JP2018175044A - Secretion promotion device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a secretion promotion device capable of promoting secretion of saliva or lacrimal fluid in a greater variety of methods.SOLUTION: A secretion promotion device 1A promotes secretion of saliva or lacrimal fluid. A pair of electrodes 2A and 2B are wound around a vagus nerve N1 of the neck H1 to give electric stimulation to the vagus nerve N1, which is a dominant nerve involved in secretion of saliva or lacrimal fluid. A pulse generator 3 is connected to the pair of electrodes 2A and 2B through a lead wire 4, and is buried in the chest H2 of a subject P. The pulse generator 3 applies electric stimulation to the pair of electrodes 2A and 2B through the lead wire 4. Thereby, the electric stimulation is given to the vagus nerve N1, and secretion of saliva is promoted. Thus, the present invention acts on the nerve dominating a stimulation site to promote the secretion of saliva or the secretion of lacrimal fluid through a parasympathetic reflex arc, or directly stimulates the nerve projected to salivary or lacrimal glands, thereby promoting secretion of saliva or lacrimal fluid.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a secretion promoting device.

  Dry mouth (dry mouth) is one of the diseases related to the oral cavity. For dry mouth, symptomatic treatment such as using artificial saliva or moisturizer is often taken to cope with dryness in the oral cavity and mucous membrane pain. Moreover, although a salivary secretion promoter is used for the mouth dryness resulting from Sjogren's syndrome (Sjogren's syndrome) which is an autoimmune disease which causes atrophy of exocrine glands including salivary glands, its effect is limited and nausea Side effects such as nausea are also of concern. Therefore, there is a demand for the realization of safe fundamental therapy for dry mouth. From such a background, for example, there is disclosed a secretion promoting device which directly applies to the salivary glands an electrical stimulation by interference waves of electric signals of different frequencies without using a drug to promote the secretion of saliva. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, dry eye (corneal dryness) is one of the eye-related diseases. It is said that there are more than 8 million dry eye patients in Japan, and it is reported that the population is aging in Japan, or in advanced countries such as the United States where the aging rate is high. is there. In addition, it is related to the use of personal computers and smartphones, and it is feared that the number of patients will increase explosively in the future. For dry eye, at present, symptomatic treatment with eye drop treatment is mainly used to cope with dry eye and tiredness, but the use of drugs has a concern for side effects. There are other surgical treatments that plug or tear out the lacrimal punctum that drains tear fluid, but this method also has the disadvantage that its effect is not permanent and it involves surgical invasion.

  Furthermore, in recent years, bruxism has become a problem. Bruxism causes symptoms such as dental attrition, atherosclerotic defects, prosthetic device failure, bruises, masticatory pain and so on. For bruxism, splint therapy, which is a symptomatic treatment that wears a device called splint in the oral cavity to protect teeth, has been mainly used. Besides splint therapy, there are also drug therapy and biofeedback therapy, but it is not very practical.

Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2016-112142

  In the invention according to Patent Document 1, the site to which the electrical stimulation is given is limited to the salivary gland itself. However, depending on the condition of the patient, it may be difficult to apply the electrical stimulation directly to the salivary gland, and in such a case, the device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is applied to the patient. It is not possible. This is also true for the lacrimal gland.

  We have found that electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve is effective in promoting the secretion of saliva or tears. In addition, we have found that electrical stimulation of the auricle, in which vagus nerve branches are distributed, promotes salivary secretion as a result of experiments. Furthermore, we found that salivary secretion by electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve was effective in suppressing bruxism.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a secretion promoting device capable of promoting the secretion of saliva or tear in more various ways.

In order to achieve the above object, the secretion promoting device according to the first aspect of the present invention is
A secretion promoting device for promoting the secretion of saliva or tear fluid of a subject, comprising:
A pair of electrodes attached to a site at or near the control nerve for secretion of saliva or tears;
An electrical stimulation application unit that applies electrical stimulation to the control nerves related to the secretion of saliva or tear fluid via the pair of electrodes to promote secretion of saliva or tear fluid;
Equipped with

In this case, it is embedded in the body,
The pair of electrodes are wound around a vagus nerve passing through the neck,
The electrical stimulation application unit applies electrical stimulation directly to the vagus nerve via the pair of electrodes.
You may do it.

