JP3480948B2 - Heated electric therapy equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermal electrotherapy device in which an electrode provided with a heater is brought into contact with an affected part of a human body and a treatment can be carried out while heating the electrode. About. 2. Description of the Related Art This type of thermal electrotherapy device is disclosed in
As shown in -45597 (A61N1 / 32), thermoelectric elements are attached to electrodes, and current is applied to these electrodes to warm the entire electrodes, apply heat to the electrodes together with low-frequency treatment, switch on and off, and adjust current. It is known that the temperature of the electrode can be adjusted to an appropriate temperature to perform comfortable treatment. However, with such a configuration,
At the start of heating the thermoelectric element, the temperature of the electrode is low, so adjust the current flowing through the thermoelectric element to be large so that it warms up quickly, and to maintain the temperature as it is when the electrode is warmed to some extent, It is not necessary to supply a current as in the start of heating, and the current flowing through the thermoelectric element must be reduced. That is, it is necessary to make the current flowing through the thermoelectric element at the start of heating different from the current flowing through the thermoelectric element during treatment, and the user adjusts the value of the current flowing through the thermoelectric element each time the switch or the current is adjusted. Therefore, the temperature had to be changed to an appropriate temperature, which was very inconvenient. An object of the present invention is to increase the amount of current supplied to a heater at the start of heating so that the heater is quickly heated, and to maintain the temperature after a predetermined time has elapsed.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a thermal electrotherapy device that is easy to use without adjustment by a user. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a treatment current generating circuit for generating a treatment current at a low frequency, and an electrode capable of flowing the treatment current from the treatment current generation circuit to a human body. , comprising a heater for heating the electrode, and a heater control circuit for controlling the energization to said heater, said heater control times
The heating is performed for a predetermined time from the start of heating.
The power is supplied to the
After the time has elapsed, the heater is energized with the set pulse and
The total energizing time of
It is characterized in that it is changed in the same manner. When the heater is turned on, the heater control circuit sets the amount of current per unit time for a predetermined time period from the start of heating to a value obtained after the predetermined time period has elapsed. Heating is performed in a state where the amount of current per unit time is larger than the amount of current per unit time, and current is supplied until the electrode reaches a desired temperature. Then, when a predetermined time elapses, power is supplied at a set power supply amount, and the temperature of the electrode is maintained at a substantially desired temperature. When the switch is in the off state, the heater is not energized, and the treatment with the treatment current is performed. Further, the heater is fully energized for a predetermined time from the start of heating by the heater control circuit so that the electrode is heated so as to quickly reach a desired temperature, and after the predetermined time elapses, a pulse set by the heater control circuit is set. And the temperature of the electrode is maintained at a substantially desired temperature. At this time, the energizing time of the first energizing pulse is changed according to the mode selected by the thermal mode selection circuit. Specifically, if the high temperature mode is selected, the time for full energization is lengthened, and if the low temperature mode is selected, the time for full energization is shortened. An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings, taking a thermal type low frequency treatment device as an example. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a thermal low-frequency therapeutic device, and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the thermal low-frequency therapeutic device. Reference numeral 1 denotes a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) for controlling the treatment device. The microcomputer 1 is supplied with power from a power supply 2 of an AC adapter or a battery via a constant voltage circuit 3. The constant voltage circuit 3 is constituted by a constant voltage IC or the like. Reference numeral 4 denotes a power jack for supplying power from the AC adapter. The power jack 4 is always connected to use a battery as a power source. The connection is disconnected and the mode switches to the AC adapter. At this time, a current flows through a heater 18 described later connected to the output jack 5 using an AC adapter as a power supply, and the heater 18 is connected to the terminals b and c of the output jack 5 to supply power to the heater 18. Becomes possible. The a and d terminals of the output jack 5 are terminals to electrodes 16 described later. As described above, the heater 18 is energized only when the AC adapter is connected. When the battery is driven, the heater 18 is not energized, and the consumption of the battery is minimized. . Reference numeral 6 denotes an oscillation frequency determining component constituted by resistors VR3 and R2.
