JP2834701B2 - Conductor and low frequency 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 low frequency treatment and a conductor used for measuring an electrical stimulation threshold before and after the treatment, and to a low frequency treatment apparatus using the conductor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of low-frequency treatment, the frequency, polarity and waveform of a treatment current are set according to the disease to be treated, and the output of the set contents is transmitted to the affected part via a pair of conductors. Supply and perform low frequency treatment of the affected area.

[0003] Specifically, one of the pair of guides (the treatment guide) is pressed against the affected part, and the other (the unrelated guide) is placed away from the affected part, for example, the back of the thigh, the gastrocnemius muscle. (Calf)
Tied to etc.

[0004] Then, after the treatment guides are set to electrode polarities suitable for the contents of treatment of various pains and paralysis of nerves and muscles, a treatment current is passed.

[0005] At this time, since the severity of pain such as ulnar neuralgia cannot be measured, conventionally, a doctor makes a judgment based on the chief complaint of the patient to determine the degree of the disease and the degree of the therapeutic effect, and makes a treatment guideline.

In the treatment of neuralgia, myalgia, lower back pain, shoulder pain, facial pain, and other various types of nerve and muscle pain, doctors exclusively ask the degree of pain perceived by the patient himself and give treatment guidelines. It is customary to determine the degree of pain relief by the treatment or the treatment performed.

However, an objective judgment cannot be made based on the patient's chief complaint, and an objective and quantitative judgment of the therapeutic effect cannot be made, so that optimal treatment cannot be performed.

Therefore, the applicant of the present application applies a measurement current of a predetermined voltage and frequency before and after treatment, and measures an electrical stimulation threshold of the affected area based on the flow of the current, thereby obtaining nerve / muscle. Has already applied for a low-frequency treatment device that can objectively determine the degree of various types of pain and paralysis.
-129578).

[0009]

In the case of treating with the conventional apparatus of the above-mentioned application, it is desirable to use a conductor having a large contact area with the affected part and a good feel for the treatment. In addition, in the measurement before and after the treatment, the current density per unit area is prevented from decreasing and the measurement accuracy is improved, so that the contact area with the affected part is small, and the contact area is independent of the treatment location. It is desirable to use a conductor that makes constant. However, exchanging (exchanging) the lead between treatment and measurement is troublesome and inconvenient.

The present invention can be used for treatment and before and after the measurement, has a good feel during the treatment, and can accurately measure the electric threshold value during the measurement. An object of the present invention is to provide a conductor for low-frequency treatment capable of performing treatment effectively and easily, and furthermore, a treatment using the conductor and measurement before and after the treatment by hand operation of the conductor. It is also an issue to be able to easily perform the above.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a conductor according to the present invention comprises a metal support rod supported by an insulator handpiece, and a rod substantially at the tip of the support rod. A treatment electrode made of metal having a curved contact surface and formed at an end of the treatment electrode, and a measurement surface covering the measurement electrode having a smaller area than the contact surface and a peripheral portion of the measurement electrode. And a sleeve made of an insulating material.

[0012] Therefore, during treatment, a metal treatment electrode having a curved surface in contact with the affected part can be used to provide effective and comfortable treatment, and before and after the treatment, the measurement surface in contact with the affected part is small. The measurement electrode, which is prevented from contacting the affected part on the periphery, can perform highly accurate measurement.
An effective treatment and accurate measurement of the electrical stimulation threshold before and after the treatment can be performed by the two guides, and the low frequency treatment can be effectively and easily performed with excellent operability.

The low-frequency treatment apparatus of the present invention further comprises a low-frequency treatment conductor connected to the main unit, a metal support rod supported by an insulator handpiece, and a tip of the support rod. A metal treatment electrode having a contact surface curved at a right angle to the rod, a treatment electrode formed at the end of the treatment electrode, and a measurement surface having a smaller area than the contact surface; With a sleeve made of an insulator covering the periphery,

An operation switch for instructing a measurement start is provided on the handpiece, and a measurement output generator for generating a measurement output of a predetermined voltage and frequency and a low-frequency generator for generating a low-frequency treatment output according to the treatment condition are provided in the main unit. A frequency therapy output generator, an output switching circuit for selectively selecting both outputs and supplying a therapy output to the conductor during therapy, and a measurement circuit for measuring a current flowing through the conductor based on the measurement output; A measurement value display for displaying a measurement result of the measurement circuit, and a measurement control circuit for supplying a measurement output to the conductor via an output switching circuit by operating an operation switch before and after the treatment.