Further, the pair of electrodes is attached to an ear of the subject,
The electrical stimulation applying unit percutaneously applies, via the pair of electrodes, electrical stimulation passing through the vicinity of the ear among the control nerves related to the secretion of saliva or tear fluid.
You may do it.

The pair of electrodes are attached to the face and neck of the subject,
The electrical stimulation applying unit percutaneously applies, via the pair of electrodes, electrical stimulation to nerves passing near the face and neck among the control nerves related to the secretion of saliva or tear fluid.
You may do it.

It has a measurement unit that measures the amount of secretion of saliva or tear fluid,
The electrical stimulation application unit
When the amount of secretion of saliva or tear measured in the measurement unit decreases, an electrical stimulus is applied to the control nerves related to the secretion of saliva or tear via the pair of electrodes.
You may do it.

Equipped with a myoelectric meter that measures muscle muscle potential related to temporal muscle activity,
The electrical stimulation application unit
When the muscle's myoelectric potential related to temporal muscle activity measured by the myoelectric meter exceeds a threshold, an electrical stimulation is applied to the control nerve related to saliva or tear secretion via the pair of electrodes.
You may do it.

As the pair of electrodes,
A plurality of sets of electrodes that simultaneously apply electrical stimulation to nerves passing through a plurality of different sites of the subject among the control nerves related to saliva or tear secretion,
You may do it.

  According to the present invention, the salivary gland (including the minor salivary gland), the saliva or tear fluid indirectly by stimulating the control nerve related to the secretion of the saliva or tear fluid, without directly applying the electrical stimulation to the lacrimal gland. Can promote the secretion of Since the control nerves related to saliva or tear secretion pass through various sites such as the ear and neck, the site to which the electrical stimulation is applied can be set at various sites. As a result, the secretion of saliva or tears can be promoted in more various ways.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the implantation type secretion promotion apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the neural pathway regarding the saliva or tears of a subject. FIG. 3A is a schematic view showing a configuration of an earphone-type secretion promoting device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 3B is a schematic view showing a portion where a pair of electrodes abut. It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the percutaneous secretion promotion apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state equipped with myoelectric meter. It is a block diagram showing the composition of the secretion promotion device provided with two or more sets of a pair of electrodes.

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

Embodiment 1
First, the secretion promoting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The secretion promoting device according to the present embodiment promotes the secretion of saliva or tear fluid of a subject. The secretion promoting device provides electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is one of 12 pairs of cranial nerves, also called Xth cranial nerve. The vagus nerve is an afferent nerve that comes out of the posterior lateral groove of the medulla oblongata, passes through the neck and reaches the abdomen in the cranial nerve, controls movement and senses the muscles of the pharynx and larynx, and the viscera to the chest and abdomen. Is the parasympathetic nerve that governs

  A portion of afferent fibers of the vagus nerve transmit digestive system stimulation to the vagus nerve dorsal nucleus and participate in the secretion of saliva and tear fluid via the superior and inferior salivary nuclei. Therefore, the secretion promoting device according to the present embodiment applies an electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve in the neck in order to mount the device in a certain procedure.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the secretion promoting device 1A is used by being embedded in the body of a subject P. The secretion promoting device 1A includes a pair of electrodes 2A and 2B and a pulse generator 3 as an electrical stimulation applying unit as its components.

  A pair of electrodes 2A, 2B are attached to the vagus nerve N1 to provide electrical stimulation. The skin of the neck H1 of the subject P is incised by about 5 cm, and the vagus nerve N1 of the neck H1 of the subject P is exposed, the pair of electrodes 2A and 2B are wound around the vagus nerve N1 with an interval. .

  The pulse generator 3 applies an electrical stimulus to the vagus nerve N1 through the pair of electrodes 2A and 2B to promote the secretion of saliva or tear fluid. The electrical signal to be stimulated is a pulse-like electrical signal that changes periodically. The period is, for example, about 200 Hz, the current is about 0.1 mA, and the application time is about 5 minutes, but is not limited to this value. The pulse generator 3 incises the skin of the chest H2 of the subject P by about 5 cm and is embedded in the chest H2. The lead wire 4 is also embedded in the body of the subject P.