Oscillates at KHz. Reference numeral 7 denotes a reset circuit interposed to prevent the microcomputer 1 from running out of control. The reset circuit 7 always operates when the voltage falls below the guaranteed operating voltage of the microcomputer 1. Reference numeral 8 denotes a treatment frequency selection circuit for changing the generation cycle of the treatment frequency pulse, ie, the pulse generation speed of the treatment. The treatment frequency selection circuit 8 includes a treatment frequency selection volume VR2 and the microcomputer 1 It is composed of a built-in comparator, a resistor array RN1, and the like, and the pulse generation speed of the treatment can be changed by changing the treatment frequency selection circuit VR2. Reference numeral 9 denotes a treatment mode selection switch for switching between a treatment mode of "hit" and "mum". The treatment mode selection switch 9 switches the treatment mode to send a signal into the microcomputer 1 so that each treatment mode is switched. Can be selected and output. The "hit" mode refers to a mode in which treatment pulses are periodically generated one by one. In addition, the `` mom '' mode is configured by continuously combining a soft start section in which the pulse width of a plurality of treatment pulses increases with time and a pulse generation section in which pulses are generated at regular intervals. These are repeated with a pause at a fixed interval. Since the soft start section is incorporated in this way, a large treatment pulse is not suddenly given to the user, which is very safe. Reference numeral 10 denotes a polarity selection switch for determining whether the polarity of the treatment pulse is to be positive or negative, or alternately to both polarities.
By switching the polarity selection switch 10, a signal can be sent into the microcomputer 1 to select and output each polarity. Thus, the pulse generated by the treatment mode selection switch 9 functions to generate only minus or to alternately generate plus and minus. Reference numeral 11 denotes a timer selection switch for determining a treatment time by a low-frequency current.
You can choose between 2 types of 5 minutes or 30 minutes,
The treatment time by the low frequency current is set by the timer selection switch 11. The treatment time by the low frequency is counted by a timer function in the microcomputer 1, and at the same time, the energization to the heater control circuit 17 described later is also counted. Will be Reference numeral 12 denotes a heat mode selection switch for switching the temperature of a heater 18 to be described later. A signal is sent to the microcomputer 1 by switching the heat mode selection switch 12, and the signal is switched to three levels of off, weak, and strong. Can be output. Here, the heat mode selection switch 12 and a portion of the microcomputer 1 for selecting and processing the heat mode are referred to as a heat mode selection means. Reference numeral 13 denotes an LED display circuit for turning on and off the LED in synchronization with the heating pulse, and for turning on the LED when the power is fully supplied. Reference numeral 14 denotes an output amplifying circuit for amplifying a pulse oscillated by the microcomputer 1. The output amplifying circuit 14 includes transistors Q1 to Q4, a transformer T1, and the like. Can be amplified about 10-fold. The amplified pulse is adjusted by an output adjustment circuit 15 composed of a volume VR1 and output to the electrode 16 via the output jack 5 so that a therapeutic current can be sent to the affected part of the human body.
The volume VR1 is interlocked with the power switch 20,
After the power switch 20 is turned on, the output can be gradually increased. The output amplification circuit 14 and the output adjustment circuit
The combination of 15 and the treatment current generation circuit 19 is called. A heater control circuit 17 is connected to the heater 18 and controls the power supply to the heater 18 to adjust the temperature of the heater 18. The heater control circuit 17 includes a transistor Q5.
And the like, and is controlled by turning on and off the transistor Q5 by a signal from the microcomputer 1.
The switch SW5 is set by the heat mode selection switch 12.
Is off, the signal from the microcomputer 1 is not output and the heater control circuit 17
Do not energize. In the case of strong and weak, the heater 18 is energized in a pulsed manner, and the switching of strong and weak is performed by changing the pulse width in the same cycle, and the pulse width is made larger and the pulse width is made weaker. . As another embodiment, the temperature of the heater 18 may be lowered by lowering the voltage other than changing the pulse width as described above. The state of energization of the heater 18 will be described. When heating is started, the elapse of the heating time is measured by the microcomputer 1, and the energization pulse to the heater 18 is set to a set value of the heater 18 temperature. That is, in order to quickly approach the mode set by the heat mode selection switch 12, the operation is performed with full energization. When the elapse of a predetermined time from the start of heating is counted by the microcomputer 1, an energizing pulse to the heater 18 is energized by a pulse set by the heating mode selection switch 12, and the temperature that has risen within the predetermined time is maintained. Become like This predetermined time is set in the microcomputer 1 in advance, and the electrode 16
Is set to warm up enough. Further, by developing the above-described embodiment, when the heating mode selection switch 12 is strongly selected,
Take the entire energization time, that is, the predetermined time longer than when weak,
When the time is weak, make the predetermined time shorter than the strong time.