Therefore, the output of the main unit supplied to the guide is automatically switched to the measurement output by operating the handpiece at the time of measurement before and after the treatment, using the guide according to the first aspect. The measurement of the electric threshold value can be performed by a hand operation of the child, and the result can be displayed on the display of the main device.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the entire configuration of a conductor, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a part thereof. In these drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a four-pole four-core outlet detachably connected to a main body device described later. (Connector), 2 is a single-core cord drawn from the outlet 1,
Reference numeral 3 denotes an unrelated inductor formed of a disk-shaped or square-plate-shaped metal electrode connected to the tip of the cord 2.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a three-core cord drawn out from the outlet 1, and reference numeral 5 denotes a hollow cylindrical insulator handpiece into which the cord 4 penetrates, and the tip is formed in a nozzle shape with a taper. Reference numeral 6 denotes a normally open operation switch for a measurement start command provided on the handpiece 5, which is, for example, an automatic reset type (non-locking type) push button switch. It is connected.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a metal support rod supported by the handpiece 5, which is connected to the remaining one core for energizing the cord 4 in the handpiece 5 and protrudes from the tip of the handpiece 5. Reference numeral 8 denotes a metal treatment electrode attached to the support rod 7 at a substantially right angle. The treatment electrode 8 is formed in a large-diameter cylindrical shape so that the contact surface with the diseased part is curved, and both ends 8 'and 8 "are tapered. Has been processed.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a small-diameter cylindrical metal measuring electrode integrally formed with one end 8 'of the treatment electrode 8. The measuring surface 9' at the end of the measuring electrode 9 'is used for measuring current before and after treatment. In order to increase the density, the area is smaller than the contact surface of the treatment electrode 8.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a short cylindrical metal treatment / measurement electrode integrally formed with the other end 8 ″ of the treatment electrode 8,
Since the treatment / measurement surface 10 'at the end is used for both treatment and measurement before and after the treatment, the area is smaller than the contact surface of the treatment electrode 8 and larger than the measurement surface 9' of the measurement electrode 9. ing.

Reference numerals 11 and 12 denote sleeves made of an insulating material covering the periphery of the measuring electrode 9 and the treatment / measuring electrode 10.
For example, it is formed of a heat-shrinkable synthetic resin tube to prevent the peripheral portions of both electrodes 9 and 10 from contacting the affected part.

In medical terms, the handpiece 5,
The supporting rod 7 and the electrodes 8 to 10 are integrated into
It is referred to as a working conductor or simply a conductor.

Each of the integrally formed electrodes 8 to 10
In order to minimize the contact resistance with the skin of the affected part as much as possible, gold plating is applied to the metal surface, and this gold plating has an excellent design effect together with the shapes of the electrodes 8 to 10.

Next, the main unit to which the conductor shown in FIG. 1 is connected is configured as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 13 denotes an output switching circuit for treatment and measurement, and reference numeral 14 denotes an output switching circuit. was a Shirubeko connecting portion, FIG. 1, the outlet 1 of Shirubeko in FIG. 2 is detachably mounted, FIG. 1 via a support rod 7 to pin K _4, the electrodes 8 to 10 in FIG. 2 connected Then, both ends of the contact of the operation switch 6 are connected to the pins K ₂ and K ₃ ,
Indifferent Shirubeko 3 is connected to the pin K _1.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a measurement control circuit formed by, for example, a ring counter, which counts an input circuit of a contact signal of the operation switch 6 via the pins K ₂ and K _3, and before and after treatment based on the count. When measurement start is commanded,
Outputs measurement ON command.

Reference numerals 16 and 17 denote a pre-treatment measurement switch and a post-treatment measurement switch to which measurement ON commands before and after the treatment of the measurement control circuit 15 are supplied, respectively, a gate circuit for processing the measurement ON command, and a main unit. An automatic reset type push button switch used for the operation of starting the measurement in the example, and the pre-treatment measurement switch 16 is turned on when the measurement ON command of the measurement control circuit 15 or the operation of the internal push button switch occurs. To output the measurement ON command,
Reference numeral 7 indicates that the LED is turned on when a measurement ON command of the measurement control circuit 15 or an operation of an internal push button switch occurs, and outputs a measurement ON command.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a measurement output generator having, for example, a low-frequency, constant-voltage square-wave oscillator configuration, and outputs a square wave having a voltage of 5 V and a frequency of 1 KHz, which is smaller than the treatment output described later, as a measurement output from its output terminal 18 '. I do.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a low-frequency treatment output generator, in which output conditions such as voltage and frequency are set according to the treatment condition, and the low-frequency output (therapeutic output) of the output condition set only during the operation of the timer is 1. This occurs between the pair of output terminals 19 'and 19 ".

