of the front region 2A, it is possible to improve the flow of the leg veins passing through the back of the lower limbs. In addition, since the steam heating device 1 is pressed against the lower limbs in the back region 2B, water vapor and menthol generated from the steam heating device 1 are applied to the lower limbs, so that the lower limb veins running on the rear surface of the lower limbs Blood circulation increases further. Thereby, the edema of the lower limb can be effectively improved. In the back region 2B, swelling of the lower limb can be effectively improved by the tightening effect while increasing blood circulation of the lower limb by applying water vapor and menthols generated from the steam heating device 1 to the lower limb.
On the other hand, it is possible to prevent the blood flow of the entire lower limb from deteriorating by setting the tightening pressure for the lower limbs of the front region 2A lower than the tightening pressure for the lower limbs of the back region 2B.

FIG. 9 shows another example of the supporter 2. In the supporter 2 shown in FIG. 9, an opening area 51 (first area), a central area 52 (second area), and an intermediate area 53 (third area) are provided. The opening areas 51 are provided at both ends of the supporter 2 and are areas for fixing the supporter 2 to the lower limbs when worn. Further, the central region 52 is a region that is located in the center in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body and that fixes the steam heating tool 1. The intermediate area 53 is an area provided between the opening area 51 and the central area 52.
The steam heating device 1 is disposed so as to straddle the back region 52B of the central region 52 and the back region 53B of the intermediate region 53. Then, the central portion of the steam heating device 1 is pressed and fixed to the lower limbs in the back region 52B of the central region 52, and the end portion of the steam heating device 1 is pressed and fixed to the lower limbs in the back region 53B of the intermediate region 53. Most of the region of the steam heating device 1 comes into contact with the back region 52B of the central region 52, so the back region 52B of the central region 52 mainly fixes the steam heating device 1 to the lower limb.
The opening area 51 and the intermediate area 53 are formed vertically symmetrical with respect to the center position in the longitudinal direction.
The total surface area of the central area 52 and the intermediate area 53 preferably occupies 50% or more of the entire surface area of the supporter 2, and more preferably occupies 70% or more. Although the upper limit of the surface area ratio of the central region 52 and the intermediate region 53 is not particularly limited, it is 80% or less. Moreover, the length of the longitudinal direction of the intermediate | middle area | region 53 is shorter than the center area | region 52, and it is preferable in it being 5-30% with respect to the full length of the supporter 2, and also more preferable in it being 18-28%.
By making the total surface area of the central area 52 and the intermediate area 53 50% or more of the entire surface area of the supporter 2, the steam heating device 1 can be stably fixed to the lower limbs, and menthol and steam generated from the steam heating device 1 Can be stably applied to the lower limbs.
In this supporter 2, the tensile strength when the back region 52B of the central region 52 is extended by 200% in the circumferential direction may be 2 to 25 N / 50 mm, but the back region 53B of the intermediate region 53 is also It is preferable that the tensile strength when extending 200% in the direction is 2 to 25 N / 50 mm. A preferable range of the tensile strength when the back region 53B of the intermediate region 53 is extended by 200% in the circumferential direction is 12 to 20 N / 50 mm.

  The central region 52 includes a raised portion 60 formed by three-dimensional molding knitting in a front region 52A that is a substantially half surface of a cylindrical body. The raised portion 60 has stretchability and has a substantially dome-like shape raised outward. In the central area 52, the raised portions 60 and portions other than the raised portions 60 are knitted integrally. The entire central region 52 including the raised portion 60 has elasticity. Further, the central region 52 has higher extensibility in the longitudinal direction than extensibility in the circumferential direction.

