JP6268200B2 - Energization and heating system for electric thermotherapy pad - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical heating and treatment device pad energization and heating system for energizing and heating a living body to activate a normalization mechanism of the living body or living tissue.

  In the living body, as a method for activating the normalization mechanism that works as a ubiquitin / proteasome system, a weak current and heat are applied to the living body, and the normalization mechanism is activated via a protein. An example of an apparatus that can normalize a living body by applying such a method is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-125549.

JP 2009-125549 A

  A conventional apparatus for normalizing a living body has a configuration shown in the above-mentioned patent document, and while energizing between pads through a living body, applying warming heat by energizing each pad to obtain a normalizing effect. It was. Among them, the application of heat is a mechanism that utilizes resistance heat generation by energizing a resistor portion existing between a pair of heating electrodes. Since the resistor needs to have flexibility along the surface of the living body as a part of the pad, the resistor is made of rubber containing a conductive material such as carbon fiber, and is given a predetermined orientation in a predetermined direction by providing fiber orientation. In general, it has a structure capable of generating electrical resistance and generating resistance heat when energized.

  However, because of the manufacturing method of rubber, the carbon fibers contained in the rubber are not always arranged in the same arrangement in the rubber as a product, so that the resistance of the rubber tends to vary in quality from product to product. Specifically, when a rubber resistor is placed between a pair of heat generating electrodes and energized, heat may not be generated uniformly between the electrodes, and the heat generating position may be unevenly distributed. Differences may have occurred. Even if the heat generation position is unevenly distributed, the temperature of the entire resistor eventually rises.However, if the heat generation position is extremely biased, it takes time for the entire resistor to become warmed up, and the There was a problem that the grant could not be performed.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. In order to activate a normalization mechanism of a living body by applying a weak current and heat, the present invention can be quickly applied by appropriately controlling energization and efficiently adding heat to the living body. It is an object of the present invention to provide an energization and heating system for a pad for an electric thermotherapy device that can be activated.

  An electric heating and heating system for a pad for an electric thermotherapy device according to the present invention includes a pair of pads attached to different parts of a living body, having a conductive part that contacts the surface of the living body, and a heater part that is heated by energization. In the energization and heating system for a pad for an electric thermotherapy device having an energization control unit for energizing between each conductive portion in the pair of pads and raising the temperature of each heater unit, the heater unit includes: A first heater electrode group and a second heater electrode group in which a plurality of heater electrodes are arranged, and a resistance portion that is located at least between the first heater electrode group and the second heater electrode group and generates heat by energization The first heater electrode group and the second heater of the heater unit are disposed so as to be electrically insulated from the conductive unit and overlapped with a surface of the conductive unit that does not contact the living body. The pole groups are arranged apart from each other with the direction in which the heater electrodes are arranged parallel to each other, a plurality of heater electrodes forming each heater electrode group are electrically connected to the energization control unit, and the energization control unit, One heater electrode of the first heater electrode group and one heater electrode of the second heater electrode group are paired and energized through the resistance portion, and the pair is energized. The heater electrode is sequentially switched to sequentially change the heat generation position in the resistance portion.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the heater portion provided on the pad has a combined structure of the first heater electrode group and the second heater electrode group in which a plurality of heater electrodes are arranged, and the resistance portion that generates heat when energized. A plurality of heater electrodes sandwiching the resistance portion are arranged side by side with respect to the resistance portion, and a pair of heater electrodes to be energized through the resistance portion is selected by the energization control unit, and the heater electrodes to be energized are sequentially switched. Then, by repeatedly generating heat at the heat generation positions that are distributed over a wide range of the resistance portion corresponding to a plurality of combinations of heater electrode pairs, a state where heat is generated little by little at each portion of the resistance portion is repeated. The temperature can be raised in a wide range of the resistance part, and the heat conduction path to the part without heat generation is relatively shortened by the amount of the heat generation position dispersed, and the entire resistance part can be warmed in a short time. Can It is added to heat efficiently living body as over data unit.

