JP5117829B2 - Muscle tone relief device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrotherapy technique, and more particularly, to a technique for relaxing muscle tone by applying an electrical signal to the muscle.

The so-called tension level of the muscle (muscle) force is generated when the muscle cell membrane stimulated by the nerve pulse is excited. A myoelectric signal is obtained by electrically measuring this excitement from a living body.
An example in the medical field (for example, see non-patent document 1) applied to diagnosis and rehabilitation for muscular and nervous system disorders by measuring temporal or spatial distribution of myoelectric signals, or during sports activities Application examples to sports science in which exercise is analyzed by monitoring the activity state of muscles (for example, see Non-patent Document 2) have been reported.

These are made by attaching electrode pads to the muscle surface, amplifying the weak myoelectric signal measured on the skin surface with a means such as a differential amplifier circuit, and changing the signal intensity and frequency component of each site. It is done by examining it while associating it with actions.
Further, there is an example in which motor learning is performed by comparing the measured myoelectric signal with a model model and feeding back the difference as a stimulus to a measurement target (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, as a technology in the acoustic field, a noise canceling headphone (for example, a non-noise canceling device) that cancels environmental noise by detecting ambient noise with a microphone, generates an acoustic signal having a phase opposite to that, and drives a speaker inside the headphone. Patent Document 3 and the like) have been proposed.

JP 7-36362 A Nozomi Hoshimiya et al., “Muscle Movement Control System”, MBE Topic Series Volume 3, Shosodo Co., Ltd., pp19-29, first published in 1993 Sports Science Research 3, pp18-29, 2006 http://www.audio-technica.co.jp/atj/sc/ath-anc7/index.html

Stiffness, represented by stiff shoulders, often continues unconsciously due to unnatural posture, stress, or other reasons, causing poor circulation and stiffness It appears as a symptom. This is the reason why there are many stiff shoulders in general. In addition, seizures such as convulsions and limb spasms (returns) occur when the muscles contract rapidly.
The prior art measures the myoelectric signal for such symptoms, and informs the subject of the part that is tense according to the result, or makes it possible to induce a new movement from the outside by stimulation. It is.

  On the other hand, in order to perform exercise smoothly, it is also important to extract as much as applying force, and the skilled person enables the performance by controlling the timing of extracting force for each part.

However, the above-mentioned conventional techniques deal with cases where power is applied unconsciously in daily life, sudden muscle contraction occurs as a symptom of a disease, or the force of trying to move smoothly cannot be entered. There was a problem that it was not possible to consciously control “to drain power”.
An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for reducing muscle tension that can relieve tension that does not need to be unconsciously generated in a muscle.

  In order to achieve such an object, the muscle tone alleviation device according to the present invention is a detection electrode that detects a myoelectric signal generated from a muscle by being in electrical contact with a living body, and is detected by the detection electrode. A signal generation circuit for generating an antiphase signal indicating an antiphase with the electromyographic signal generated, a signal processing circuit for generating a feedback signal by processing and adjusting the antiphase signal generated by the signal generation circuit, and a living body And an output electrode that outputs a feedback signal generated by the signal processing circuit to the muscle.

  At this time, the signal processing circuit may be provided with a phase adjuster that compensates for the phase difference between the myoelectric signal and the feedback signal in the muscle by adjusting the phase of the antiphase signal.

  Further, the signal processing circuit may be provided with an intensity adjuster that compensates for the signal intensity difference between the myoelectric signal and the feedback signal in the muscle by adjusting the signal intensity of the antiphase signal.

  And a monitor electrode that detects a result of combining the myoelectric signal and the feedback signal as a monitor signal in electrical contact with the living body, and the monitor detected by the monitor electrode with the phase adjuster. The phase of the antiphase signal may be finely adjusted based on the signal.

  And a monitor electrode that detects a result of combining the myoelectric signal and the feedback signal as a monitor signal in electrical contact with the living body, and the monitor detected by the monitor electrode with the phase adjuster. You may make it finely adjust the signal strength of an antiphase signal based on a signal.