Compared with the raised portion 60, the back region 52 </ b> B of the substantially half surface facing the raised portion 60 in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body has a lower degree of elongation in the circumferential direction. Therefore, when the supporter 2 is attached, the tightening pressure on the lower limb of the back surface region 52B is higher than that of the raised portion 60. By doing so, it is possible to prevent displacement and to allow the supporter 2 to follow the knee bending and stretching movement at the raised portion 60. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the blood flow of the entire lower limb from deteriorating by setting the tightening pressure on the lower limb of the raised portion 60 to be lower than the tightening pressure on the lower limb of the back surface region 52B.
In addition, in the back region 52B, the steam heating tool 1 is held, and blood flow and menthol generated from the steam heating tool 1 are given to the lower limbs to enhance blood circulation of the lower limb veins running on the rear surface of the lower limbs. The limb edema can be effectively improved by the tightening effect. Specifically, when the extension when the raised portion 60 is extended in the circumferential direction of the supporter 2 with a stress of 10 N / 5 cm is 100, the extension when the back region 52B is extended in the same direction with the same stress. Is preferably 20 or more and less than 100, and more preferably 35-80.
A test piece for measurement is prepared by cutting each region of the supporter 2 into a rectangle of 100 mm in the circumferential direction and 50 mm in the longitudinal direction. The test piece is stretched in the circumferential direction using a tensile tester (Tensilon; UCT-100W (manufactured by ORIENTEC)), and the stress relative to elongation is measured. The measurement is performed at a gripping length of 50 mm and a tensile speed of 100 mm / min.
This measurement method is the same when measuring other regions described later.

The length of the central region 52 including the raised portion 60 in the longitudinal direction of the supporter 2 is, for example, preferably 50 to 120 mm, and more preferably 70 to 100 mm.
Further, from the viewpoint of not inhibiting the bending and stretching of the knee, it is preferable that the tensile strength when the raised portion 60 is extended by 200% in the circumferential direction is 10 N / 50 mm or less.

  The intermediate region 53 includes a concavo-convex region 56 that is a front region that extends in the circumferential direction of the supporter 2 and is adjacent to each other, and a back region 53 </ b> B that faces the concavo-convex region 56. The concavo-convex region 56 and the back surface region 53B each constitute a half circumferential surface of the supporter 2. The concavo-convex region 56 is located in the same direction as the raised portion 60 when viewed from the axis of the cylindrical supporter 2, and the back surface region 53B is It is located in the same direction as the back area 52B.

  In the circumferential direction of the cylindrical body, the back surface region 53 </ b> B, which is substantially half-faced facing the uneven region 56, is less elongated in the longitudinal direction than the raised portion 60. Therefore, when the supporter 2 is mounted, the tightening pressure on the lower limb is higher in the back surface region 53B than in the uneven region 56. This not only makes it difficult for the supporter 2 to be displaced, but also allows the supporter 2 to follow the knee bending and stretching movement in the uneven region 56, and holds the steam heating tool 1 in the back region 53 </ b> B. The blood flow from the steam heating device 1 is given to the lower limbs to increase the blood circulation of the lower limb veins running on the rear surface of the lower limbs, and effectively improve the lower limb edema by the blood circulation promoting effect and the tightening effect. Can do. Further, fixing to the lower limbs of the supporter 2 becomes more effective. Specifically, assuming that the elongation when the uneven region 56 is extended in the circumferential direction of the supporter 2 with a stress of 10 N / 5 cm is 100, the elongation when the back region 53B is extended in the same direction with the same stress. Is preferably 27 to 90, more preferably 27 to 72.

  Further, as shown in the drawing, a large number of uneven portions may be formed in the uneven region 56 by uneven knitting. The convex part and the concave part are formed in a staggered arrangement pattern. Both the convex part and the concave part have the same rectangular shape and can have the same size. In the concavo-convex region 56, a large number of concavo-convex portions are formed also on the inner surface side of the supporter 2. It is not. Thereby, when the supporter 2 is worn, the uneven portion becomes resistance to the lower limbs, and it is possible to prevent the supporter 2 from being displaced while appropriately tightening the lower limbs.

Moreover, it is preferable that the clamping pressure with respect to a leg is higher than the center area | region 52 at the time of wear, and specifically, the clamping pressure of each area | region of the supporter 2 satisfy | fills the relationship of following formula (1). Preferably it is.
Raised portion 60 <rear area 52B <uneven area 56 <rear area 53B (1)

  Thereby, in the uneven | corrugated | grooved area | region 56, while increasing blood circulation with the water vapor | steam and menthols which arise from the steam heating tool 1, in the back surface area | region 53B, the swelling of a leg can be improved effectively by the clamping effect. Further, fixing to the lower limbs of the supporter 2 becomes more effective.