  In addition, the energization and heating system for the electric thermotherapy device pad according to the present invention includes, if necessary, a plurality of the conductive portions provided with energized electrodes that are in contact with the surface of the living body, and the energization control portion includes the energization controller. Between the energizing electrode that is electrically connected to the electrodes and overlaps the heat generation position of the resistance portion in one of the pads and the energization electrode that overlaps the heat generation position of the resistance portion in the other pad, At the same time, the energization electrodes for energizing each pad are sequentially switched in accordance with the change of the heat generation position in the resistance portion of each pad.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of current-carrying electrodes of a conductive part are arranged and each connected to a current-carrying control part, and a pair of current-carrying electrodes that are in a current-carrying state through a living body is converted into a resistance by a heater electrode that is also in a current-carrying state. The electrification control unit selects and energizes each so as to correspond to the heat generation position of the part, and sequentially switches the energization electrode to be energized according to the change in the heat generation position accompanying switching of the heater electrode to be energized, By sequentially energizing the living body at a location that overlaps the heat generation position of the resistance unit, the energization to the living body is repeated in the vicinity of the heat generation position, which is the site where the heat is most easily transmitted by the resistance unit. Can be applied intensively to a narrow range of the living body, and the response to the stimulation by energization and heat in the living body is promoted, and the living body can be activated efficiently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is schematic structure explanatory drawing of the electricity supply and heating system of the pad for electric thermotherapy apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the pad in the energization and heating system of the pad for electric thermotherapy equipment concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic diagram in the pad thickness direction of the AA cross section of FIG. 2. It is a block diagram of the electricity supply and heating system of the pad for electric thermotherapy equipment concerning the 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is energization of the pad for electric thermotherapy devices concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention, and a change state explanatory view of the first step of the heater electrode which supplies electricity in a heating system. It is an energization of the electric thermotherapy device pad concerning the 1st embodiment of the present invention, and a switching state explanatory view of the second stage of the heater electrode energized in the heating system. It is an energization of a pad for electric thermotherapy equipment concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention, and a change state explanatory view of the third stage of a heater electrode energized in a heating system. It is an energization electrode arrangement state explanatory view of a pad in an energization and heating system of a pad for electric thermotherapy equipment concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention.

(First embodiment of the present invention)
Hereinafter, the energization and heating system for the electric thermotherapy device pad according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In each of the drawings, the energization and heating system 1 according to the present embodiment generates a current via a living body 50 between a pair of pads 10 and 20 attached to different parts of the living body 50 and the pair of pads 10 and 20. At the same time, it includes an energization control unit 30 that energizes each of the pads 10 and 20 to generate heat and raise the temperature.

  Each of the pads 10 and 20 is disposed so as to overlap the conductive portion 11 made of a conductive sheet that contacts and conducts on the surface of the living body 50 and the surface of the conductive portion 11 that does not contact the surface of the living body 50. Insulated portion 12 made of a heat-conductive and insulating rubber or elastomer sheet, and a sheet that is placed on the surface of the insulating portion 12 where there is no conductive portion 11 and is heated by energization And a covering portion 14 made of a rubber or elastomer sheet having heat insulation properties and insulation properties. (See FIG. 3).

  The conductive portion 11 is a flexible conductive sheet made of rubber or elastomer mixed with a conductive material, and is integrally disposed on the surface of the sheet that does not contact the surface of the living body 50. It is configured to be electrically connected to the energization control unit 30 through the thin plate-like electrode 11a. The electrode 11a is a thin metal net or plate in order to ensure followability to the living body surface as the conductive portion 11 without impairing the flexibility of the sheet.