  In addition, the signal processing circuit may be provided with a low-pass filter that removes a high-frequency component contained in the generated feedback signal and outputs it to the output electrode.

  In addition, the signal processing circuit alternately repeats the operation of holding and outputting the generated feedback signal to the output electrode for a predetermined holding period and the operation of stopping the output of the feedback signal to the output electrode for a predetermined stopping period. There may be provided an output holder to perform,

  The signal processing circuit may be provided with an output monitor that stops the output of the feedback signal when the signal strength of the generated feedback signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.

  The muscle tone relaxation method according to the present invention generates a reverse phase signal having a phase opposite to that of a myoelectric signal detected by a detection electrode from a living body muscle, and performs feedback by processing and adjusting the reverse phase signal. A signal is generated and output from the output electrode to the muscle.

According to the present invention, the muscle action potential that causes muscle tension can be compensated or reduced by the feedback signal, and as a result, the muscle tension can be reduced. For this reason, it is possible to relieve unnecessary muscular tension that is unintentionally applied, except when a muscle is consciously acted such as lifting an object.
For example, there is a case where power is unconsciously caused by stress, an unnatural posture, or a body characteristic such as a shoulder. In this way, when muscle tension persists unconsciously and muscle stiffness develops, if this device is attached to the corresponding site, muscle tension is relieved and blood circulation is improved, so symptoms can be relieved. it can.

Moreover, even if a symptom that cannot be intentionally attempted to release the muscle tension due to strong tension such as convulsions or unevenness, it can be alleviated at any time.
Further, for example, in a swing such as golf, a skilled person can perform a smooth swing without a useless force, but a beginner has a force on a shoulder and a movement is awkward. This is due to the fact that too much mental tension in the unfamiliarity was transmitted to the muscles. Even in a place where such exercise and work are acquired, the tension is eased by attaching the present apparatus to a site where the person wants to relax, and it becomes possible to experience the relaxed state and grasp the knack.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
First, with reference to FIG. 1, a muscle tone alleviation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the muscle tone alleviation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The muscle tone alleviating device 10 is a signal processing device, and generates an electrical signal corresponding to the myoelectric signal 11S detected from a muscle (muscle) of a living body and outputs it to the living body, thereby relaxing the muscle tone. have.
The muscle tone alleviating device 10 includes a detection electrode 11, a signal generation circuit 12, a signal processing circuit 13, and an output electrode 14 as main functional units.

The detection electrode 11 is made of a conductive electrode, and is attached to the skin surface of a living body, and has a function of detecting a myoelectric signal 11S generated on the skin surface.
The signal generation circuit 12 includes a dedicated phase conversion circuit, and generates a reverse phase signal 12S indicating a phase opposite to that of the myoelectric signal 11S by performing phase conversion of the myoelectric signal 11S input from the detection electrode 11. It has a function to make it.

The signal processing circuit 13 is composed of a dedicated signal processing circuit, and has a function of adjusting the phase and signal intensity of the antiphase signal 12S input from the signal generation circuit 12 and outputting it as a feedback signal 13S.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the signal processing circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The signal processing circuit 13 includes a phase adjuster 13A and an intensity adjuster 13B as main functional units.

The phase adjuster 13A has a function of delaying the anti-phase signal 12S generated by the signal generation circuit 12 in terms of time. The intensity adjuster 13B has a function of adjusting the amplitude of the antiphase signal 12S.
The output electrode 14 is composed of a conductive electrode, and is aligned with the detection electrode 11 and adhered to the skin surface along the living body's muscle, and the feedback signal 13S output from the signal processing circuit 13 is output to the living body's skin surface. It has a function to do.