  On condition that the above formula (1) is satisfied, the unevenness in the intermediate region 53 is defined as 100 when the elongation when the raised portion 60 in the central region 52 is extended in the circumferential direction of the supporter 2 with a stress of 10 N / 50 mm is 100. The elongation when the region 56 is elongated in the same direction with the same stress is preferably 30 to 80, and more preferably 40 to 70. Further, the elongation when the back region 53B in the intermediate region 53 is elongated in the same direction with the same stress is preferably 10 to 60, and more preferably 20 to 50.

  Further, the supporter 2 may be provided with a connection region 54 that connects the central region 52 and the intermediate region 53. The connection region 54 is configured such that the tightening pressure on the lower limb is higher than that of the central region 52 and the intermediate region 53. Specifically, the connection region 54 is a high contraction region having a higher contraction force in the circumferential direction than the central region 52 and the intermediate region 53, and the back region 53 </ b> B in the intermediate region 53 is 10 N / in the circumferential direction of the supporter 2. It is preferable that the elongation when the uneven region 56 in the intermediate region 53 is extended in the same direction with the same stress is 20 to 95, assuming that the elongation when the stress is extended with a stress of 50 mm is 100, and further 40 More preferably, it is set to -70. By so doing, it is possible to make a difference in height in the tightening pressure in the vertical direction with respect to the travel of the lower limb veins, and to further enhance the swelling effect of the lower limbs.

  The connection region 54 is continuously formed over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the supporter 2 and has an annular shape. The connection region 54 is integrally formed with the adjacent central region 52 and the intermediate region 53 including the uneven region 56 and the back region 53B.

The circumferential tension of the connection region 54 changes substantially linearly up to 150% elongation, and the tension of 150% elongation, that is, the tightening pressure on the lower limbs, is preferably higher than that of the back region 53B. Especially, it is preferable that the tension | tensile_strength of 150% elongation of the connection area | region 54 is 1.1 to 1.5 times that of the back surface area | region 53B.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the circumferential length of the connection region 54 is 80 to 95% of the circumferential length of the central region 52 or the opening region 51.
In addition, the said tension | tensile_strength is about the width direction of the supporter 2, The measuring method is as follows. In the case of the same knitting method in the circumferential direction, a sample is cut out in a circular shape with a width of 50 mm. When the width of 50 mm cannot be obtained, it is cut into a predetermined width and converted into a 50 mm width for the measurement result. Measurement is performed using a tensile tester (Tensilon; UCT-100W (ORIENTEC)). The gripping part uses an L-shaped hook, and pulls the round sample just above the L-shaped hook. The pulling speed at this time is 100 mm / min. On the other hand, if the knitting method is not the same for one round in the circumferential direction, the sample is cut into a rectangle taking into consideration the gripping area so that a width of 50 mm and a gripping length of 50 mm can be obtained. At this time, if it cannot be cut out to a predetermined size, the width and gripping length are converted to 50 mm. This sample is measured under the same conditions as described above.

  The length of the connection region 54 in the longitudinal direction of the supporter 2 is preferably 2 to 12% with respect to the total length of the supporter 2 from the point that the tightening force by the connection region 54 is effectively transmitted, and more preferably 4 to More preferably, it is 8%.

The opening area 51 also has elasticity like other parts of the supporter 2. A fine uneven portion may be formed on the inner surface side of the opening area 51. Thereby, the position shift of the supporter 2 can be prevented. The uneven portion is finer than the uneven portion formed in the uneven region 56 described above. Specifically, in the natural state (the unstretched state), the individual areas of the convex portions and the concave portions are preferably about 1 to 16 mm ² , more preferably about ² to 9 mm ² . In this case, the areas of the convex part and the concave part may be the same or different.

  The length of the opening area 51 in the longitudinal direction of the supporter 2 is preferably 4 to 20%, more preferably 7 to 15% with respect to the entire length of the supporter 2.