  The pulse generator 3 applies, via the lead wire 4, a pulse-like electric signal that fluctuates periodically to the pair of electrodes 2A and 2B. This pulsed electrical signal is applied between the pair of electrodes 2A and 2B, and is transmitted to the vagus nerve N1 as an electrical stimulation.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the vagus nerve N1 transmits digestive tract stimulation from the abdominal viscera to the vagus nerve dorsal nucleus N2. The stimulation transmitted to the vagus nerve dorsal nucleus N2 is transmitted to the solitary nucleus N3. Solitary nucleus N3 is a termination nucleus of afferent fibers from vagus nerve N1. The solitary nucleus N3 transmits this stimulus to the upper salivary nucleus N11 and the lower salivary nucleus N12 via the saliva center.

  The upper salivary nucleus N11 stimulates the submandibular gland S1 and the sublingual gland S2 via the middle nerve N21, the chorda tympani nerve N22, the tongue nerve N23, and the submandibular ganglion N24 to secrete saliva, as well as the middle nerve N21, The lacrimal gland S3 is stimulated to secrete lacrimal fluid via the large pyramidal nerve N31, the wing palate ganglion N32, and the zygomatic nerve N33. The superior salivary nucleus N11 is present in the bridge and is the origin of secretory fibers of the submandibular gland S1 and the sublingual gland S2. The intermediate nerve N21 is one of the cranial nerves and constitutes a broad sense VII cranial nerve (facial nerve), and includes efferent nerve fibers that govern the submandibular gland S1 and the sublingual gland S2 and the lacrimal gland S3 from the superior salivary nucleus N11. The chorda tympani nerve N22 branches from the middle nerve N21, reaches the anterior through the tympanic membrane of the middle ear, and joins the lingual nerve N23 at the subtemporal fossa. The tongue nerve N23 is a branch of the mandibular nerve that is the third branch of the trigeminal nerve, but in the tongue nerve N23, nerves not derived from the trigeminal nerve, such as the chorda tympani nerve N22, also travel and reach the submandibular ganglion N24 There is. The submandibular ganglion N24 is a parasympathetic ganglia and is located below the lingual nerve and above the submandibular gland S1 near the anterior edge of the hyoid tongue muscle. The submandibular gland S1 is one of the major salivary glands and is located under the maxilloglossoid muscle. The sublingual gland S2 is also one of the major salivary glands, and is above the submandibular muscle below the mucous membrane of the buccal floor.

  From the upper salivary nucleus N11, a secretory fiber promoting secretion of the submandibular gland S1 and the sublingual gland S2 exits through the intermediate nerve N21. This secretory fiber travels with the intermediate nerve N21, the chorda tympani nerve N22, and the tongue nerve N23, and is replaced with the postganglionic fiber in the submandibular ganglion N24 and then distributed to the submandibular gland S1 and the sublingual gland S2. The postganglionic fibers from the submandibular ganglia N24 are vasomotor and secretory nerves, which promote glandular secretion. Damage to the intermediate nerve N21 causes loss of taste in the anterior 2/3 area of the tongue and diminished salivation on the same side.

  The great pyramidal nerve N31 separates from the facial nerve at the facial nerve knee and exits through the great pyramidal nerve tube to the front of the temporal bone cone, then penetrates the cartilage of the ruptured hole and exits to the extracranial base, Ends in ganglion N32. The wing palatal ganglion N32 is a ganglion located in the wing palate fossa. The zygomatic nerve N33 is a nerve that runs along the zygomatic bone and carries the parasympathetic post-node fibers from the wing palate ganglion N32 to the lacrimal gland S3. The postganglionic fibers from the wing palate ganglion N32 are vasomotor and secretory nerves and promote glandular secretion. The lacrimal gland S3 is one of the appendage glands present in the upper outer orbit, and secretes tear fluid by the above-mentioned nerve stimulation.

  That is, from upper saliva nucleus N11, a secretory fiber that promotes the secretion of tear fluid by lacrimal gland S3 also exits through intermediate nerve N21. This secretory fiber travels with the intermediate nerve N21 and the great pyramidal nerve N31, and substitutes with the postganglionic fiber in the wing palate ganglion N32, and distributes to the lacrimal gland S3 via the zygomatic nerve N33 running along the zygomatic bone. From the above, among the salivary glands, the submandibular gland S1, the sublingual gland S2 and the lacrimal gland S3 receive parasympathetic innervation from the upper nerve nucleus which is the primary sympathetic center.