[Operation of First Embodiment]
Next, with reference to FIG. 3, operation | movement of the muscular tension relaxation apparatus concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing muscle tone relaxation operation of the muscle tone relaxation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The detection electrode 11 is previously attached to the skin of the living body, detects the myoelectric signal 11S generated by the muscle of the living body, and outputs it to the signal generating circuit 12 (step 100). Since this myoelectric signal 11S is weak, it is desirable to reduce the contact resistance of the detection electrode 11 as much as possible and to ground it as necessary in order to avoid the influence of noise. Further, a differential amplifier may be built in the detection electrode 11 itself, and the S / N ratio may be increased by amplifying the myoelectric signal 11S to an appropriate signal strength in advance and outputting it to the signal generation circuit 12. .

  The command from the spinal cord through the nerve to the neuromuscular junction at the center of the muscle is transmitted at a speed of about 4 m / S to contract the muscle. For this reason, in order to effectively detect a command to the muscle and relieve the tension of the entire muscle, it is desirable to stick the detection electrode 11 near the neuromuscular junction.

  Next, the signal generation circuit 12 performs a phase conversion of the myoelectric signal 11S from the strained muscle input from the detection electrode 11 in order to generate a signal for relaxing the strained muscle. Then, a reverse phase signal 12S indicating a phase opposite to that of the myoelectric signal 11S is generated (step 101).

Subsequently, the signal processing circuit 13 adjusts the phase and signal intensity of the antiphase signal 12S input from the signal generation circuit 12, and outputs the result as a feedback signal 13S (step 102).
When the myoelectric signal 11S is fed back to the original muscle, there is a difference in phase difference and signal intensity (signal amplitude) due to a difference in the attachment position of the detection electrode 11 and the output electrode 14. For this reason, the signal processing circuit 13 adjusts the phase of the myoelectric signal 11S with the phase adjuster 13A and adjusts the signal strength of the myoelectric signal 11S with the intensity adjuster 13B, thereby converting the myoelectric signal 11S signal into the signal. To compensate.

  The transmission speed of the muscle action potential is roughly determined, although there are muscle conditions and individual differences. Therefore, if the detection electrode 11 and the output electrode 14 are integrated and the interval between them is constant, the delay time can be calculated approximately in advance and the phase can be adjusted by that value. Moreover, since the frequency of the myoelectric signal 11S is up to about 200 Hz, the wavelength is about several to several tens of centimeters. Since this is longer than the distance between the detection electrode 11 and the output electrode 14, it can be adjusted relatively easily even if it is not strict, and fine adjustment may be corrected manually.

In addition, the signal intensity is also almost the same as the attenuation ratio, although there are similar muscle conditions and individual differences. For this reason, the attenuation ratio is roughly adjusted, and fine adjustment may be manually corrected.
In addition, about the structure which finely adjusts a phase and a signal strength manually, what is necessary is just to use general well-known techniques, such as using the circuit component from which a circuit constant changes according to operation.

  Next, the output electrode 14 is attached to the skin surface along the muscle side by side with the detection electrode 11, and outputs the feedback signal 13S output from the signal processing circuit 13 to the skin surface of the living body (step 103). ), Returning to step 100, the muscle tone relaxation operation according to the newly detected myoelectric signal 11S is repeatedly executed.

  At this time, the detection electrode 11 and the output electrode 14 may be packaged as an integrated electrode unit. Thereby, since the mutual sticking interval on the skin surface is always kept constant, the relationship between the myoelectric signal 11S and the feedback signal 13S can be kept constant, and an adjustment shift in the signal processing circuit 13 is suppressed. be able to. In addition, the attachment position of the output electrode 14 is set to the end side of the muscle as compared with the detection electrode 11.

[Effect of the first embodiment]
As described above, this embodiment generates an antiphase signal indicating an antiphase with the myoelectric signal detected by the detection electrode, and generates and outputs a feedback signal by processing and adjusting the antiphase signal. Since the electrodes are used to output to the muscle, the muscle action potential that causes the muscle tension can be compensated or reduced by the feedback signal, and as a result, the muscle tension can be reduced.

