JP2536808B2 - Measuring / treatment device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a measuring / treating apparatus most suitable for diagnosing a disease utilizing a change in skin resistance and for treating a disease caused by electrical stimulation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a measurement / treatment device of this type, a device called a neurometer is known. A schematic diagram of this device is shown in FIG. 4 and a circuit diagram thereof is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a hammer-shaped measuring conductor 102, which is a cathode, and a grip conductor 103, which is an anode, are attached to the apparatus body 101. The practitioner uses these electrode parts 10
2, 103 are brought into contact with each other and adjusted so that a current of 200 microamperes flows, so that diagnostic measurement and treatment are performed.

[0003]

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the neurometer circuit has a structure in which a variable resistor 104 is simply provided between a living body, particularly a human body, and a power source, and not only measurement but also treatment. Since a current of 200 microamperes is also used in this case, the magnitude of the current actually flowing in the patient's body during treatment is about 45 to 60 microamperes. Since this value is too large as a stimulus value, it causes pain to the patient. As described above, there is a drawback with respect to treatment involving pain, in particular in the case of a patient who is sensitive to pain, such as a child, who is afraid to stop being actively treated. Not only that, but the more serious problem is 45-
The electrical stimulation of 60 microamperes has an adverse effect on the living body at the cellular level, as will be described later.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a measuring / treating apparatus which can change the magnitude of the electric current used for the measurement and the treatment and can perform the treatment with the electric current most suitable for the living body.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a measuring / treating apparatus according to claim 1 has a first electrode fixed at a fixed position on a living body and a desired position on the living body. A second electrode that is placed, and a measurement unit that measures a value obtained when a current having a constant value is applied to the living body through the first and second electrodes. When two electrodes are sequentially arranged at a plurality of different positions to perform measurement, relative measurement values can be obtained with respect to each other, and measurement is further performed via the first and second electrodes. A treatment unit that outputs a constant DC current of 20 microamperes or less, which is different from the output current at the time, and a switching unit that switches the measurement unit and the treatment unit, and selectively select the measurement unit and the treatment unit. The feature is that it is made to operate. The measurement / treatment device according to a second aspect of the invention is characterized in that the second electrode is composed of a wet electrode having a diameter of about 1 cm.

By the way, the present inventor investigated the effect of current stimulation on cells in vitro from a numerical and morphological point of view. For the experiment, a spatula S3 (HeLa S
3) Epithelial cells (Puck et al., 1959, cervical cancer-derived cells) and L strain cells (subcutaneous connective fiber-derived cells) were used. The culture medium used was Eagle Minimal Essential Medium (hereinafter, Eagle MEM) containing 10% calf serum for HeLa S3 epithelial cells, and Eagle containing 5% calf serum for L strain cells. MEM was used. Two types of cells were placed in a Petri dish containing the above culture solution and cultured in a 5% CO ₂ incubator at 37 ° C for several days (for example, 4 days). The raw materials used as the base layer are glass and polyethylene. To calculate the number of cells, the residual cells on the dish were fixed with 10% formalin, stained with crystal violet, and the number of cells per unit area was calculated using an image analyzer.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a part of the result of the calculation of the cell number of HeLaS3 cells, in which the horizontal axis represents the number of culture days and the vertical axis represents the cell number. In FIG. 3, A is a control group to which no electric stimulation is given, and B is 70 after 4 days of culture.
Cells that were electrically stimulated with microamps, and C are cells that were electrically stimulated with 20 microamps after 4 days of culture. From this result, the number of cells is 20
When a current of microamperes was applied, the cells were fed, and C is the cells that were electrically stimulated with 20 microamperes after 4 days of culture. From this result, the cell number did not change even after 6 days of culture when a current of 20 microamperes was applied, and a decrease in the number of cells was observed when a current of 70 microamperes was applied. From this result, it was found that 20 microamperes is a critical value for preventing damage to the living body when a current is applied to the living body. Also, in one experiment,
When a current of 0 microamperes or less was applied, the cell number was significantly increased as compared with the control group. From this, it was found that the magnitude of the electric current used for treatment is preferably 10 microamperes or less. Similar results were obtained in the case of L strain cells. Based on the results of this experiment, when patients were actually treated with an output current of 20 microamps or less (10 to 5 microamps in most cases), good treatment effects were obtained in most patients. Was given. Also, when a large electric current is used, the stimulus is felt as a great pain, so that the patient who was reluctant to the treatment did not dislike the treatment. Thus, the efficacy of current values below 20 microamps during treatment was clinically demonstrated.