The heater section 13 includes a first heater electrode group 15 and a second heater electrode group 16 that are spaced apart from each other on the surface of a flexible thin sheet 13a made of rubber or elastomer. Another sheet body 13b, 13c of the same material that is slightly larger than the groups 15, 16 is overlaid on each heater electrode group 15, 16, and is integrated so that each heater electrode group is sandwiched between the sheet bodies (FIGS. 2 and 2). 3). In the heater unit 13, a portion of the sheet body positioned between the first heater electrode group 15 and the second heater electrode group 16 serves as a resistance unit 17 that generates heat when energized.
This heater unit 13 is a mechanism capable of imparting heat to the living body 50 through the insulating unit 12 and the conductive unit 11 by raising the temperature by heat generated by energizing the resistance unit 17.

  The first heater electrode group 15 includes a plurality of heater electrodes 15a, 15b, and 15c formed in a rectangular thin plate shape, and each heater electrode 15a, 15b, and 15c is connected to the energization control unit 30. Electrically connected. The second heater electrode group 16 includes a plurality of heater electrodes 16a, 16b, 16c formed in a rectangular thin plate shape in a direction parallel to the arrangement direction of the heater electrodes 15a, 15b, 15c in the first heater electrode group 15. The heater electrodes 16 a, 16 b, 16 c, and 16 d are electrically connected to the energization control unit 30 as in the case of the first heater electrode group 15. As the heater electrode forming each heater electrode group, a thin metal net or plate can be used as in the case of the electrode 11a of the conductive portion 11.

  The sheet body 13a constituting the resistance portion 17 is a material having anisotropy in terms of electrical resistance by being blended in a rubber or elastomer base material with carbon fibers imparted with fiber orientation. It is what. When the sheet body is energized in the direction in which the resistance of the sheet body is large, that is, in the direction orthogonal to the direction of fiber orientation, Joule heat is generated due to electrical resistance, and the temperature rises.

  In the sheet body 13a, the fiber orientation is such that the heater electrodes 15a, 15b, and 15c in the first heater electrode group 15 are aligned and the heater electrodes 16a, 16b, and 16c in the second heater electrode group 16 are aligned. It is arrange | positioned so that it may become parallel with the arrangement direction of. Thus, when a voltage is applied between any heater electrode in the first heater electrode group 15 and any heater electrode in the second heater electrode group 16, the sheet is arranged in a direction with a large resistance. Current is generated by the electrical resistance in the inter-electrode portion of the body, that is, the resistance portion 17, and Joule heat is generated accordingly, and the temperature is raised to a predetermined temperature (for example, 42 ° C.).

  The energization control unit 30 is disposed separately from the pads 10 and 20, energizes between the conductive units 11 of the pair of pads 10 and 20, and sets the heater units 13 to a temperature rising state. Is. Specifically, the energization control unit 30 is connected to a predetermined power supply unit 31 to receive power supply and controls the energization state between the conductive units 11 of the pads 10 and 20. Connected to the part 31, and controls the energization state of any heater electrode of the first heater electrode group 15 and any heater electrode of the second heater electrode group 16 in the heater part 13 of each pad 10, 20. It is the structure provided with the control part 33 for heater parts to perform, and the switching control part 34 which switches the heater electrode energized by each electrode group (refer FIG. 4).

  The conductive part control unit 32 applies the input voltage while controlling the input voltage between the conductive parts 11 in the pair of pads 10 and 20, for example, by intermittently applying the input voltage at a predetermined interval, A weak direct current is generated between them.

  The heater unit control unit 33 includes any one heater electrode of the first heater electrode group 15 and any heater electrode of the second heater electrode group 16 in each heater unit 13 of the pair of pads 10 and 20. By applying an input voltage between these heater electrodes while controlling them, a direct current is generated between the heater electrodes, and the heater electrodes are energized via the resistance portion 17. Generate heat.

  The switching control unit 34 sequentially switches the heater electrodes to be energized to change the position where Joule heat is generated, and controls the temperature so as to be uniform throughout the heater unit 13.

  As a specific example, the conductive part control unit 32 of the energization control unit 30 intermittently turns on the conductive unit 11 at a predetermined cycle and applies a voltage only for 10 minutes to 30 minutes. To control the input voltage. Regarding the input voltage applied to the living body and the frequency of intermittent application by the energization control unit 30, the input voltage is 12.0 [V] at the animal level, and the frequency ranges from 50 [pps] to 60 [pps]. It is desirable that the frequency be controlled to 55 (± 1) [pps].

