JP2537592Y2 - Small biological thermal stimulator - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

The present invention relates to a small living body thermal stimulator capable of providing a required living body thermal stimulation (hot moxibustion stimulation) in spite of a small power source, and furthermore, a small living body which can be made ultra-small enough to be directly attached to a human body and used. The present invention relates to a thermal stimulator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been provided an electric moxibustion device for converting electric energy into heat energy using a commercial power supply, but it does not require a commercial power supply or the like, and uses a bandage or a poultice. Similarly, a device that can be reduced in weight and size to the extent that it can be stuck and used on the skin has not yet been proposed. Naturally, in order to achieve weight reduction and miniaturization to the extent that it can be adhered to the skin, the power source is, of course, small batteries (micro batteries) such as button batteries and paper batteries, as well as miniature batteries. Where the use cannot be avoided, the following problems must be raised in using these microbatteries.

That is, in order to obtain the required heat energy,
The prerequisite is that the battery current must be kept flowing through the heating element, and it is impossible to obtain electrical energy equivalent to sufficient thermal energy by merely using a microbattery as described above.

[0004] Therefore, the range of time, place, and the like for using the conventional electric moxibustion device (electric heat stimulation device) is limited, and it is impossible to use it at the time of activities such as work and housework. .

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, the present inventors have conducted intensive studies and, as a result, have found that preferably a small battery and a heating element, and a pulse-like output means for intermittently supplying electric energy supplied from the small battery to the heating element. By utilizing the prevention of excessive outflow of current from the battery and the increase in transient resistance that occurs when electric energy is supplied to the heating element, the internal resistance of the battery and the output voltage drop of the battery can be reduced. While using a small-capacity battery with a small number of preventive elements, we found that heat needed for moxibustion stimulation and thermal stimulation was obtained,
A small and lightweight biothermal stimulator was realized.

[0006] In addition, warm moxibustion stimulation is a study of "mogusa", which is frequently used in moxibustion (physical therapy, P3 published by Nanzando)
44-345), it is known that heating a living body along a unique heating pattern (heat curve) is effective.

Information based on the heating pattern and the heat generation change curve of the heating element is stored in a signal processor, which processes the stored information to control the heat generation pattern of the heating element. As a result, an effective heating element stimulation equivalent to or longer than "Mogsa" has been realized for a long time.

[0008]

In FIG. 1, a power supply section (1) is connected to one end of a heating element (3), and the other end of the heating element (3) has a low on-resistance.
FET (field-effect transistor) (4). The emitter of the FET (4) is the power supply (1)
Is connected to the negative side of The output terminal (c) of the drive pulse (c) output from the pulse oscillator (2) is connected to the base.

The power supply unit (1) is composed of a primary battery or a secondary battery of a coin type, a cylindrical type, an ultra-thin type, a pin type or the like, and is preferably the smallest battery that can be actually used.
Any device may be used as long as it is used for a handy type device such as a memory card or a watch. The power supply unit (1) may be a capacitor charged by an external charger. In practice, a configuration in which a secondary battery is used for the power supply unit (1) and an external charger is provided is preferable, but not limited to this.

The pulse oscillator (2) has a signal processor, a multivibrator, and a frequency divider for outputting a drive pulse whose pulse width and pulse interval can be fixed or changed with time according to an algorithm shown in a program or the like. , A timer, and the like. In the case of a signal processor, an input unit for artificially setting an output mode may be provided.

An example of the configuration of a case where the above-described signal processor is a general-purpose one-chip microcomputer will be described. The signal processor is, for example, an RO for storing a program.
M, RAM, a central processing unit for generating drive pulses based on this program, and a memory. This program is an algorithm for setting the pulse mode of the output drive pulse and an algorithm for executing a combination of the pulse modes. The pulse mode masked in the ROM in advance is, for example, This is a function routine indicated by increasing or decreasing the pulse interval, setting a constant pulse width, increasing or decreasing the pulse width, changing the output terminal for setting the constant pulse width, or the like. The input is a part for selecting a pulse mode desired by the user with an open / close switch, a mode SW or the like. When a selection signal from the input is input to the central processing unit, the central processing unit sends an address signal to the ROM, the program is called according to the address signal, and a drive pulse is generated. The drive pulse is a pulse output from a pulse oscillator.