At the end of the predetermined time, the temperature may be made closer to the desired temperature. The graph shown in FIG. 5 is a graph showing the temperature change when the heater 18 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is energized. The graph corresponding to FIG. 5 are weak in FIG. Next, the operation will be described. When performing treatment, each of the switches 9, 10,
The treatment mode, treatment time, treatment polarity and the like are set to the user's favorite values by 11, 12 and the like, and the output is varied by the volume VR1 of the output adjustment circuit 15. At this time, the oscillation frequency of the microcomputer 1 is determined by the oscillation frequency determining component 6, and the microcomputer 1 outputs a pulse. Then, it is amplified by the output amplifying circuit 14 and output from the electrode 16 by the output adjusting circuit 15 at an output desired by the user. at the same time,
If the heating mode selection switch 12 is not turned off, the microcomputer 1 supplies power to the heater control circuit 17 and also supplies power to the heater 18. The energization at this time is, as described above,
Until the predetermined time, the heater 18 is fully energized.
Since the heater 18 and the electrode 16 are in contact with each other, the temperature of the electrode 16 increases as the temperature of the heater 18 increases. Here, when the predetermined time has elapsed, the LED of the LED display circuit 13 blinks, so that the user can know that the electrode 16 has reached an appropriate temperature, and in this state, the electrode 16 is brought into contact with the affected part. After that, the power supply to the heater 18 is changed to the mode set by the heating mode selection switch 12, and
The heater 18 is energized by a pulse, and can maintain a temperature raised by full energization within a predetermined time. Then, a treatment current and heat are applied to the affected part from the electrode 16, and the muscle of the affected part is loosened. When the treatment is continued as it is and the time set by the timer selection switch 11 has elapsed, the supply of the treatment current to the electrode 16 is automatically stopped, and at the same time, the heater 18 is turned off.
Power supply to is also stopped. At this time, the timer selection switch 11
If the power is turned off by the power switch 20 before the set time comes, the power to the heater 18 is turned off at the same time. As described above, power is supplied for a predetermined time from the start of heating of the heater 18 by full energization.
The power is supplied by the pulse of the selected mode, so that the temperature of the heater 18 can be quickly raised to the desired temperature, and the temperature can be kept constant, so that the user does not need to adjust the temperature automatically, In this case, the convenience of the user is improved, and the time from when the power switch 20 is turned on until the start of use is shortened. Further, by changing the time of full energization in accordance with the mode selected by the thermal mode selection switch 12 and energizing for a longer time than for a weak time, it is possible to approach a desired temperature. . According to the present invention, the electrode is quickly heated to a desired temperature by the above-described structure, and the temperature is kept almost constant. This has the effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the same. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a strong energization state of the heater. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a weak energized state of the heater. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a temperature change of a heater in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the present invention. [Description of Signs] 19 Therapeutic current generating circuit 16 Electrode 18 Heater 17 Heater control circuit 12 Heating mode selection switch

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-51-62581 (JP, A) Jiko 52-51039 (JP, Y2) Jiko 46-36786 (JP, Y1) Jiko 49- 42548 (JP, Y1) Microfilm (JP, U) Jpn. 50-25233, which is a photograph of the specification and drawings attached to the application for Japanese Utility Model Application No. 1-73310 (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 3-1358). No. (JP, U) (58) Field of investigation (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61N 1 / 04,1 / 32

Claims (1)

(57) Claims: 1. A treatment current generating circuit for generating a treatment current, an electrode capable of flowing the treatment current from the treatment current generation circuit to a human body, and a heater for heating the electrode. A heater control circuit for controlling energization of the heater, and a heating mode selecting means for selecting a temperature of the heater, wherein the heater control circuit is provided with a heater for a predetermined period of time from the start of heating. with totally energized, after it said predetermined <br/> predetermined time energized with set pulse and the total energization time to the heater to vary according to the temperature selected in heat mode selecting means A thermoelectric therapy device, characterized in that: