JP4617740B2 - Massage equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a massage device, and more particularly, to a massage device using transformation of a shape memory alloy body.

  The massaging device as described above performs massaging of the body using the stretching force of the martensitic transformation and austenite transformation of the shape memory alloy body. For example, the present applicant has filed an application, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-48053. Is disclosed. (See Patent Document 1).

As shown in FIG. 11, the massaging device has a mesh-shaped shape memory alloy 101 as a mesh body, and a plurality of mesh-shaped shape memory alloy actuators 100 are wound around a leg of a human body, etc. A direct current is applied from (not shown), heating is performed by Joule heat, and the expansion / contraction force of the shape memory alloy 101 as an actuator utilizing the superelastic action when it suddenly returns to the memorized shape is applied to the compression force of the compression massage or its It is used for a part. According to such a configuration, it is possible to provide a massage device that is small (thin) and lightweight and does not feel a burden when worn as compared with a conventional massage that uses an air cell.
JP 2002-48053 A

  In the conventional massage device described above, the shape memory alloy body is a hard metal, and the compression force of the compression massage due to the expansion and contraction force of the shape memory alloy body when worn so as to wrap the body treatment site such as legs Is uniformly applied over the entire circumference of the treatment site. As a result, an appropriate compression force cannot be applied on the muscle side of the treatment site, and a massage effect that improves blood flow at the treatment site by sending blood from the treatment site back toward the heart cannot be obtained sufficiently. It was.

  The present invention is intended to solve the problems of such a conventional configuration, and in a massage device using a shape memory alloy body as an actuator, blood is efficiently applied by applying uniform pressure to a treatment site. It aims at realizing the massage device which can send back to the heart.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is formed of a pair of shape memory alloy bodies having one end as a fixed end and the other end as a free end, and each fixed end has a predetermined angle with respect to the winding direction. Is wound around the body treatment area together with the actuator by interposing between the actuator arranged so that each free end is located at both ends and the base of the movable electrode part at both ends of the actuator. The elastic sheet constituting the annular treatment zone to be controlled, and the shape memory alloy body portion are transformed by controlling the energization to the shape memory alloy body portion and alternately repeating the heating period and the cooling period. And a drive control section that expands and contracts with respect to the central portion, and both end portions of the actuator are expanded and contracted with respect to the central portion to be torsionally displaced .

Further, as a second problem solving means, it is preferable that the elastic sheet is provided with a connecting means for detachably interposing the bases of the movable electrode portions at both ends of the actuator.

  Further, as a third problem solving means, the actuator is composed of a flexible sheet positioned on the treatment site side and the shape memory alloy body portion arranged on the surface side of the flexible sheet. Is preferred.

  Further, as a fourth problem solving means, a plurality of treatment bands are wound in parallel around the treatment site in the direction of the heart, and the contraction of the shape memory alloy body portion of the actuator is caused by the drive control unit from the heart side. It is preferable to change the expression from the most distant treatment band toward the treatment band close to the heart.

  The operation of the first problem solving means is as follows. That is, the elastic sheet is arranged on the muscle side of the body treatment site, the actuator made of the shape memory alloy body part is arranged on the bone side, the treatment band is wound, and the drive control unit moves to the shape memory alloy body part of the actuator. The shape memory alloy body part is transformed by controlling the energization and alternately repeating the heating period and the cooling period, so that two sets of shape memory alloy body parts having one end as a fixed end and the other end as a free end The fixed ends of the actuator are formed at the center and the free ends are positioned at both ends, and the actuator is disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to the winding direction. However, when the shape memory alloy body contracts, it is possible to apply a twist pressure to the muscle side through the elastic sheet and compress it with a uniform force as a whole. Massage effect to improve Obtained.

Further, the action of the second problem solving means is that the elastic sheet has a connecting means for detachably interposing the bases of the movable electrode portions at both ends of the actuator, so that the upper limb and the lower limb are treated. It can be easily attached to and detached from the site, improving ease of use.