The heating element (3) converts electric energy into heat energy. The material is not particularly limited, for example, nichrome wire, posistor, miniature bulb, laser,
Strobe discharge tube or nickel, tungsten, C
It may be a filament or a sheet, a coil, or a ceramic that generates far-infrared rays formed of a thermoelectric material such as u, Ag, or Au. The heat generation temperature is preferably up to about 300 ° C. Further, the heating element is not limited to a simple heating element, but includes a combination of a heating element and a heat collecting plate.

Next, the operation of the circuit configuration diagram shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

The pulse generator (2) in FIG. 1 outputs a rectangular wave pulse shown in FIG. 3 (i) as a drive pulse.

By the pulse shown in FIG.FET
(4) turns on and off,FETHeating element when (4) is on
A current flows through (3). FIG. 4 (ii) shows the heating element (3).
It is a waveform of a flowing current.

The heating element (8) converts electric energy into heat energy.

The heating element (8) generates heat by drawing a temperature curve as shown in FIG. 3 (iii). This heat is applied to the living body. When the FET (4) turns off, the current flowing through the heating element (3) stops.

In this embodiment, the exothermic temperature is set to about 200 ° C. at the maximum.

The time-dependent transition (temperature curve) of the temperature generated by the heating element differs depending on the heating element, and FIG. 3 (iii) is an example. FIG. 2 shows that the FET of FIG.
The other configuration is the same as that of FIG. 1 only by changing from PN to PNP, so that the description is omitted.

When the signal processor (2) is a general-purpose one-chip microcomputer as described above, a program to be stored in advance is required. An example of the program is shown in the flowchart of FIG.
This will be explained in detail.

The contents of the flowchart show the case where the control routine for the pulse width of the drive pulse and the control routine for the pulse interval of the drive pulse are performed. There are also other functional routines such as routines for increasing or decreasing the pulse interval.

The parameters for controlling the pulse width and interval are stored in the ROM in advance. Here, the parameters were set as follows. Also, the memories (registers) built in the microcomputer are designated as r ₁ and r ₂ .
Star - the door SW ON, and sets the value of M ₁ to r _1. As the drive pulse, “1”, that is, a high level is output.

It is determined whether the value of r ₁ is “0”. r ₁
Is "0", the drive pulse becomes "0" and a low level is output. Then, it is determined whether or not the value of r ₂ is "0". If the value of r ₂ is not "0" proceeds drawn only value one of r _2. If the value of r ₂ is “0”,
Drive pulse is in a state of "1", a high level is output, the value of M ₁ to r ₁ progresses been stored.

[0024] If the value of r ₁ is not "0", 1 the value of r ₁
, Set r ₂ to the value of M ₂ , and proceed to.

As described above, the parameters M ₁ , M ₂ , M
_3, according to M _4, the drive pulse is desired pulse width is outputted as pulse interval.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a signal processor according to the present invention in which the signal processor shown in FIG. 9 has a configuration suitable for use in an IC such as a gate array instead of the general-purpose microcomputer described above.
And a configuration example thereof will be described.

In (16G), the signal processor is inside. Each oscillation pulse of the reference oscillator (16-1) is 1 / N ₁ frequency divider (16-4) are respectively connected to the 1 / N ₂ frequency divider (16-5). N ₁ and N ₂ are time.

The 1 / N ₁ divider (16-4) and the 1 / N ₂ divider (16-5) are connected to the selection means (16-6). The selection means (16-6) is a monostable oscillator (16-7)
The output terminal (16c) of the monostable oscillator (16-7) is an output terminal of the drive pulse.

The selection means (16-6) is a monostable oscillator (16-7) that selects one of the 1 / N ₁ divider (16-4) and the 1 / N ₂ divider (16-5). , And has a function of selecting the external input signal (k-2).

The monostable oscillator (16-7) is connected to the selection means (1).
It has a function of outputting a pulse having a pulse width set by the external input signal (k-3) to the output terminal (16c) according to the output signal of 6-6).

The counter (16-3) is provided with a reference oscillator (16).
The oscillation pulse of -1) is counted. External input signal (k
When the signal of -1) is input to the control means (16-2),
The start signal is supplied from the control means (16-2) to the counter (1).
Input to 6-3). The count value of the counter (16-3) is inputted to the control means (16-2), and the control means (16-
2) When a predetermined value is reached, the reference oscillator (16-1)
Output a signal to stop oscillation. The signal output of the reference oscillator (16-1) starts when the external input signal (k
It depends on the control signal output from the control means (16-2) at the time of output of -1).