  On the other hand, the lower salivary nucleus N12 stimulates the parotid gland S4, which is the largest salivary gland, via the glossopharyngeal nerve N41, tympanic nerve N42, small pyramidal nerve N43, otoganglia N44, and auroral temporal nerve N45. Secrete. The lower salivary nucleus N12 is present in the medulla oblongata and is the origin of parotid secretory fibers. The glossopharyngeal nerve N41 is one of the cranial nerves and is also called the IX cranial nerve. The tympanic nerve N42 branches from the glossopharyngeal nerve N41, penetrates the wall of the tympanic cavity, reaches the inner cranial base, and becomes a small pyramidal nerve N43. The small pyramidal nerve N43 travels medially medially through the small pyramidal nerve groove and exits the foramen ovale with the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve or from the butterfly pyramidal cleft into the temporal lobe fossa and enters the ear ganglion N44. The ear ganglia N44 sends parotid secretory fibers to the parotid gland S4 via the auricle temporal nerve N45. Parotid gland S4 is the largest salivary gland and has a triangular shape and is in front of and below the ear canal.

  From the lower saliva nucleus N12, secretory fibers that promote the secretion of saliva by the parotid gland S4 exit through the glossopharyngeal nerve N41. This secretory fiber travels with the tympanic nerve N42 and the small pyramidal nerve N43, substitutes for the postganglionic fiber at the otoganglia N44, and passes through the auroral temporal nerve N45 and distributes to the parotid gland S4.

  The nerves mentioned above are afferent nerves or efferent nerves in the parasympathetic pathways for saliva or tear secretion. The vagus nerve N1 is an afferent nerve, and the other nerves are efferent nerves. These nerves form a reflex arch of saliva and tear fluid. The secretion promoting device 1A applies the electrical stimulation, that is, the pulsed electric signal, to the vagus nerve N1 in the reflection bow using the reflection bow. Afferent nerve fibers project to the superior salivary nucleus N11, which is the primary center of parasympathetic nerve, and project from the upper salivary nucleus N11 to the submandibular gland S1, sublingual gland S2 and lacrimal gland S3 in an efferent manner, promoting their respective secretions .

  When electrical stimulation is applied to the vagus nerve N1 by the secretion promoting device 1A according to the present embodiment, the stimulation is transmitted to the vagus nerve dorsal nucleus N2 and the solitary nucleus N3 as described above. The superior and inferior salivary nuclei N11 and N12 stimulate the submandibular gland S1, the sublingual gland S2 and the parotid gland S4 through efferent nerves to promote the secretion of saliva and stimulate the lacrimal gland S3 for tears Promotes the secretion of fluid.

  Thus, according to the secretion promoting device 1A of the above embodiment, the subject P directly stimulates the submandibular gland S1, the sublingual gland S2, the lacrimal gland S3, and the parotid gland S4 with injuries on the face and the like. Stimulate the submandibular gland S1, the sublingual gland S2, the lacrimal gland S3, and the parotid gland S4 by stimulating the vagus nerve N1 to indirectly promote the secretion of saliva or tear fluid Can.

Second Embodiment
First, the secretion promoting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the secretion promoting device 1 </ b> B according to the present embodiment is an earphone type device attached to the ear E of the subject P.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (A), the secretion promoting device 1B has an earphone 5 attached to the ear E of the subject P. The earphone 5 is connected to the pulse generator 3 via the lead wire 4.

  The earphone 5 is attached with a pair of electrodes 2C and 2D. When the earphones 5 are attached to the ears of the subject, the pair of electrodes 2C and 2D abut on the concha versicolor F shown in FIG. 3 (B). The concha convolvulus F is a recess between the pair of wheels, between the pair of wheels and the wheel leg, and is the portion closest to various nerves passing through the skin of the ear E.

  The pulse generator 3 percutaneously applies an electrical stimulation to nerves passing near the ear E among the control nerves related to the secretion of saliva or tear fluid via the pair of electrodes 2C and 2D, Promotes secretion. Also in the present embodiment, the electrical stimulation is a pulsed electrical signal that fluctuates periodically.

  For example, a vagal auricular branch, which is a branch of a vagus nerve N1, passes under the condyle F, and when a pair of electrodes 2C and 2D is applied with a pulsed electric signal, the electric signal is , Through the skin of the ear E, to the vagal auricle branch.

  When electrical stimulation is applied to the vagal auricle branch by the secretion promoting device 1B according to the present embodiment, the stimulation is transmitted to the solitary nucleus N3, as shown in FIG. , N12 efferently stimulates the submandibular gland S1, the sublingual gland S2, the lacrimal gland S3, and the parotid gland S4 through various nerve nuclei to promote secretion of saliva and tear fluid.

  As described above, according to the secretion promoting device 1B according to the above-described embodiment, the vagus nerve N1 is the subject P is an injury or the like, and can not directly stimulate the salivary glands S1, S2, S4, the lacrimal gland S3, etc. The stimulation of the branches of can promote the secretion of saliva or tears.

  In addition, when a pulse-like electrical signal is applied to the pair of electrodes 2C and 2D, the electrical signal is transmitted to the solitary nucleus N3 and the superior salivary nucleus N11 in the center through the branch of the vagus nerve N1, It is transmitted to the tympanic nerve N22.

  The electrical stimulation applied by the secretion promoting device 1B according to the present embodiment is transmitted to the solitary nucleus N3 and the superior salivary nucleus N11 in the center via the branch of the vagus nerve N1, and then transmitted to the tympanic nerve N22. The stimulation stimulates the submandibular gland S1 and the sublingual gland S2 via the tongue nerve N23 and the submandibular ganglia N24. By this stimulation, saliva is secreted.

  As described above, according to the secretion promoting device 1B according to the above-described embodiment, the vagus nerve N1 is the subject P is an injury or the like, and can not directly stimulate the salivary glands S1, S2, S4, the lacrimal gland S3, etc. After being transmitted to the solitary nucleus N3 and the superior salivary nucleus N11 in the center through the branches of the E. coli, the secretion of the submandibular gland S1 and the sublingual gland S2 can be promoted by stimulating the chorda tympani nerve N22. In this manner, lacrimal gland secretion can be promoted by promoting lacrimal secretion through afferent nerve vagal nerve N1 branches or efferently stimulating the intermediate nerves constituting the facial nerve.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the vagus nerve N1 can be electrically stimulated noninvasively (noninvasively), the physical burden on the subject P can be reduced. In addition, the cost of using the device can also be reduced.

  The position where the electrodes 2C and 2D abut on is not limited to the concha convolvulus F, and may be another part of the ear E. For example, a pair of electrodes may be provided on the portion of the earphone 5 inserted into the outer ear to apply electrical stimulation to the outer ear.

Third Embodiment
First, the secretion promoting device according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The secretion promoting device according to the present embodiment is a device for applying an electrical stimulation percutaneously. As shown in FIG. 4, the secretion promoting device 1 </ b> C according to the present embodiment is a device attached to the face and neck B of the subject P.

  The secretion promoting device 1C includes a pad 6 attached to the face and neck B of the subject P. The pad 6 is provided with a pair of electrodes 2E and 2F. When the pad 6 is attached to the face and neck B of the subject P, the pair of electrodes 2E and 2F are in contact with the face and neck B of the subject P.

  The pulse generator 3 outputs a pulse-like electric signal that periodically fluctuates to the pair of electrodes 2E and 2F through the lead wire 4. The pair of electrodes 2E and 2F apply electrical stimulation to nerves passing near the face and neck B among the control nerves related to the secretion of saliva or tear fluid. That is, stimulation of the vagus nerve N1 branch promotes secretion of the lacrimal gland via the zygomatic nerve N33.

  Under the face and neck B of the subject P, branches of a vagus nerve N1 pass. When a pulsed electric signal is applied to the pair of electrodes 2E and 2F, the electric signal is transmitted to the branch of the vagus nerve N1 through the skin.

  When an electrical stimulus is applied to the branch of the vagus nerve N1 by the secretion promoting device 1C according to the present embodiment, the stimulus is transmitted to the solitary nucleus N3 as described above. Furthermore, the superior and inferior salivary nuclei N11 and N12 project efferently through various nerve nuclei to stimulate the submandibular gland S1, the sublingual gland S2, the parotid gland S4 and the lacrimal gland S3. This stimulation promotes the secretion of saliva and tears. That is, afferent and efferent stimulation of the submandibular gland S1, the sublingual gland S2, the lacrimal gland S3, and the parotid gland S4 is promoted to promote secretion of saliva and tear fluid.

  As described above, according to the secretion promoting device 1C according to the above-described embodiment, even if the subject P can not directly stimulate the salivary glands S1, S2, S4, and the lacrimal gland S3 due to injury or the like, the vagus nerve N1 can not Stimulation can indirectly promote secretion of saliva or tear fluid.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the vagus nerve N1 can be electrically stimulated noninvasively (noninvasively), the physical burden on the subject P can be reduced. In addition, the cost of using the device can also be reduced.

  In addition, the secretion promoting devices 1A, 1B, and 1C according to the above-described embodiments apply the electrical stimulation of the neck H1, the ear E, and the face and neck B. In this way, it is possible to selectively stimulate nerves at various sites according to the condition of the subject P to perform efficient treatment. Furthermore, it is also possible to narrow down the lesion in the subject P to a certain extent, depending on the difference in the state of secretion of saliva or tear when the site to which the electrical stimulation is applied is changed.

  Alternatively, at least two of the secretion promoting devices 1A, 1B, and 1C may be attached at the same time, and electrical stimulation may be applied to the neck H1, the ear E, and the face and neck B simultaneously. In this way, the stimulation can be intensified to promote the secretion of saliva or tear without increasing the amount of electricity applied to each site.

  As described above in detail, according to each of the above-described embodiments, it is possible to control nerves related to the secretion of saliva or tear fluid without directly applying electrical stimulation to the salivary glands S1, S2, S4, and the lacrimal gland S3. Stimulation can indirectly promote secretion of saliva or tear fluid. The control nerves related to saliva or tear secretion pass through various sites such as neck H1, ear E, face and neck B, so it is possible to set the place to apply the electrical stimulation to various places. . As a result, the secretion of saliva or tears can be promoted in more various ways.

  Such a device can not be easily conceived without obtaining a knowledge that the secretion of saliva is promoted by the electrical stimulation to the nerve that promotes the secretion of saliva.

  Further, according to each of the above-described embodiments, secretion of saliva or tear can be promoted without administering a drug to the subject P. Thereby, the burden on the subject P (patient) can be reduced.

  In addition, the secretion promoting devices 1A, 1B, and 1C according to the above-described embodiments may include a measurement unit that measures the amount of secretion of saliva or tear fluid. When the secretion of saliva or tear drops below the threshold in the measurement unit, the pulse generator 3 may apply an electrical stimulus to the subject P via the electrodes 2A, 2B and the like. In addition, the secretion promoting devices 1A, 1B, and 1C are provided with a switch for starting electrical stimulation, and the electrical stimulation can be started by the subject P's intention (when the subject P determines that the eyes and mouth are dry) You may do so.

  In addition, the lesion site in the subject P is measured by measuring the secretion state of saliva or tear when the site to which the electrical stimulation is applied is changed using the secretion promoting devices 1A, 1B, and 1C according to the above-described embodiments. (Abnormal site) can be identified. For example, when direct electrical stimulation is performed on salivary glands S1, S2 and S4, saliva is successfully secreted, whereas when saliva is not successfully secreted even if vagal nerve N1 is stimulated, vagal nerve N1 is I can doubt the abnormality. The present invention may also be used to identify dry mice and nerves that cause dry eye.

  Furthermore, we also found that electrical stimulation of the control nerves related to saliva has a suppressive effect on bruxism. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the simplified myoelectric meter 10 is set to the ear E of the subject P during sleep, and the output of the simplified myoelectric meter 10 is used as a trigger, ie, the simplified myoelectric meter 10 The secretion promoting device 1B attached to the ear E, when it is detected that the temporal muscle activity measured in step B. becomes active, that is, the muscle potential of the muscle related to the temporal muscle activity exceeds a threshold value, Electrical stimulation may be applied to the control nerves related to saliva or tears. In this way, the secretion of saliva is promoted, and acid clearance in the swallow and esophagus suppresses bruxism. That is, it is also possible to use the secretion promoting devices 1A to 1C according to the above-described embodiments for suppression of bruxism.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, among the control nerves related to the secretion of saliva or tear fluid, the secretion promoting device 1D simultaneously applies electrical stimulation to nerves passing through a plurality of different portions of the subject P simultaneously. The pair of electrodes (2A, 2B), (2C, 2D), and (2E, 2F) may be provided.

  Moreover, the nerve which gives an electrical stimulation is not restricted to the thing of said each embodiment. Electrical stimulation may be applied to any nerve shown in FIG. 2 as long as the nerve constitutes a reflex arch related to saliva or tear fluid shown in FIG. For example, the vagus nerve N1 may be provided with electrical stimulation in the abdomen and chest of the subject P. Also, the submandibular gland S1, the sublingual gland S2, the lacrimal gland S3, and the parotid gland S4 can be stimulated individually. For example, stimulation of the large pyramidal nerve N31 can stimulate only the lacrimal gland S3, and stimulation of the tympanic nerve N42 can stimulate only the parotid gland S4.

  The present invention is capable of various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, the embodiment described above is for explaining the present invention, and does not limit the scope of the present invention. That is, the scope of the present invention is indicated not by the embodiments but by the claims. And, various modifications applied within the scope of the claims and the meaning of the invention are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

  The present invention can be used to promote the secretion of saliva or tear fluid from a subject.

  1A, 1B, 1C, 1D Secretion Promoter, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F Electrodes, 3 Pulse Generators, 4 Leads, 5 Earphones, 6 Pads, 10 Simple EMG, N1 Vagus Nerve, N2 Vagus nerve dorsal nucleus, N3 solitary nucleus, N11 superior salivary nucleus, N12 inferior salivary nucleus, N21 intermediate nerve, N22 chorda tympani nerve, N23 tongue nerve, N24 submandibular ganglia, N31 great pyramidal nerve, N32 wing palate nerve Nodal segment, N33 zygomatic nerve, N41 glossopharyngeal nerve, N42 tympanic nerve, N43 small pyramidal nerve, N44 otoganglia, N45 temporal condylar nerve, S1 submandibular gland (salivary gland), S2 sublingual gland (salivary gland), S3 Lacrimal gland, S4 parotid gland (salivary gland), P subject, H1 neck, H2 chest, E ear, F ear conjunctiva, B face, neck

Claims (7)

A secretion promoting device for promoting the secretion of saliva or tear fluid of a subject, comprising:
A pair of electrodes attached to a site at or near the control nerve for secretion of saliva or tears;
An electrical stimulation application unit that applies electrical stimulation to the control nerves related to the secretion of saliva or tear fluid via the pair of electrodes to promote secretion of saliva or tear fluid;
Secretion promoting device comprising: Embedded in the body,
The pair of electrodes are wound around a vagus nerve passing through the neck,
The electrical stimulation application unit applies electrical stimulation directly to the vagus nerve via the pair of electrodes.
The secretion promoting device according to claim 1. The pair of electrodes are attached to the ear of the subject,
The electrical stimulation applying unit percutaneously applies, via the pair of electrodes, electrical stimulation passing through the vicinity of the ear among the control nerves related to the secretion of saliva or tear fluid.
The secretion promoting device according to claim 1. The pair of electrodes are attached to the face and neck of the subject,
The electrical stimulation applying unit percutaneously applies, via the pair of electrodes, electrical stimulation to nerves passing near the face and neck among the control nerves related to the secretion of saliva or tear fluid.
The secretion promoting device according to claim 1. It has a measurement unit that measures the amount of secretion of saliva or tear fluid,
The electrical stimulation application unit
When the amount of secretion of saliva or tear measured in the measurement unit decreases, an electrical stimulus is applied to the control nerves related to the secretion of saliva or tear via the pair of electrodes.
The secretion promoting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Equipped with a myoelectric meter that measures muscle muscle potential related to temporal muscle activity,
The electrical stimulation application unit
When the muscle's myoelectric potential related to temporal muscle activity measured by the myoelectric meter exceeds a threshold, an electrical stimulation is applied to the control nerve related to saliva or tear secretion via the pair of electrodes.
The secretion promoting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. As the pair of electrodes,
A plurality of sets of electrodes that simultaneously apply electrical stimulation to nerves passing through a plurality of different sites of the subject among the control nerves related to saliva or tear secretion,
The secretion promoting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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