[How to use swelling improvement equipment]
Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2, a method of using the swelling improving device of the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1 (a), after attaching the steam heating device 1 to the back of the lower limbs, here, the back of the knee, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), the supporter 2 is attached and the steam heating device 1 is attached. Secure to the back of the knee. Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which one steam heating tool 1 is pasted, the steam heating tool 1 in the connected state shown in FIG. 3 may be pasted from the back of the knee toward the calf.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, after the steam heating tool 1 is attached to the calf, the supporter 2 is mounted as shown in FIG. 2B. FIG. 2A shows an example in which the longitudinal direction of the steam heating tool 1 in the connected state shown in FIG. 3 is attached along the calf arteriovenous blood vessel running, but the steam heating tool 1 is separated by the center line L. Only one sheet may be attached, or one end of the connected steam heating device 1 may be attached to the thigh side and the other end to the toe side, and attached in the longitudinal direction along the arteriovenous blood vessel running.

  The steam heating device 1 can apply menthol to the lower limbs while generating heat accompanied by water vapor for a predetermined time, for example, 2 to 12 hours, preferably 5 to 12 hours. Appears when the heating tool 1 is held and fixed for 10 minutes or longer. In order to obtain a higher swell improvement effect, it is preferable to keep the steam heating tool 1 held and fixed by the supporter 2 for 20 minutes or more, preferably 1 hour or more. Thus, the swelling improving device of the present embodiment can improve swelling of the lower limbs in a short time and simply.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, these are the illustrations of this invention, Various structures other than the above are also employable. For example, the steam heating tool of the present invention may be in a form other than a sheet. The supporter may have a shape other than the above-described embodiment as long as it has a specific tensile strength and is formed of a cylindrical body having both ends opened.

Example 1
As the steam heating tool 1 shown in FIG. 1, a steam heating tool containing l-menthol (content of l-menthol in the steam generating part: 0.9 mass%) is used, and the longitudinal direction of the steam heating tool 1 is calf ( 9cm above the heel, pasted in the vertical direction along the arteriovenous blood vessel running, and from above, wear the supporter shown in Fig. 9, sit on the chair, leave the sitting position for 30 minutes without moving the lower limbs The lower limbs were prone to edema. The supporter was cut into a rectangle of 100 mm in the circumferential direction and 50 mm in the longitudinal direction, and the tensile strength when stretched by 200% in the circumferential direction at a gripping length of 50 mm and a tensile speed of 100 mm / min was measured with a tensile tester (Tensilon; UCT -100W (manufactured by ORIENTEC)), the tensile strength of each region was as follows.
Opening area 51: 6.7 N / 50 mm
Raised portion 60 of front area 52A of central area 52: 7.4 N / 50 mm
Rear area 52B of the central area 52: 9.5 N / 50 mm
Front area of the intermediate area 53 (uneven area 56): 13.3 N / 50 mm
Rear area 53B of the intermediate area 53: 17.1 N / 50 mm
Connection area 54: 20.7 N / 50 mm
In addition, the steam heating tool 1 was produced in the following procedures.
<Raw material composition formulation>
・ Oxidizable metal: Iron powder, manufactured by Dowa Mining Co., Ltd., trade name “RKH”: 83% by mass
-Fibrous material: Pulp fiber (Fletcher Challenge Canada, product name NBKP “Mackenzi (adjusted to CSF 200 ml)”): 8% by mass
Reaction accelerator: Activated carbon (manufactured by Nippon Enviro Chemical Co., Ltd., trade name “Carborafine”, average particle size 45 μm) 9 mass%
<Iron activated carbon slurry production conditions>
Polyamide epichlorohydrin resin (manufactured by Seiko PMC Co., Ltd., trade name “100 parts by mass of solid content (total of oxidizable metal, fibrous material and activated carbon) of the raw material composition”. WS4020 ") 0.7 parts by mass and anionic flocculant sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Daiichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd., trade name" HE1500F "0.18 parts by mass. Water (industrial water) was further added. The slurry was added until the solid content concentration became 12% by mass.
<Slurry paper making conditions>
Using the slurry, it was diluted with water to 0.3% by mass immediately before the paper making head, and paper was made at a line speed of 15 m / min by an inclined short paper machine to produce a wet shaped sheet.
<Molding sheet drying conditions>
The molded sheet was sandwiched between felts, dehydrated under pressure, passed through a 140-degree heating roll as it was, and dried until the water content became 5% by mass or less. The basis weight after drying was 450 g / m ² and the thickness was 0.45 mm. The composition of the molded sheet thus obtained was measured using a thermogravimetric measuring device (TG / DTA6200, manufactured by Seiko Instruments Inc.), and as a result, the composition was 83 mass% iron, 9 mass% activated carbon, and 8 mass% pulp. .
<Production of water vapor generating part 21 and heating element 20>
The obtained molded sheet was cut into 49 mm × 49 mm, three sheets were stacked, and 40 parts by mass of 7% saline solution and 5 parts by mass of menthol polyethylene glycol solution were added dropwise to 100 parts by mass of the molded sheet. The ratio of menthol to the total mass of the water vapor generating part 21 was 0.9 mass%. These were permeated into the entire molded sheet using capillary action to obtain a rectangular sheet-shaped water vapor generating part 21. The entire sheet-shaped water vapor generating portion 21 was wrapped with a polyethylene ventilation film to obtain a heating element 20. As this ventilation sheet, one having different air permeability between the skin facing surface side and the outside was used. The air permeability (JIS P8117) of the container sheet 23 was 10,000 seconds / 100 ml, and the air permeability (JIS P8117) of the container sheet 24 was 69000 seconds / 100 ml.
<Production of steam heating tool 1>
The said heat generating body 20 was accommodated in the bag body 10, and the steam heat generating tool 1 was obtained. The bag body sheet 11 is composed of an air-through nonwoven fabric composed of polyethylene terephthalate fibers and polyethylene fibers, the bag body sheet 12 is composed of a spunbond nonwoven fabric composed of polyethylene fibers, and the periphery of the bag body sheet 11 and the bag body sheet 12 is made of hot melt adhesive. It was joined. On the outer surface of the bag sheet 11, a hot melt pressure-sensitive adhesive for fixing to the lower limbs was provided.