[0008]

At the time of measurement, the device is switched by the switching means so that the measuring section is operated, and for example, 200 microamperes are allowed to flow. Then, for example, in the state where the first electrode is held in the palm by holding the measured person such as a patient in the palm, the practitioner, that is, the measurer, moves the second electrode to a plurality of predetermined positions of the limbs of the patient. Apply to each and measure at each measurement point. By this measurement, a value related to the current-carrying resistance of the skin at each position is obtained. Since the skin resistance value changes by reflecting the excitability of the autonomic nerve, it is possible to diagnose a disease from the value obtained by the measurement. Then, the measurement results are entered in a predetermined medical record, and finally,
Diagnosis is performed based on the obtained combination of measured values. A point on the autonomic nerve is used as the point used for the measurement, and this measurement point represents the state of each internal organ connected to this autonomic nerve. Since the position of the first electrode is always constant, the plurality of values obtained by the measurement are relative to each other and indicate the relative state between the internal organs.

On the other hand, when the treatment is performed, the switching means is switched so that the treatment section is activated. During treatment, the patient holds the first electrode and the practitioner holds the other electrode, as in the measurement. From the diagnostic result based on the above measured values, the practitioner determines the point to be stimulated by passing an electric current, and a DC current of 20 microamperes or less, actually, 5 to 10 microamperes is output to this point. . A point on the autonomic nervous system is also used as a treatment point. These points are generally called "pots" in Oriental medicine. By the way, when a wet electrode is used as the second electrode, if an electrode having a diameter of 2 cm or more is used, a current flows more easily in the upper body and becomes harder to pass in the periphery of the limbs. Although it is difficult to obtain an accurate value as the value, in the measurement / treatment device according to the second aspect, since the diameter of the second electrode is approximately 1 cm, the current flows almost uniformly throughout the body. Therefore, a more accurate measurement value can be obtained.

[0010]

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a measurement / treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2A and 2B are circuit diagrams of a measurement unit and a treatment unit of the measurement / treatment device shown in FIG. 1, respectively. Is.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a device main body in which a measuring section and a treatment section are incorporated, 2 is an electrode, a gripping conductor held by the patient, and 3 is another electrode, which is applied to the measuring site of the patient. It is a measuring conductor. The grip guide 2 has a diameter of about 2.3 cm and a length of about 6.5 cm so that the patient can easily grip it.
Brass is chrome plated. Further, the measuring conductor 3 is a wet electrode and is used by being wet with a liquid such as water. The diameter is about 1 cm. The reason for this is that, when a wet electrode is used, a current of 2 cm or more in diameter is more likely to pass through the upper half of the body, and the more difficult it is to reach the periphery of the limbs, the more likely it is that the electrode is 1 cm This is because the electric current flows almost uniformly over the whole body when the degree is set to a certain level. 5 is the measurement unit ON /
An OFF switch, 6 is a measurement current adjustment knob, 7 is an ON / OFF switch for the treatment section, 8 is a treatment current adjustment knob, and 9 is a selector for switching between the measurement section and the treatment section.

The circuit of the measuring section and the treatment section of the apparatus will be described below with reference to FIG. First, the measuring unit 50 shown in FIG. 2A will be described. In FIG. 2A, 11 is a 12V DC battery for the measurement circuit, 12 is the measurement circuit power switch (corresponding to the ON / OFF switch 5),
Reference numeral 13 is a variable resistor which is adjusted so that i1 will flow at 200 microamperes with no load at the time of measurement.
The value of 3 is determined by the ammeter 14 and the ground resistance 15. The grounding resistance 15 prevents an excessive current i1 from flowing even when the biological resistance is close to zero. a and b are biometric terminals (corresponding to the gripping conductor 2 and the measuring conductor 3 in FIG. 1), c. Reference numeral d is an ammeter terminal, which is switched and connected by the select cool 9 at the time of immediate determination and at the time of treatment. In the measuring unit 50, the measuring terminals a. When b is short-circuited, that is, when the gripping conductor 2 and the metal portion of the measuring conductor 3 are brought into contact with each other, 200 microamperes (i1 = 200 microamperes) are flown so that the measuring current adjusting knob 6 , That is, variable resistor 1
Adjust with 3. After that, both terminals a. The main body is connected to b and the amount of current at the measurement point is measured.

On the other hand, the treatment section 70 is a circuit including a constant current circuit C and a meter circuit M, as shown in FIG. 2 (B). In FIG. 2B, 16 is a 12V DC battery for the treatment circuit, which is a DC battery 11 for measurement.
Is common with. Reference numeral 17 is a power supply switch of the treatment circuit (corresponding to the treatment ON / OFF switch 7), 18 is an operational amplifier for constant current circuit (power supply voltage ± 9 V), and 19 is a constant current amount i2 varied between 0 and 20 microamperes. 20 is a step-down resistor for setting the voltage at low, and 21 is a semi-fixed variable resistor for adjusting the constant current amount i2 to a maximum of 20 microamperes. Further, 22 is an operational amplifier which functions as a buffer for electrically disconnecting the constant current circuit C and the meter circuit M, and 23.
Is an ammeter, 24 is when i2 is 20 microamps,
It is a semi-fixed variable resistor that adjusts so that 200 microamperes flow through the ammeter 23. Ammeter for treatment unit 2
3 and the ammeter 14 of the measuring unit are switched according to the switching of the selector 9.