  In addition, the action by the third problem solving means is the result that the actuator is configured by the flexible sheet positioned on the treatment site side and the shape memory alloy body portion arranged on the surface side of the flexible sheet, The shape memory alloy body part does not come into direct contact with the body, so that unpleasant electrical stimulation is not given to the body, and the force applied to the treatment site when the shape memory alloy body part is expanded and contracted is appropriately uniformized. Can be used and does not cause the user to feel any pain during use.

  The action of the fourth problem solving means can efficiently send blood flow to the heart by applying a force that sequentially presses the treatment site far from the heart to the treatment site near the heart.

  As described above, the massaging device of the present invention has an elastic sheet placed on the muscle side of the treatment site of the body, an actuator made of a shape memory alloy body portion is placed on the bone side, and the treatment band is wound, When the memory alloy body contracts, it is possible to apply a twist pressure to the muscle side via the elastic sheet and compress it with a uniform force as a whole, so that the blood flow is highly effective to send back to the heart side, improving the blood flow A massage effect can be obtained, and if the actuator side is arranged on the muscle side of the treatment site and the elastic sheet side is arranged on the bone side, the force of compressing the muscle side varies depending on the site due to the hardness of the shape memory alloy body part The distribution of this variation causes a change in the stimulation given to the treatment site, and has an effect of effectively acting on the massage effect by the stimulation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The massage device of the present invention includes a strip-shaped flexible sheet 1 as shown in FIG. 1, movable electrode portions 2 a and 2 b that are movably disposed on the surface portions at both ends of the flexible sheet 1, and a constant interval at the center portion. The fixed electrode portions 3a and 3b fixedly disposed so as to be parallel to the movable electrode portions 2a and 2b, and the respective electrodes 31 provided on the fixed electrode portions 3a and 3b corresponding to the respective electrodes 21 of the movable electrode portions 2a and 2b. An actuator composed of two shape memory alloy bodies arranged symmetrically with a predetermined angle between them, and both fixed electrode portions 3a. 3b, both ends of which are supported by the base 32 and the forced cooling fan device 5 disposed so as to have a space between the flexible sheet 1 and the base 22 of the movable electrode portions 2a and 2b are connected at one end. 1 with the elastic sheets 6a and 6b formed Constitute a treatment zone A, the treatment zone A, in order to match the length of the upper limbs and lower limbs to be treatment object, so that the use of a plurality, as will be described later.

  On the other hand, a heating period for heating the shape memory alloy bodies 4... By controlling the energization of the power source sections that supply power to the forced cooling fan devices 5 of the treatment zones A and the shape memory alloy bodies 4. A controller B, which is a drive control unit provided with a control circuit 7 (see FIG. 3) and the like for expanding and contracting the shape memory alloy bodies 4 by alternately creating the cooling periods and the cooling periods, is externally attached.

  Next, each component will be described in detail.

  First, the movable electrode portions 2a and 2b are provided with two pairs of electrodes 21 and 21 electrically connected to each other on a base 22 made of an insulator. On the other hand, the fixed electrode portions 3a and 3b are provided with one electrode 31 on both sides (the upper end and the lower end in the figure), and a pair of electrodes 31 and 31 that are electrically connected to each other between the electrodes 31 on both sides. I have. In the drawing, the upper electrode 31 in the figure of the fixed electrode portions 3a and 3b adjacent to each other across the forced cooling fan device 5 is connected by the cable 12. Accordingly, the shape memory alloy bodies 4... Which bridge between the diagonally opposing electrodes 21 and 31 are electrically connected in series, and both ends of this series circuit sandwich the forced cooling fan device 5 in the figure. The lower end electrodes 31 and 31 are adjacent to each other, and a PWM controlled voltage for heating (self-heating) is applied between the electrodes 31 and 31 via the cables 13 and 13 from the controller B. An energizing current flows through the series circuit of the bodies 4.