Comparative Example 1
In Example 1, the steam heater was not applied and only the supporter shown in FIG. 9 was worn and left for 30 minutes.

[Evaluation 1]
1. Lower limb circumference For Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, changes in the circumference of the calf (30 cm above the heel) before and after the implementation were examined. The results are shown in FIG.
2. Population Arterial Vascular Resistance For Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, the blood flow velocity of the popliteal artery running on the posterior surface of the knee was evaluated by an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (SSA350 manufactured by Toshiba Corporation) before and after the implementation. For the evaluation of the hemodynamics of the popliteal artery, RI (Resistance Index) was used for the popliteal artery vascular resistance. RI was calculated by the following formula (2).
_{RI = (V max -V min)} / V max ··· (2)
In formula (2), V _max is the blood flow rate during systole, and V _min is the blood flow rate during diastole. RI is an index indicating peripheral vascular resistance, and a decrease in RI value indicates a decrease in peripheral vascular resistance.
The results are shown in FIG. In FIG. 11, the vertical axis indicates the amount of change in RI calculated by subtracting the pre-implementation RI from the post-implementation RI. The smaller the value, the smaller the arterial vascular resistance, that is, the blood flow It is easy to flow.
3. Popliteal Vein Flow Velocity For Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, the blood flow velocity of the popliteal vein running on the posterior surface of the knee was measured by an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus (SSA350 manufactured by Toshiba Corporation) before and after the implementation. The results are shown in FIG.

Example 2
In Example 1, it was made the same except having changed the wearing time from 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Example 3
In Example 2, the procedure was the same except that the steam heating tool was attached to the back of the knee.

Comparative Example 2
The procedure was the same except that the supporter was not worn in Example 2.

Comparative Example 3
In Example 2, it replaced with the supporter and it carried out similarly except having used the commercially available pressure socks (Medicut HC toe plus, SS Healthcare Japan Co., Ltd.). In addition, a 30 cm portion on the heel of this supporter was cut into a rectangle of 100 mm in the circumferential direction and 50 mm in the longitudinal direction, and the tensile strength when stretched 200% in the circumferential direction at a gripping length of 50 mm and a pulling speed of 100 mm / min was tensile. When measured with a testing machine (Tensilon; UCT-100W (manufactured by ORIENTEC)), it was 32.5 N / 50 mm, and the tension in the front region and the back region was almost the same.