The frequency of the reference oscillator (16-1) of the signal processor (16G) is, for example, 1 k
Hz, 5 kHz, and 10 kHz, about 20 kHz is preferable.

When it is desired to generate a drive pulse having another specific pulse interval or pulse width, it can be satisfied by further adding a frequency divider.

The operation of the signal processor having the above configuration and shown in FIG. 9 of the present invention will be described.

The reference pulse output from the reference oscillator (16-1) is divided into 1 / N ₁ and 1 / N ₂ respectively. 1 /
N ₁ divided and 1 / N ₂ frequency division is at the selection means (16-6), either trigger one of the monostable oscillator (16-7) -
Output as a signal. The monostable oscillator (16-7)
Upon receiving this trigger signal, a drive pulse is output to the output terminal (1).
Output to 6c).

The reference pulse of the reference oscillator (16-1) is counted by the counter (16-3) according to the start signal, and a signal is outputted to the control means (16-2) at a predetermined value.
In response to this signal, the control means (16-2) sends a stop signal to the reference oscillator (16-1), and the reference oscillator (16-
The operation of 1) is stopped.

The pulse oscillator according to the present invention can be formed by a microchip IC having a whole size of several mm ² to several tens mm ² and a thickness of several mm. For example, a ROM for storing a program, A microcomputer with a built-in CPU, an ASIC in which the above program or algorithm is represented by a PLD, a gate array, and a standard cell, and / or pulse waveform information of a drive pulse is stored in a storage element in advance, and the output of the storage element is output. This shows a LUT system that outputs stored waveform information, a microprogram sequencer that generates drive pulses by a microprogrammed algorithm, etc. In the above embodiment, a general-purpose 4-bit C-MOS Microcomputers (SM-500, SM-590, SM-591 (Char-
) And μpD7554 (manufactured by NEC)) are preferably used.

The heating time and the heating temperature are shown in FIGS.
It is set by the pulse width of the output drive pulse of the pulse oscillator (2). There is a case where one heat is generated by one pulse, and a case where one heat is generated by outputting a plurality of pulses. One heat generation time is, for example, up to 20 (sec).
It is about. The frequency of the drive pulse is preferably 50 kHz or less.

The above numerical values are merely examples, and may be changed as appropriate according to the characteristics of the heating element, the user's preference, and the like. Further, when a heat generation pattern is formed by generating a drive pulse having an intermittent periodicity, it is not necessary to form a pulse oscillator using a special chip as described above.

In general, the current and voltage flowing through an electronic circuit are easily controlled by a manual variable resistor. Therefore,
Further, even if a manual variable resistor is added to the present invention to control the amount of heat or the interval of heat generation by controlling the circuit current and voltage, this is merely an addition. Is included.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a circuit for detecting a decrease in the voltage value of the small battery and increasing the pulse width of the drive pulse to increase the amount of electric energy supplied to the heating element, and its operation will be described. The circuit shown in FIG. 10 is a part of the pulse oscillator according to the present invention.

The battery voltage input / output unit (401) has a resistor (41).
The capacitor (4) is connected to the anode side of a parallel circuit of 3) and the diode (402), and the cathode side of the diode (402) is grounded at the other end via a resistor (403).
04) is connected to one end (410).

The output of the NOT gate (408) having the input terminal (409) is connected to the input of the NOT gate (407) and one terminal (410) of the capacitor (404).

When the circuit of FIG. 10 is an example of the monostable oscillator (16-7) shown in FIG. 9, the input terminal of the NOT gate (408) of FIG. 10 is connected to the selecting means (16-7) of FIG. ) And the output terminal (4) of the NOT gate (407) in FIG.
11) is the output terminal (16c) of FIG. 9, and the battery voltage input / output unit (401) of FIG.
And 3) respectively. Otherwise, when the circuit of FIG. 10 is used, in the circuit shown in FIG. 1, the output portion of the pulse oscillator (2) and the input terminal (409) of the NOT gate (408) of FIG. The base of the FET (5) of FIG. 1 is connected to the output terminal (411) of the NOT gate (407), and the output of the power supply (1) and the battery voltage input / output (4) are connected.
01) are connected.

(11-i) of FIG. 11 corresponds to the battery voltage input unit (401) of FIG. 10, and (11-ii) corresponds to the input terminal (40).
9), (11-iii) becomes (410) and (11-i)
v) respectively correspond to the output terminals (411).

When a signal is not inputted to the input terminal (409), a high level is outputted to the output terminal (410) of the NOT gate (408), and the output terminal (411) of the NOT gate (407) is outputted. Low level is output.

When a signal (high level) is inputted to the input terminal (409), the output terminal (41) of the NOT gate (408).
0) goes low, and the output terminal (411) of the NOT gate (407) goes high. Next, when the trigger signal goes low, the output terminal (410) of the NOT gate (408) goes high and the capacitor (40)
4) a battery voltage input unit (401) and a diode (40)
2), it is charged via the resistor (413) and the resistor (403). The capacitor (404) is charged, the input terminal voltage of the NOT gate (407) gradually rises, and when it reaches the threshold voltage, the output terminal (411) of the NOT gate (407).
Becomes the low level.

Here, a case where the voltage of the battery voltage input unit (401) changes as shown in FIG. 11 (11-i) will be described.

First, when the voltage of the battery voltage section (401) is high, the voltage between the terminals of the resistor (413) is reduced to the diode (40).
Since the forward voltage becomes larger than 2), the current flows from the battery voltage input portion (401) to the diode (402) and the resistor (413), the resistor (403), and the capacitor (40).
4).

On the other hand, the voltage of the battery voltage input section (401) drops, and the voltage between the terminals of the resistor (413) becomes a diode.
When the voltage becomes lower than the forward voltage of the node (402), the diode current stops and the current decreases. In this way, the current decreases as the voltage of the battery voltage input unit (401) decreases,
The charging time of the capacitor (404) becomes longer (FIG. 11).
(11-iii)). FIG. 11 (1)
As shown in 1-iv), the pulse width increases, and FET (4)
On time becomes longer. As the on-time of the FET (4) becomes longer, the amount of current supplied to the heating element (3) increases.

An example of a heating mode corresponding to the output of various tribe pulses using the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7. FIG. Applying these heat generation examples,
A mogussa heating pattern can be formed.

Since the pulse oscillator can freely change the pulse width or the pulse interval of the drive pulse as described above, the detailed description of the internal operation is omitted.

In FIG. 4, (4-i) shows the output waveform of the drive pulse, and (4-ii) shows the waveform of the current flowing through the heating element. (4-iii) shows the transition of the heating temperature of the heating element.

FIG. 5 shows a case where the pulse width of the drive pulse from the signal processor is gradually increased or decreased. (5-i) shows the output waveform of the drive pulse, and (5-ii) shows the current waveform flowing through the heating element. (5-iii) shows the transition of the heating temperature of the heating element.

FIG. 6 shows a case where the pulse width of the drive pulse from the pulse oscillator is fixed and the interval is changed. (6-i) shows the output waveform of the drive pulse, and (6-ii) shows the current waveform flowing through the heating element. (6-iii) shows the transition of the heating temperature of the heating element.

FIG. 7 shows a case where the amount of electric energy supplied to the heating element is changed by changing the number of output drive pulses.

(7-i) is a drive pulse, (7-i)
i) shows the waveform of the current flowing through the heating element (7-iii), and shows the transition of the heating temperature of the heating element.

Next, an embodiment showing the entire configuration of the present invention will be shown and described.

In FIG. 12, (21S) shows an example of the entire configuration of the present invention, which is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a heating element (22S) is installed at the center. Heating element (22S)
Is provided with a heat-insulating and flexible support (23S).

The lower part of the heating element (22S) is provided with a heat conducting part (24S).
S), which is formed of a cavity, a mushroom, or a member having excellent thermal conductivity.

The upper part of the heating element (22S) is provided with a heat insulating part (25S).
S), which is made of the same material as the support (23S), other than ceramics.

An electronic circuit board (26S) is laminated on the support (23S), and furthermore, the electronic circuit board (26S)
A button battery (27S) is arranged in the upper left edge portion of.

A cover member (28S) is arranged so as to cover the electronic circuit board (26S) and the button cell (27S). On the upper surface of the cover member (28S), an operation for controlling the operation of the electronic circuit is performed. A control button (29S) is arranged.