Reference numeral 20 denotes a logic gate switch provided in the output switching circuit 13, which is connected in series to the output terminal 18 'of the measurement output generator 18, and
It is turned on by any of the measurement on commands 7.

[0030] 21a, 21b are two relay switches provided in the output switching circuit 13, each have a measuring junction P ₁ and therapeutic contact P _2, switching piece is Shirubeko interface 1
4 are connected to the pins K ₄ and K ₁ respectively, and the measurement contact P ₁ of the relay switch 21 a is connected to the logic gate switch 20.
Is connected to the output terminal 18 'of the measurement output generator 18 via a timer, and only when the timer of the low-frequency treatment output generator 19 is operating, both switches 21a and 21b are linked by a timer relay (not shown) of the generator 19. and switching switched from the measuring contacts P ₁ in the treatment contact P ₂ are.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a measuring contact P of the relay switch 21b.
_This is a measuring circuit provided between ₁ and ground, and is connected to the measuring contact P ₁ of the relay switch 21a and the affected part (not shown) by a low-resistance series inserted detecting resistor or current transformer. 21b flowing value of the measured current path from the measuring junction P ₁ returns to the measurement output generator 18 via the ground (current value) is measured, and outputs the measurement result.

Reference numerals 23 and 24 denote a pre-treatment measurement value display and a post-treatment measurement value display, each of which comprises a plurality of numerical displays, and continue to display the latest flow-through values until they are reset.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a display switching circuit formed by a display decoder, a display driver, a logic gate circuit and the like, and has a digital display output function of generating a digital display output of the measurement result (current value) of the measurement circuit 22. In response to the measurement ON command of the measurement switches 16 and 17, the indicators 23 and 2 are displayed.
4 shows the measurement result.

Next, the electrical characteristics applied to the affected part will be described. First, the permeability of the cell membrane is physiologically different between the case where the affected part (measurement / treatment part) is used as the anode and the case where the cathode is used as the cathode. The flow value changes depending on the polarity,
Measurement cannot be performed.

Therefore, in order to keep the measurement conditions constant during measurement, it is necessary to always hold the affected part on the anode or the cathode. In this embodiment, when the flow rate based on the measurement output is such that the affected part is the anode, In consideration of the fact that it is larger than the case where
The (positive (anode)) conductors of the electrodes 8 to 10 are connected to ground the non-inductor 3 so that the affected part is the anode and the other part is the cathode.

On the other hand, during treatment, the output polarity of the low-frequency treatment output generator 19 is changed, for example, in order to change the electrical polarity of the measurement / treatment site according to the treatment content and to achieve the cathode conduction effect or the anode conduction effect. The site should be the cathode when treating pain and the anode when treating paralysis.

Next, the operation and operation will be described.
First, prior to the treatment, the output of the low-frequency treatment output generator 19 of the main unit is set to zero, and the outlet 1 of the conductor is attached to the conductor connection part 14 and connected.

Next, the unrelated inductor 3 is tied to a location away from the affected part of the patient, for example, a "calf". Then, in order to perform the measurement before the treatment, the doctor or the like grasps the handpiece 5 and operates the handpiece 5 while pressing the measurement surface 9 ′ of the measurement electrode 9 of the guide element against the skin surface at the appropriate stimulation point of the affected part. Press switch 6 for about 1 second.

At this time, the contact signal of the operation switch 6 is supplied to the measurement control circuit 15, and based on the measurement ON command of the switching circuit 15, the LED of the pre-treatment measurement switch 16 is turned on. 25 and the logic gate switch 20 are supplied with a pre-treatment measurement ON command. Then, the pre-treatment measurement value display 23 is selected by the display switching circuit 25 and the logic gate switch 20 is selected.
Turns on.