  Here, in the case of FIG. 1, each shape memory alloy body 4 has a very small diameter (for example, 0.8 mm) as shown in FIG. 2 (a). The one end is electrically and mechanically joined to the electrode 21 of the movable electrode portion 2a or 2b and the other end is electrically and mechanically joined to the electrode 31 of the fixed electrode portion 3a or 3b. It is bridged between 21 and 31. As the shape of the shape memory alloy body 4, in addition to the coil shape, a linear shape memory alloy body knitted into a mesh shape as shown in FIG. 5B or a wave shape as shown in FIG. It may be bent and arranged.

  The flexible sheet 1 is formed from a sheet material that can be molded, such as polypropylene or vinyl chloride, and reduces moving friction when the movable electrode portions 2a and 2b move on the flexible sheet 1. In addition, by making the surface of the base 22 of the movable electrode portions 2a and 2b in contact with the flexible sheet 1 into a curved surface, the moving friction can be further reduced.

  The elastic sheets 6a and 6b constitute a fastening portion for wrapping and fixing the treatment band A while pre-straining the shape memory alloy bodies 4 to the upper limbs and the lower limbs, on one elastic sheet 6a or 6b side. Is provided with a male side member 8a of a surface fastener, and the other elastic sheet 6b or 6a is provided with a female side member 8b which is detachably connected to the male side member 8a. Further, the elastic sheets 6a and 6b themselves are formed of a cloth or a resin sheet so that the elastic sheets 6a and 6b themselves can expand and contract in accordance with expansion and contraction on the actuator side.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control circuit 7 of the controller B is provided in the vicinity of the shape memory alloy body 4 of the treatment band A, and includes a temperature sensor 70 for detecting the temperature of the shape memory alloy body 4. The temperature sensor 71 for detecting the ambient temperature for detecting the temperature of the use environment, the database 72 including data indicating the relationship between the ambient temperature and the input power value supplied to the shape memory alloy body 4 in advance, and the detection of the temperature sensor 71 The target power value setting unit 73 that sets a target power value from the database 72 based on the temperature, and the shape memory alloy body 4... Inserted between the series circuit of the shape memory alloy body 4. The duty ratio of the current amplifier unit 74 including the switching element SW for turning on / off the current and the PWM signal corresponding to the target power value is set in advance, and is set by this duty ratio. The PWM signal is applied to the gate of the switching element SW of the current amplifier unit 74 to control the switching operation of the switching element SW, and the heating voltage applied to the series circuit of the shape memory alloy bodies 4 through the switching element SW is PWMed. The control unit includes a PWM control unit 75 that controls input power (energization current) by controlling and sets a period (heating period) energized by a PWM-controlled voltage at a constant period.

  When the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 70 detects that the temperature of the shape memory alloy body 4 exceeds the temperature of the austenite transformation point of the shape memory alloy body 4, the PWM controller 75 detects that the detected temperature is the temperature of the transformation point ( A function for changing the target power value so as to be maintained in the vicinity of the target temperature) and a sequential energization control function for the shape memory alloy bodies 4 of the plurality of treatment bands A1 to A4 for lower limbs (or upper limbs) described later. I have.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described below.

  For example, when a massage is to be performed on the lower limb which is the treatment site X, four treatment zones A1 to A4 are sequentially wound between the vicinity of the ankle of the lower limb and the vicinity of the knee as shown in FIG. For this winding, the shape memory alloy bodies 4 are arranged on the muscle side of the lower limbs, and the elastic sheets 6a and 6b are arranged on the bone side. At this time, it adjusts according to the thickness of the treatment site | part X around which the overlap margin of the planar fastener of elastic sheet 6a, 6b is wound. FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the treatment band A in a state where the elastic sheets 6a and 6b are not connected, and FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the treatment band A that is formed by connecting the elastic sheets 6a and 6b. Indicates.

  Then, covers 91 to 94 shown in FIG. 4B are used as necessary to cover the corresponding portions of the shape memory alloy bodies 4 of the treatment bands A1 to A4 and the forced cooling fan device 5.