For this reason, it is possible to relieve unnecessary muscular tension that is unintentionally applied, except when a muscle is consciously acted such as lifting an object.
For example, there is a case where power is unconsciously caused by stress, an unnatural posture, or a body characteristic such as a shoulder. In this way, when muscle tension persists unconsciously and muscle stiffness develops, if this device is attached to the corresponding site, muscle tension is relieved and blood circulation is improved, so symptoms can be relieved. it can.

Moreover, even if a symptom that cannot be intentionally attempted to release the muscle tension due to strong tension such as convulsions or unevenness, it can be alleviated at any time.
Further, for example, in a swing such as golf, a skilled person can perform a smooth swing without a useless force, but a beginner has a force on a shoulder and a movement is awkward. This is due to the fact that too much mental tension in the unfamiliarity was transmitted to the muscles. Even in a place where such exercise and work are acquired, the tension is eased by attaching the present apparatus to a site where the person wants to relax, and it becomes possible to experience the relaxed state and grasp the knack.

  In the present embodiment, the case where both the phase and the signal strength of the input antiphase signal 12S are adjusted is described as an example in the signal processing circuit, but only one of the phase and the signal strength is adjusted. You may do it. For example, when it is known in advance that the phases of the myoelectric signal 11S and the feedback signal 13S substantially coincide with each other, only the intensity adjuster 13B for adjusting the signal intensity may be used, and conversely the myoelectric signal 11S and the feedback. When it is known in advance that the signal intensity with the signal 13S is substantially the same, only the phase adjuster 13A for adjusting the phase may be used.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the muscle tone relaxation apparatus concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the muscle tone alleviation device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same or equivalent parts as those in FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the signal processing circuit according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The same or equivalent parts as those in FIG.

  In the first embodiment, the case where fine adjustment is manually performed when adjusting the phase and signal intensity of the antiphase signal 12S in the signal processing circuit 13 has been described as an example. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the phase and signal intensity of the antiphase signal 12S are finely adjusted based on the result of combining the myoelectric signal 11S and the feedback signal 13S with the muscle.

As shown in FIG. 4, the muscle tension alleviation device 10 according to the present embodiment is added with a monitor electrode 15 as compared with the first embodiment. The monitor electrode 15 is made of a conductive electrode, and is attached to the skin surface of a living body. The monitor electrode 15 has a function of detecting, as a monitor signal 15S, a result obtained by synthesizing the myoelectric signal 11S and the feedback signal 13S with a muscle. ing.
The signal processing circuit 13 has a function of finely adjusting the signal intensity with the antiphase signal 12S based on the monitor signal 15S detected by the monitor electrode 15.

As shown in FIG. 5, the signal processing circuit 13 according to the present embodiment includes an intensity converter 13C, an increase / decrease determiner 13D, and a control signal generator 13E, as compared with the first embodiment. ing. The intensity converter 13 </ b> C has a function of detecting the signal intensity of the monitor signal 15 </ b> S detected by the monitor electrode 15. The increase / decrease determiner 13D has a function of determining increase / decrease in the signal intensity of the monitor signal 15S detected by the intensity converter 13C. The control signal generator 13E has a function of generating a control signal 16S corresponding to the determination result by the increase / decrease determiner 13D and outputting it to the phase adjuster 13A and the intensity adjuster 13B.
The other configuration of the muscle tone alleviation device 10 according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

[Operation of Second Embodiment]
Next, with reference to FIG. 6, operation | movement of the muscular tension relaxation apparatus concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a muscle tone relaxation operation of the muscle tone relaxation apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and the same or equivalent parts as those in FIG.

  The steps up to detecting the signal with the detection electrode 11 and generating the signal with the opposite phase with the signal generation circuit 12 (step 100-103) are the same as those in FIG. In the present embodiment, the monitoring electrode 15 is adhered to the output electrode 14 side by side. The monitoring electrode 15 is attached to the end side along the muscle in the immediate vicinity of the output electrode 14. The three electrodes for detection, output, and monitor may be packaged as an integrated electrode unit, so that the interval between each other on the skin surface is always kept constant, so that the myoelectric signal 11S, feedback The relationship between the signal 13S and the monitor signal 15S can be kept constant, and an adjustment shift in the signal processing circuit 13 can be suppressed.

  The monitor electrode 15 is for detecting, as a monitor signal 15S, a result of superimposing an original myoelectric signal 11S generated from the muscle and a feedback signal 13S applied to the muscle from the outside. Therefore, if these signals are well compensated or relaxed by the lines, the monitor signal 15S shows a value smaller than the signal intensity of the myoelectric signal 11S detected by the detection electrode 11.

The signal processing circuit 13 adjusts the phase shift and the signal intensity of the antiphase signal 12S and outputs it as a feedback signal 13S (step 102), and the output electrode 14 outputs the feedback signal 13S to the skin surface of the living body (step 102). Step 103).
Thereafter, the monitor electrode 15 detects, as the monitor signal 15S, the result of the synthesis of the myoelectric signal 11S and the feedback signal 13S by the muscle from the skin surface of the living body (step 200).

The intensity converter 13C of the signal processing circuit 13 obtains the signal intensity of the monitor signal 15S normalized by the myoelectric signal S11, and the increase / decrease determiner 13D increases / decreases the signal intensity obtained by the intensity converter 13C. Is determined (step 201).
Here, when the signal strength tends to increase, the control signal generator 13E generates a control signal 16S for finely adjusting the phase and signal strength of the antiphase signal 12S in the direction opposite to the previous fine adjustment. On the other hand, when the signal strength tends to decrease, the control signal generator 13E performs control for finely adjusting the phase and signal strength of the antiphase signal 12S in the direction in which the signal strength decreases in the same direction as the previous fine adjustment. A signal 16S is generated.

  In this way, after generating the control signal 16S corresponding to the signal intensity of the monitor signal 15S and outputting it to the phase adjuster 13A and the intensity adjuster 13B (step 202), the process returns to step 100 and newly detected. The muscle tone relaxation operation according to the myoelectric signal 11S is repeatedly executed. Thereby, in the phase adjuster 13A and the intensity adjuster 13B, fine adjustment of the phase and signal intensity with respect to the antiphase signal 12S according to the signal intensity of the monitor signal 15S is performed.

[Effect of the second embodiment]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the result of the synthesis of the myoelectric signal and the feedback signal by the muscle is detected by the monitor electrode, and the phase and signal strength of the antiphase signal are finely determined based on the obtained monitor signal. Since the adjustment is performed, automatic control can be performed so that the monitor signal is always minimized. Therefore, the original myoelectric signal generated from the muscle and the feedback signal applied to the muscle from the outside can be accurately compensated or relaxed, and the muscle can be effectively relaxed.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the signal processing circuit finely adjusts both the phase and the signal strength of the input antiphase signal 12S has been described as an example. However, only one of the phase and the signal strength is finely adjusted. You may make it adjust. For example, when it is known in advance that the phases of the myoelectric signal 11S and the feedback signal 13S substantially coincide, the control signal 16S is output only to the intensity adjuster 13B, and conversely, the myoelectric signal 11S and the feedback are fed back. If it is known in advance that the signal intensity with the signal 13S is substantially the same, the control signal 16S may be output only to the phase adjuster 13A.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, with reference to FIG. 7, a muscular tension alleviation device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a signal processing circuit according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and the same or equivalent parts as those in FIG.

  In the first embodiment, the signal processing circuit 13 adjusts the phase and signal intensity of the input antiphase signal 12S, and outputs the obtained feedback signal 13S as it is from the output electrode 14 to the line. As explained. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which a low-pass filter 13F is provided in the signal processing circuit 13 and a feedback signal 13S from which a high frequency component has been removed is output.

As shown in FIG. 7, a low-pass filter 13F is added to the signal processing circuit 13 according to the present embodiment as compared with the first embodiment. The low-pass filter 13F has a function of removing the high frequency component of the feedback signal obtained by the adjustment by the phase adjuster 13A and the intensity adjuster 13B and outputting it to the output electrode 14.
The other configuration of the muscle tone alleviation device 10 according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

[Operation of Third Embodiment]
Next, with reference to FIG. 8, operation | movement of the muscular tension relaxation apparatus concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a muscle tone relaxation operation of the muscle tone relaxation device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and the same or equivalent parts as those in FIG.

  The steps up to the step of adjusting the phase and signal strength of the antiphase signal 12S by the signal processing circuit 13 (steps 100 to 102) are the same as those in FIG. Thereafter, the high-frequency component of the feedback signal obtained by adjusting the phase and signal intensity of the antiphase signal 12S is removed by the low-pass filter 13F (step 300).

  It is known that the myoelectric signal generated from the muscle has a frequency distribution up to about 200 Hz and has a peak mainly in the vicinity of 50 Hz, depending on the ratio of the slow muscle fiber and the fast muscle fiber of the muscle. For this reason, it is effective to simply output a feedback signal composed of a low frequency component of 100 Hz or less, which is the main component of the myoelectric signal, to the muscle. In the present embodiment, paying attention to such points, a high-frequency component that affects the S / N ratio is obtained from a feedback signal obtained by adjusting the phase and signal strength of the antiphase signal 12S in the low-pass filter 13F. The feedback signal 13S consisting of a low frequency component of 100 Hz or less, which is the main component of the myoelectric signal 11S, is generated.

  Thereafter, the output electrode 14 outputs the feedback signal 13S to the skin surface of the living body (step 103), returns to step 100, and repeatedly executes the muscle tone relaxation operation according to the newly detected myoelectric signal 11S. To do.

[Effect of the third embodiment]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the low-frequency filter of the signal processing circuit removes the high frequency component contained in the feedback signal and outputs it to the output electrode, so that the high frequency that affects the S / N ratio is affected. A feedback signal having no component can be output to the muscle. For this reason, it is possible to give a stable tension relaxation action to the muscle.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, with reference to FIG. 9, a muscle tension alleviation device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a signal processing circuit according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The same or equivalent parts as those in FIG.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the feedback signal 13S corresponding to the myoelectric signal 11S detected from the muscle is generated and output to the muscle has been described as an example. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the operation of holding and outputting the generated feedback signal 13S and the operation of stopping the output are alternately repeated.

  As shown in FIG. 9, an output holder 13G is added to the signal processing circuit 13 according to the present embodiment as compared with the first embodiment. The output holder 13G stores the feedback signal 13S obtained by adjustment by the phase adjuster 13A and the intensity adjuster 13B, holds and outputs the feedback signal 13 to the output electrode 14 for a predetermined holding period, and a predetermined stop. It has a function of stopping output of the feedback signal only for a period, and a function of repeatedly holding and outputting the feedback signal 13S and stopping the output alternately.

As for the configuration for storing and holding and outputting the feedback signal 13S, for example, the feedback signal 13S is digitized by an A / D converter and stored in a memory, which is read out as needed and converted into an analog by a D / A converter and output. For example, a general known technique may be used.
The other configuration of the muscle tone alleviation device 10 according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

[Operation of Fourth Embodiment]
Next, with reference to FIG. 10, operation | movement of the muscular tension relaxation apparatus concerning the 4th Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a muscle tone relaxation operation of the muscle tone relaxation apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and the same or equivalent parts as those in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals.

The steps up to the step of adjusting the phase and signal strength of the antiphase signal 12S by the signal processing circuit 13 (steps 100 to 102) are the same as those in FIG.
As described above, the output electrode 14 is attached to the end side where the action potential is conducted as compared with the detection electrode 11, but the feedback signal 13S output from the output electrode 14 to the muscle is sent to the detection electrode 11 side. It may be crowded. In such a case, the feedback signal 13S is superimposed on the myoelectric signal 11S detected by the detection electrode 11, and this is regarded as the myoelectric signal 11S, so that an effective feedback signal 13S cannot be obtained.

  In this embodiment, after step 102, feedback signal 13S obtained by adjusting the phase and signal strength of anti-phase signal 12S is stored by output holder 13G (step 400), and the held feedback signal is stored in a predetermined manner. Is continuously output, for example, for 1 second (step 401). During this holding period, the feedback signal 13S outputs the same signal regardless of the new myoelectric signal 11S detected by the detection electrode 11.

  After that, according to the end of the holding period, the output of the feedback signal 13S is stopped for a predetermined stop period, for example, for 1 second, and waiting for the signal detected by the detection electrode 11 to return (step 402). After the end, the process returns to step 100, and the muscle tone relaxation operation according to the newly detected myoelectric signal 11S is repeatedly executed.

[Effect of the fourth embodiment]
As described above, in this embodiment, the output holder of the signal processing circuit holds and outputs the feedback signal to the output electrode for a predetermined holding period, and outputs the feedback signal to the output electrode for the predetermined stop period. The operation to stop the signal is alternately and repeatedly executed, so that the influence of the feedback signal 13S that wraps around the detection electrode 11 is avoided and the original myoelectric signal 11S generated from the muscle is compensated. An effective feedback signal 13S can be generated for relaxation.

[Fifth Embodiment]
Next, with reference to FIG. 11, a muscular tension alleviation device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a signal processing circuit according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which the same or equivalent parts as those in FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the feedback signal 13S corresponding to the myoelectric signal 11S detected from the muscle is generated and output to the muscle as it is described as an example. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the signal intensity of the feedback signal 13S is monitored and output control of the feedback signal 13S is performed.

As shown in FIG. 11, an output monitor 13H is added to the signal processing circuit 13 according to the present embodiment as compared with the first embodiment. The output monitor 13H compares the signal intensity of the feedback signal 13S obtained by the adjustment by the phase adjuster 13A and the intensity adjuster 13B with a predetermined threshold value, and outputs when the signal intensity exceeds the threshold value. And the function of stopping the output of the feedback signal 13S to the electrode 14 for use.
The other configuration of the muscle tone alleviation device 10 according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof is omitted here.

[Operation of Fifth Embodiment]
Next, with reference to FIG. 12, operation | movement of the muscular tension alleviation apparatus concerning the 5th Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a muscle tone relaxation operation of the muscle tone relaxation apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, and the same or equivalent parts as those in FIG.

The steps up to the step of adjusting the phase and signal strength of the antiphase signal 12S by the signal processing circuit 13 (steps 100 to 102) are the same as those in FIG.
At this time, the obtained feedback signal 13S may wrap around the detection electrode 11 and diverge due to positive feedback for some reason. In such a case, there is a possibility that a feedback signal 13S having a greater signal strength than the original myoelectric signal 11S generated from the muscle is output from the output electrode 14 to the muscle.

In this embodiment, after step 102, the output monitor 13H compares the signal strength of the feedback signal 13S obtained by adjusting the phase and signal strength of the antiphase signal 12S with a preset threshold value. (Step 500).
Here, if the signal intensity of the feedback signal 13S is equal to or less than the threshold value (step 500: YES), the feedback signal 13S is output to the output electrode 14 (step 103) as described above, and the process returns to step 100 to newly The muscle tone relaxation operation according to the detected myoelectric signal 11S is repeatedly executed.

  On the other hand, when the signal strength of the feedback signal 13S exceeds the threshold (step 500: NO), the output monitor 13H stops the output of the feedback signal 13S to the output electrode 14 and performs a series of muscle tone relaxation operations. finish.

[Effect of Fifth Embodiment]
As described above, in this embodiment, the output monitor of the signal processing circuit monitors the signal strength of the feedback signal, and when the signal strength exceeds a predetermined threshold, the output of the feedback signal is stopped. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the output of a feedback signal having an excessive signal strength. Therefore, for example, even when a feedback signal wraps around the detection electrode and diverges due to positive feedback for some reason, a feedback signal with an excessive signal strength is not output, and a safe muscle tone relaxation operation can be performed. .