Example 4
In Example 2, a menthol-containing steam heating tool was used, and the same procedure was applied except that the longitudinal direction of the steam heating tool was perpendicular to the arteriovenous blood vessel run on the calf (30 cm above the heel). .

[Evaluation 2]
For Examples 2 to 3 and Comparative Examples 2 and 3, the change in the circumference of the calf (30 cm above the heel) was examined. The results are shown in FIG.

  The results of FIG. 10 and the results of FIG. 13 are summarized below.

From Comparative Examples 1 and 2,
(1) When only a supporter having a predetermined tensile strength is worn (2) In any case where only a steam heating device containing menthol is worn, it is understood that there is no effect of improving swelling.
On the other hand, referring to Examples 1 to 3, it can be seen that there is a swelling improvement effect only when a supporter having a predetermined tensile strength and a steam heating device containing menthol are used in combination.
In addition, when Examples 2 and 3 are compared with Comparative Example 3, even if a menthol-containing steam heating device is used, an effect is not obtained in a sock with too much tensile strength, not a cylinder with both ends open, It can be seen that a very good swelling improvement effect can be obtained only in combination with a cylindrical supporter having both ends of the tensile strength opened.
Moreover, also in Example 4, the favorable swelling improvement effect was acquired. However, the swelling improvement effect of Example 2 was greater than that of Example 4.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steam heating tool 2 Supporter 2A Front area | region 2B Back area | region 10 Bag body 11 1st bag body sheet 12 2nd bag body sheet 13 Joining means 14 Fixing means 15 Cut 20 Heat generating body 21 Water vapor generating part 22 Container 23 First Container sheet 24 second container sheet 25 container joint means 51 opening region 52 central region 52B back region 53 intermediate region 53B back region 54 connecting region 56 uneven region 60 raised portion L center line X axis

Claims (10)

A steam heating device having a water vapor generating part utilizing heat generated by an oxidation reaction of an oxidizable metal, and applying water vapor to the lower limbs;
A supporter composed of a cylindrical body having both ends opened, used to fix the steam heating device to the lower limbs;
With
The steam heating device contains menthol,
The said supporter is a swelling improvement instrument whose tensile strength is 2-25N / 50mm when the area | region which covers the said steam heating tool applied to the leg is extended 200% in the circumferential direction. The supporter composed of the cylindrical body is
When worn on the lower limbs, a back region that is the region covering the steam heating device applied to the back side of the lower limbs;
A front region located on the side facing the region;
With
The swelling improvement instrument according to claim 1, wherein the back region has a higher tightening pressure on the lower limbs when worn than the front region. The supporter is
A first region that is provided at both ends of the supporter and fixes the supporter to the lower limb when worn;
A second region located in the center of the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body and fixing the steam heating device;
A third region provided between the first region and the second region;
Further comprising
The swelling improvement device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the third region has a higher tightening pressure on the lower limbs than the second region when worn.   The swelling improvement instrument according to claim 3, wherein the total surface area of the second region and the third region occupies 50% or more of the entire surface area of the supporter. The supporter is
A connection region connecting the second region and the third region;
The swelling improvement instrument according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the connection region has a higher tightening pressure on the lower limb than the third region.   The swelling improvement device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the steam heating device is fixed to a back surface of a lower limb by the supporter.   The swelling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the steam heating device is fixed by the supporter so that the longitudinal direction of the steam heating device is along the arteriovenous blood vessel running on the back of the lower limb.   The swelling improvement device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the steam heating tool is fixed to a region including at least a knee sole by the supporter.   The swelling improvement instrument of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 8 which contains the said menthol in the said water vapor generation part.   The swelling improvement apparatus of Claim 9 whose content of the menthol contained in the said water vapor generation part is 0.01-10 mass% with respect to the said whole water vapor generation part.

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