  Next, when the controller B is turned on to start the control operation, the target power value setting unit 73 of the control circuit 7 takes in the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 71 and stores the target power value to be input corresponding to the detected temperature in the database. 72 and output to the PWM controller 75. The PWM control unit 75 generates a PWM signal having a duty ratio corresponding to the received target power value. FIG. 6A shows the relationship between the environmental temperature registered in the database 72 and the input power target value.

  This PWM signal is first output to the gate of the switching element SW of the current amplifier 74 that switches the energization of the shape memory alloy body 4 of the treatment band A1 wound around the lowermost part of the lower limb, which is the treatment site X, The switching element SW is driven.

  As a result, a voltage under PWM control is applied to the shape memory alloy bodies 4... Of the treatment zone A1 as shown in FIG. As a result, the shape memory alloy bodies 4. FIG. 6C shows a temperature change of the shape memory alloy bodies 4 detected by the temperature sensor 70.

  When the temperature of the shape memory alloy bodies 4 reaches a temperature corresponding to the austenite transformation point, the shape memory alloy bodies 4 undergo transformation shrinkage. Due to this contraction, the movable electrode portions 2a and 2b disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to the winding direction toward the fixed electrode portions 3a and 3b are torsionally displaced on the flexible sheet 1, so that the elastic sheet is formed. The treatment band A1 is such that the elastic sheets 6a and 6b twist and compress the corresponding treatment site X, particularly the muscle region, from the state before the contraction of the shape memory alloy bodies 4... (FIG. 7A). Will be reduced in diameter (FIG. 7B).

  The PWM control unit 75 continues energization by the PWM control for the treatment band A1 so that this state is maintained for a certain time T1 (FIG. 8D). On the other hand, PWM control for the switching element SW corresponding to the shape memory alloy body 4 of the actuator in the treatment zone A2 is started at time t1 when about 0.5 to 1 second has elapsed from the start time t0 of energization (FIG. 8C). As a result, the shape memory alloy body 4 of the actuator of the treatment band A2 contracts in the same manner as described above, and compresses the corresponding treatment site. In this way, energization from the shape memory alloy body 4 of the lowermost treatment band A1 to the shape memory alloy body 4 of the uppermost treatment band A4 is switched and constant as shown in FIGS. 8 (d) to 8 (a). By performing for the time T1, the blood flow can be efficiently pumped from the position farthest from the heart toward the heart, and the massage effect is increased. This effect is the so-called milking effect.

  FIGS. 9A to 9D show transition patterns of body compression in the treatment zones A1 to A4. (A) is when power is not supplied, (b) is when shifting from the compression operation of the treatment band A1 to the compression operation to the treatment band A2, and (c) is the compression operation from the compression operation of the treatment band A2 to the treatment band A3. Further, (d) shows a transition time from the compression operation of the treatment band A3 to the compression operation to the treatment band A4.

  When energization of the shape memory alloy body 4 of the actuator is stopped in each of the treatment zones A1 to A4, each shape memory alloy body 4 is cooled to a temperature below the temperature of the martensite transformation point, and the elasticity due to the spring shape In this embodiment, the controller B forcibly cools the treatment zones A1 to A4 in which the energization to the shape memory alloy body 4 is stopped in order to quickly reduce the temperature. The fan device 5 is energized, and air is blown between the shape memory alloy body 4 and the flexible sheet 1 as shown by the arrow in FIG. It returns to the state.

  As described above, the sequential energization from the shape memory alloy body 4 of the treatment band A1 to the shape memory alloy body 4 of the treatment band A1 of the treatment band A1 is cyclically repeated at a constant time (0 to 10 seconds) at intervals of T2. The heating period and the cooling period are alternately repeated to enhance the massage effect. In addition, the fir tree effect which is one of the massage effects can be changed by changing this fixed time interval. Further, when the treatment bands A1 to A4 are wound around the body part, when the shape memory alloy body 4 of the actuator is disposed on the muscle side and the elastic sheets 6a and 6b are disposed on the bone side, the shape memory alloy body 4 However, because of the hard metal, the pressure applied to the muscles is uneven and pressure distribution is generated, and the effect of pumping up to the heart side of the blood flow is reduced, but the massage effect can be obtained by changing the pressure distribution it can.