An adhesive layer (30S) is arranged on the lower surface of the support (23S).

FIG. 13 is a diagram of FIG. 12 viewed from below.

Next, the overall configuration of another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 14 will be described.

FIG. 15 is a view seen from the lower surface of FIG.

FIG. 14 shows a button-shaped battery (27
S), an electronic circuit board (26S), a heat insulating member (25S),
The heating element (24S) is accumulated, and this is covered with a cover member (28).
S), and a control button (29S) is arranged above. The periphery of the cover member (28S) extends outward, and has an adhesive layer (30S) on the lower surface.

FIG. 14 shows an example in which the area of the heating element is increased as compared with FIG.

The constituent materials shown in FIG. 14 are the same as those in FIG.

Next, another configuration of the present invention shown in FIG. 16 will be described.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of FIG.

FIG. 16 shows a whole formed in a rectangular sheet shape, in which the button battery (27S) and the electronic circuit board (26S) are arranged on both wings apart from each other, and a heating element (22S) is provided at the center. ) Is disposed on the support (23S). The support (23S) has a cylindrical shape and has a heating element (2S).
2S) on the upper surface of the heat insulating portion (25S) and on the lower surface of the heat conducting member (2S).
4S) is arranged.

The support (23S), the electronic circuit board (26)
S) and the button battery (27S) are each a sheet member (31).
S) is fixed.

The folded part (3) is provided on the sheet member (31S).
2S) and (33S) are formed, and these parts are formed as fulcrums so that they can be folded up and down. The sheet member (31S) is formed of plastic, resin, or the like, regardless of its hardness or softness. When the sheet member (31S) has rigidity, folding portions (32S) and (33S) are additionally provided. Electronic circuit (26S) and button battery (27S)
Are covered with a cover member.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 18 will be described.

The heating element (22) is placed on the cylindrical support (23S).
S) is arranged at the center, a heat insulating member (25S) is arranged at the upper part, and a heat conducting member (24S) is arranged at the lower part. Support (23
S) An adhesive layer (30S) is provided on the lower surface.
The button battery and the electronic circuit are housed in a separate body (35S), and the separate body (35S) and the support (23S) are connected to a lead wire (34S).
S).

The separate body (35S) may be formed into a card-like sheet, or may be provided with an adhesive layer on the separate body (35S) itself to be a living body-attached type. The configuration of the embodiment showing the three types of overall configuration has been described above. The method of using the configuration is to fix the adhesive layer side to the living body and press the control button. FIG. 19 shows a schematic diagram when the device is attached to a living body.

FIG. 19 is a view showing a state in which the small-sized living body thermal stimulation device (21S) of the present invention shown in FIG. 16 is attached to the left shoulder of the human body (MAN).

[0079]

[Effects of the present invention] As described above, in the present invention, heat (moxibustion) treatment can be performed regardless of time, place, etc., and a constant period and pattern are always obtained with a signal processor. By performing the operations described above, it is possible to set an appropriate heating pattern, and to perform control such as economically performing variable operations. Therefore, there is an effect that a small battery can be used for a sufficient time.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG.

FIG. 2 is a circuit connection diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3

FIG. 4

FIG. 5

FIG. 6

FIG. 7 is a waveform chart showing the operation of each part of the circuit showing the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the signal processor according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an internal structure of the signal processor according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing a part of the embodiment of the present invention.

11 is a waveform chart showing the output operation of FIG.

FIG.

FIG. 14

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the entire configuration of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a view showing the lower surface of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the entire configuration of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of a case where the embodiment of the present invention is used.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 power supply unit 2 pulse oscillator 3 heating element 4 FET (field effect transistor) c output terminal of drive pulse

Claims (3)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A series closure of a lightweight small battery, an FET and a heating element
A pulse is output to the road and the FET, and the FET is switched.
Small size generator consisting of pulse oscillating means for operating
Body temperature stimulator. 2. The microcomputer according to claim 1, wherein said pulse oscillating means is a microcomputer.
Data output from the microcomputer
The method according to claim 1, wherein the FET is intermittently driven based on the pulse.
The small-sized living body thermal stimulator according to claim 1. 3. A skin is provided by providing an adhesive means around a heating element.
The small living body heat according to claim 1, which is integrally attached to the skin.
Stimulator .