The output terminal 18 of this switch 20 ON by measuring output generator 18 '1 KHz from the measurement output of 5V is supplied to the measuring electrode 9 via the measuring junction P ₁ of the relay switch 21a, the measurement surface 9' The measurement current transmitted under the skin of the affected part to which the pressure is applied flows through the unrelated inductor 3, the measurement contact point P ₁ of the relay switch 21b, and the measurement circuit 22.
The current value for a second is sampled by the measurement circuit 22,
Based on the result of this sampling, the display switching circuit 25
Supplies the display signal of the flow value to the pre-treatment measurement value display 23, the pre-treatment measurement value display 23 displays the numerical value of the measurement result before treatment, and the measurement before treatment ends.

The displayed flow value is proportional to the electrical stimulation threshold, and the doctor or the like can use the numerical value displayed on the pre-treatment measured value display 23 to determine the electrical stimulation threshold of the affected part before treatment, that is, the degree of the disease ( For example, the degree of neuralgia pain and the degree of neuromuscular paralysis) can be objectively known rather than the patient's uncertain complaints. Based on this data, the frequency, waveform, The treatment conditions such as the magnitude of the output and the treatment time can be determined.

At this time, since the area of the measuring surface 9 'of the measuring electrode 9 is small and its peripheral portion is insulated by the sleeve 11 and does not come into contact with the affected part, the measuring current flows at a high current density and the accuracy is high. A measurement can be made.

Next, after setting the output condition of the low-frequency treatment output generator 19 so as to correspond to the determined treatment condition, the timer is set and started.
The low-frequency treatment output of the set output condition is immediately generated from the output terminals 19 'and 19 "of the output terminal 9".

At this time, the relay switches 21a and 21b are linked by the low-frequency treatment output generator 19 and the treatment contact P
Switch to ₂ . In addition, a doctor or the like presses the treatment electrode 8 against the diseased part, and applies the large-sized curved treatment surface to the diseased part.

Therefore, the low-frequency treatment output is applied between the treatment electrode 8 and the unrelated inductor 3 via the relay switches 21a and 21b, and a low-frequency treatment current flows through the affected part, and a desired low-frequency treatment is performed. Done.

When the affected part is relatively wide, the treatment is performed by sliding the treatment electrode 8 over the skin of the affected part. At this time, the contact surface of the treatment electrode 8 is wide and curved. The feeling is good, effective treatment can be performed, and the sliding is easy and the operability is improved.

On the other hand, when the tender point of the affected part is narrow, a doctor or the like uses the treatment / measurement electrode 10 instead of the treatment electrode 8 for treatment, and presses the treatment / measurement surface 10 'of the electrode 10 against the affected part. And give treatment.

In this case, the area of the treatment / measurement surface 10 ′ is smaller than the treatment surface 8 ′ of the treatment electrode 8 and the sleeve 12
The insulation area does not increase the contact area, and the current density can be increased to perform treatment efficiently.

Next, when the treatment is completed, the relay switches 21a and 21b return to the original state, and the measurement after the treatment is performed. Therefore, the doctor or the like measures the measurement electrode 9 in the same manner as the measurement before the treatment. The surface 9 'is pressed against the affected part and the operation switch 6 of the handpiece 5 is pressed for about one second.

At this time, the LED of the post-treatment measurement switch 17 is turned on based on the measurement ON command of the measurement switching circuit 15, and this switch 17 supplies the display switching circuit 25 and the logic gate switch 20 with the post-treatment measurement ON command. I do.

Then, the measured value display 24 after treatment is selected by the display switching circuit 25, and the logic gate switch 20 is turned on. When the switch 20 is turned on, 1 KHz, 5 V is applied from the output terminal 18 'of the measurement output generator 18.
Is output to the measurement electrode 9 and the same measurement as the measurement before the treatment is performed, and the measurement result is displayed on the measurement value display 24 after the treatment.
Will be displayed.

At this time, since the measurement results before the treatment are displayed on the pre-treatment measurement value display 23, both the displays 23 and 2 are displayed.
4, the treatment result of the affected area is displayed as a change in the perfusion value, and the degree of improvement by the treatment performed can be known by grasping the treatment effect as a change in the electrical stimulation threshold value that is proportional to these values. More effective policies for the treatment of

The operation switch 6 of the handpiece 5
Is pressed again, the measurement switching circuit 15 generates a reset command, and according to this command, the displays on both the display devices 23 and 24 are reset via the display switching circuit 25, and the apparatus enters a standby state for the next treatment. After this state, when the operation switch 6 of the handpiece 5 is pressed, the measurement before the treatment is started.