  By the way, the PWM control unit 75 of the controller B of the present embodiment is such that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 70 during energization heating of the shape memory alloy bodies 4 is higher than the transformation temperature of the austenite transformation point of the shape memory alloy bodies 4. In this case, the target power value is decreased, a PWM signal having a duty ratio corresponding to the target power value is generated, and the temperature of the shape memory alloy bodies 4 is maintained at a predetermined temperature as shown in FIG. The shape memory alloy bodies 4 are prevented from deteriorating due to excessive temperature.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the structure of said each embodiment. For example, the forced memory fan device 5 may not be provided, and the shape memory alloy bodies 4 may be cooled by natural convection through the space between the shape memory alloy bodies 4 and the flexible sheet 1. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, each embodiment is appropriately changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, such that the fixed electrode portion for the movable electrode portions 2 a and 2 b can be shared by one electrode portion 30. Obviously you get.

It is a front view of the unfolded state of one treatment belt of a massage device of one embodiment of the present invention. The shape memory alloy body used for the massage apparatus is shown, (a) is a perspective view of one example, (b) is a front view in which another example is omitted, and (c) is a front view in which another example is partially omitted. FIG. It is a block diagram of the control circuit of the controller used for the massage apparatus. (A) is a perspective view of the state which wound each treatment belt of the massage device around a treatment part, and (b) is a perspective view of a cover which covers the surface side of each treatment belt. FIG. 3 shows one treatment band of the massage device, wherein (a) is a perspective view of the elastic sheet in a non-connected state, and (b) is a perspective view of the elastic sheet in a connected state. (A) is explanatory drawing of the data content of the database used for the control circuit of the massage apparatus, (b) is a wave form diagram of the voltage applied to the shape memory alloy body of the treatment zone of the massage apparatus, (c) is the massage apparatus It is explanatory drawing of the temperature control of the shape memory alloy body of this treatment belt. It is a figure which shows the state of one treatment belt wound around the treatment site | part of the massage apparatus, (a) is a use state figure at the time of expansion | extension of a shape memory alloy body, (b) is at the time of contraction of a shape memory alloy body. FIG. It is a timing chart for operation explanation of the massage device. It is a transition pattern figure of the compression of each treatment belt to the treatment part of the massage device. It is a use condition figure showing another example of the massage device. It is explanatory drawing of the conventional massage apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

A Treatment zone B Controller (drive controller)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flexible sheet 4 Shape memory alloy body 6a, 6b Elastic sheet

Claims (4)

It is formed from a pair of shape memory alloy bodies having one end as a fixed end and the other end as a free end. Each fixed end is located at the center side and each free end is located at both ends with a predetermined angle with respect to the winding direction. An actuator that is arranged in such a manner, and an elastic sheet that is interposed between the bases of the movable electrode portions at both ends of the actuator so as to be wound around the treatment site of the body together with the actuator, A drive control unit that controls the energization of the shape memory alloy body part and alternately repeats the heating period and the cooling period to transform the shape memory alloy body part and extend and contract both ends of the actuator with respect to the central part; A massage apparatus comprising: an actuator, wherein both end portions of the actuator are expanded and contracted with respect to the central portion to be twisted and displaced . The massage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic sheet includes connection means for detachably interposing and connecting bases of movable electrode portions at both ends of the actuator. The massage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuator is configured by a flexible sheet positioned on the treatment site side and the shape memory alloy body portion disposed on the surface side of the flexible sheet. A plurality of treatment bands are wound in parallel around the treatment site in the direction of the heart, and in the drive control unit, the contraction of the shape memory alloy body portion of the actuator is sequentially closer to the heart from the treatment band farthest from the heart side. The massage apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the massage apparatus is changed and expressed toward a treatment band of a position.

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