In the constant current circuit C of the treatment unit 70, the voltage at the point becomes the same as the voltage at the point due to the characteristics of the operational amplifier, and the constant current amount i2 is determined by the resistor R2 between the ground 25. It here,
The more output voltage is determined according to the ratio of the bioresistance and R2, but the upper limit is set in relation to the power supply voltage of 12V (9V in this embodiment). Therefore, in order to make i2 a constant current even when the bioresistance is large,
The voltage at must be set low in order to earn the gain of →.

On the other hand, in the meter circuit M, since the current used is a minute current, more voltage is taken out to drive the meter. When 10 microamperes flow as the constant current i2, the ampere meter outputs 200 microamperes (i
(3 = 200 microamps) By adjusting the semi-fixed variable resistor 24 to flow, a 200 microamp ammeter is used as a 20 microamp ammeter. It should be noted that a makeup may be provided to indicate the pressure applied to the skin via the measuring conductor so that the measuring conductor 3 can be pressed against the skin of the patient with a constant force.

The device having the above structure can be used as follows. First, at the time of measurement, the device is switched to the measuring section side by the selector 9. Then, before the measurement, the device is adjusted in advance by the adjusting knob 6 so that 200 microamperes will flow. The measurement is performed at 12 measurement points located at the end of the nerve. The measurements at these points represent the amount of energy stored in each organ connected to the autonomic nervous system. These points are the "pots" that are called Haraana in Oriental medicine.
There are 12 in total, 6 on each of the hands and feet. First measure the original hole in the hand and then the original hole in the foot.

After the measurement is completed, the measured value is written in a predetermined chart, and the diagnosis is performed based on the measurement result. The practitioner determines the point to be stimulated based on this diagnosis result. When the treatment point is determined, the device is switched to the treatment side by switching the selector 9, and the current stimulation of 0 to 20 microamperes is given.

[0018]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, by switching between the measuring section and the treating section by the switching means, the currents of different magnitudes are measured and treated. Can be flushed. And in the measurement section,
When the first electrode is fixed at a fixed position and the second electrode is sequentially arranged at a plurality of different positions for measurement, it is possible to obtain a relative measurement value with respect to each other. By applying the second electrode to the acupuncture point on the autonomic nerve that reflects the state of each internal organ, the relative state between the internal organs can be known, and by this, the systemic system which is particularly important in Oriental medicine is important. You can know the condition. On the other hand, the magnitude of the direct current used during treatment is a number obtained based on the results of cell experiments and a value that has been clinically proved to be effective, without damaging the living body. Current stimulation can be given to provide effective treatment. In addition, the current used during treatment is a maximum of 20 microamps, usually 10 microamps, which is a very small current stimulus, so children and sensitive patients can receive treatment without fear. You can Further, in the invention of claim 2, since the second electrode is composed of a wet electrode having a diameter of about 1 cm, an electric current can be evenly passed through the whole body, so that a more accurate measurement value can be obtained at the time of measurement. Obtainable. Therefore, more accurate diagnosis is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a measurement / treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A and 2B are circuit diagrams of the measurement / treatment device in FIG. 1, in which FIG. 2A is a circuit diagram of a measurement unit and FIG. 2B is a circuit diagram of a treatment unit circuit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the results of cell experiments by the present inventors.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional measurement / treatment device.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the conventional measurement / treatment device.

[Description of sign]

1 ... Measurement / treatment device, 2 ... grip conductor, 3 ... measuring conductor, 5
... ON / OFF switch of measuring unit, 6 ... Current adjusting knob for measurement, 7 ... ON / OFF switch of treating unit, 8 ... Current adjusting knob for treatment, 9 ... Selector, C ... Constant current circuit,
M: Meter circuit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-51-84186 (JP, A) JP-A-1-242072 (JP, A) JP-A-2-126861 (JP, A) Actual development Sho-61- 10741 (JP, U) Actual public Sho 31-17881 (JP, Y1)

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first electrode fixed at a fixed position on a living body, and a second electrode placed at a desired position on the living body, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. A measurement unit that measures a value obtained when a current having a constant value is applied to a living body is provided, and when the measurement is performed by sequentially arranging the second electrode at a plurality of different positions, relative to each other. And a therapeutic unit for outputting a constant direct current of 20 microamperes or less, which is different from the output current at the time of measurement, through the first and second electrodes. A measuring / treating apparatus comprising: a switching unit that switches between the measuring unit and the treatment unit so that the measuring unit and the treatment unit are selectively operated. 2. The measuring / treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode is a wet electrode having a diameter of about 1 cm.