The same operation is performed by operating the switches of the measurement switches 16 and 17 instead of operating the operation switch 6 of the handpiece 5. Before treatment,
At the time of the subsequent measurement, the treatment / measurement electrode 10 may be used instead of the measurement electrode 9 depending on the condition of the affected part and the like. Also in this case, since the periphery of the electrode 10 is insulated by the sleeve 12, The contact area (measurement area) does not increase, and highly accurate measurement can be performed.

Therefore, one lead is treated before and after treatment.
It can be used for later measurement.In this case, there is no need to replace the lead between treatment and measurement, or to reconnect the lead to the main unit, which makes handling extremely easy and easy to use. Significantly improved.

The feel of the treatment electrode 8 is good, and
The sleeve insulates the periphery of the measurement electrode 9 and improves measurement accuracy. Furthermore, each of the electrodes 8 to 10 is plated with gold, so that a conductor excellent in design can be provided.

Further, by operating the operation switch 6 of the handpiece 5, measurement before and after the treatment can be performed at hand with the guide, so that the operability is excellent and the usability is further improved.
By the way, at least the treatment electrode 8 and the measurement electrode 9
It is only necessary that the following is provided.

The treatment electrode 8 may have a curved contact surface, for example, a semi-cylindrical shape. Further, it goes without saying that the configuration of each section of the main body device may be any.

[0059]

The present invention has the following effects. First, in the lead according to the first aspect, an effective treatment can be performed with good touch by the metal treatment electrode 8 having a curved surface in contact with the affected part during treatment, and the treated part contacts the affected part before and after the treatment. The measurement electrode 9 whose measurement surface is small and whose peripheral part is not in contact with the affected part by the sleeve 11 can perform high-precision measurement, and one treatment element can be used for effective treatment and before and after treatment. It is possible to provide an accurate measurement of the electrical stimulation threshold, to provide a low-frequency treatment conductor that is effective and easy to perform low-frequency treatment, is easy to handle, and has excellent operability and measurement accuracy. .

Further, in the low frequency treatment apparatus according to the second aspect, the conductor according to the first aspect is used, and the main body is supplied to the conductor by a switch operation of the handpiece 5 during measurement before and after the treatment. Automatically switches the output of the device to the measurement output,
The measurement of the electrical stimulation threshold value can be performed by the operation of the conductor at hand, and the result can be displayed on the display of the main unit. Thus, a low-frequency treatment device with extremely high operability can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conductor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an electrode part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram of a main body device to which the conductor of FIG. 1 is connected.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 5 Handpiece 6 Operation switch 7 Support rod 8 Metal treatment electrode 9 Measurement electrode 11, 12 Sleeve 13 Output switching circuit 15 Measurement control circuit 18 Measurement output generator 19 Low frequency therapy output generator

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-8-299466 (JP, A) JP-A-4-132565 (JP, A) JP-A-59-209358 (JP, A) JP-A-57-176248 (JP) , U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 57-26251 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 57-2056 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A61N 1/04 A61N 1/32 A61H 39/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A metal support rod supported by an insulator handpiece; a metal treatment electrode having a curved contact surface attached to a tip of the support rod substantially at right angles to the support rod; A low-frequency treatment electrode, comprising: a measurement electrode formed at an end of the treatment electrode, the measurement surface having a smaller area than the contact surface; and a sleeve made of an insulator covering a periphery of the measurement electrode. Guide. 2. A low-frequency treatment conductor connected to a main unit, a metal support rod supported by an insulator handpiece, and a tip of the support rod, which is mounted substantially at right angles to the support rod. A treatment electrode made of a metal having a curved contact surface, a measurement electrode formed at an end of the treatment electrode, a measurement surface having a smaller area than the contact surface, and an insulator covering the periphery of the measurement electrode. A measurement output generator for generating a measurement output of a predetermined voltage and frequency in the main body device; and a low-frequency treatment according to a treatment condition. A low-frequency treatment output generator for generating an output, an output switching circuit for selectively selecting the two outputs and supplying the treatment output to the conductor during treatment, Measuring the current value A constant circuit; a measurement value display for displaying a measurement result of the measurement circuit; and a measurement control for supplying the measurement output to the conductor via the output switching circuit by operating the operation switch before and after treatment. A low-frequency treatment device comprising a circuit.