  Each embodiment described above can be implemented in any combination as long as there is no contradiction, and the effects according to each embodiment can be achieved simultaneously.

  The present invention prevents an orthopedic disease such as stiff shoulders and low back pain from muscle tension of a certain time or more due to an unnatural posture or mental tension, or a device for reducing the symptoms, convulsions, Tensions generated in muscles of the body, such as devices for relieving the symptoms of neurological diseases such as sniffing, motor learning devices for relaxing and experiencing smooth movements by exercising well in motor learning It can be widely applied to the equipment to alleviate

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the muscular tension relaxation apparatus concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the signal processing circuit concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the muscular tension relaxation operation | movement of the muscular tension relaxation apparatus concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the muscular tension relaxation apparatus concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the signal processing circuit concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the muscular tension relaxation operation | movement of the muscular tension relaxation apparatus concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the signal processing circuit concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the muscular tension relaxation operation | movement of the muscular tension relaxation apparatus concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the signal processing circuit concerning the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the muscular tension relaxation operation | movement of the muscular tension relaxation apparatus concerning the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the signal processing circuit concerning the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the muscular tension relaxation operation | movement of the muscular tension relaxation apparatus concerning the 5th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Muscle tone relaxation apparatus, 11 ... Detection electrode, 11S ... Myoelectric signal, 12 ... Signal generation circuit, 12S ... Reverse phase signal, 13 ... Signal processing circuit, 13A ... Phase adjuster, 13B ... Strength adjuster, 13C Intensity converter, 13D ... Increase / decrease determiner, 13E ... Control signal generator, 13F ... Low pass filter, 13G ... Output retainer, 13H ... Output monitor, 13S ... Feedback signal, 14 ... Output electrode, 15 ... Monitor Electrode, 15S ... monitor signal, 16S ... control signal.

Claims (8)

A detection electrode for detecting a myoelectric signal generated from a muscle in electrical contact with a living body;
A signal generation circuit for generating an antiphase signal indicating an antiphase with the myoelectric signal detected by the detection electrode;
A signal processing circuit that generates a feedback signal by processing and adjusting the antiphase signal generated by the signal generation circuit; and
An muscular tension alleviation device comprising: an output electrode that is in electrical contact with the living body and outputs a feedback signal generated by the signal processing circuit to the muscle. The muscle tone alleviation device according to claim 1,
The signal processing circuit includes a phase adjuster that compensates for a phase difference between a myoelectric signal and a feedback signal in the muscle by adjusting a phase of the antiphase signal. The muscle tone alleviation device according to claim 1 or 2,
The signal processing circuit includes a strength adjuster that compensates for a signal strength difference between a myoelectric signal and a feedback signal in the muscle by adjusting a signal strength of the antiphase signal. . The muscle tone alleviation device according to claim 2,
A monitor electrode that detects a result of combining the myoelectric signal and the feedback signal as a monitor signal in electrical contact with the living body;
The phase adjuster finely adjusts the phase of the antiphase signal based on a monitor signal detected by the monitor electrode. The muscle tone alleviation device according to claim 3,
A monitor electrode that detects a result of combining the myoelectric signal and the feedback signal as a monitor signal in electrical contact with the living body;
The phase adjuster finely adjusts the signal intensity of the antiphase signal based on a monitor signal detected by the monitor electrode. The muscle tone alleviation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The said signal processing circuit has a low-pass filter which removes the high frequency component contained in the produced | generated feedback signal, and outputs it to the said electrode for output, The muscle tension relaxation apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The muscle tone alleviation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The signal processing circuit alternately performs an operation of holding and outputting the generated feedback signal to the output electrode for a predetermined holding period and an operation of stopping the output of the feedback signal to the output electrode for a predetermined stop period. A muscle tone alleviation device further comprising an output retainer that is repeatedly executed. The muscle tone alleviation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The signal processing circuit further includes an output monitor that stops the output of the feedback signal when the signal strength of the generated feedback signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value .

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