  By controlling the input voltage in this way, the energization control unit 30 energizes a weak current having a current level that does not cause unpleasant contraction of excitable cells, for example, muscular cells. That is, by applying a voltage to non-excitable cells of a living body forcibly so that a weak current corresponding to the living body current is applied, the living body or living tissue is activated through proteins in the body. On the other hand, the excitable cells such as muscular cells are prevented from applying a current corresponding to the bioelectric current to prevent stimulation such as contraction.

  In addition, the switching of the heater electrode to be energized in the switching control unit 34 of the energization control unit 30 is based on the data of the heat generation position in the resistance unit 17 which is grasped by energizing all combinations of heater electrode pairs in advance. The heater electrode combination to be energized is selected and extracted so that the heat generation positions are widely dispersed and generated in the resistance portion 17 with as few switchings as possible, and registered as a heater electrode to be energized when actually used on the living body. These are sequentially executed in a predetermined order. For this reason, when the pad is actually brought into contact with the living body and used, energization is not necessarily performed for all possible electrode combinations, but energization is performed within the range of heater electrode combinations registered in advance. The heater electrodes are sequentially switched.

  In addition, the combination of heater electrodes energized at each switching is energized by combining any one heater electrode of the first heater electrode group 15 and any heater electrode of the second heater electrode group 16 on a one-to-one basis. As long as the heat generating position can be appropriately generated in the resistance portion 17 without being limited to the one, a combination of one heater electrode of the first heater electrode group 15 and a plurality of heater electrodes of the second heater electrode group 16, It is possible to energize as a combination of a plurality of heater electrodes of the first heater electrode group 15 and one heater electrode of the second heater electrode group 16 or a combination of a plurality of heater electrodes of the same number or different numbers. .

  Next, the energization control state in the energization and heating system according to the present embodiment will be described. As a premise, it is assumed that the pair of pads 10 and 20 are attached to different parts of the living body, and each conductive portion 11 is in conduction with the surface of the living body.

  First, the energization control unit 30 inputs a predetermined voltage while controlling a predetermined voltage to the pair of pads 10 and 20, and each conductive unit 11 in the pair of pads 10 and 20 is energized via the living body 50. A weak direct current is generated at a predetermined part of the living body between the portions 11.

  At the same time, the energization control unit 30 includes any one heater electrode of the first heater electrode group 15 and any heater electrode of the second heater electrode group 16 in each heater unit 13 of the pair of pads 10 and 20, for example, The heater electrode 15a at the end of the first heater electrode group 15 and the heater electrode 16a at the end of the second heater electrode group 16 are paired, and a predetermined voltage is controlled between the heater electrodes 15a and 16a. Then, an energization state is established between the heater electrodes via the resistance portion 17 (see FIG. 5A). In the heater portion 13, Joule heat is generated at a predetermined portion A corresponding to the combination of the heater electrodes 15a and 16a in the resistance portion 17 due to the current generated between the heater electrodes 15a and 16a.

  When an appropriate temperature rise state is obtained in the part A by energization for a predetermined period, the energization control unit 30 switches the heater electrode to be energized to the following. That is, the energization control unit 30 sets the next heater electrode of the first heater electrode group 15 and the next heater electrode of the second heater electrode group 16, for example, end points in the first heater electrode group 15. The heater electrode 15a at the center and the intermediate heater electrode 16b in the second heater electrode group 16 are paired, and the heater electrodes 15a and 16b are energized through the resistance portion 17 in the same manner as described above (FIG. 5 ( B)). By this energization, Joule heat is generated at a predetermined portion B corresponding to the combination of the heater electrodes 15a and 16b in the resistance portion 17, which is different from the portion.

  Also in this case, the temperature rise state is obtained in the part B by energization for a predetermined period, but at this time, the part A that has been heated and raised to the temperature rise state does not immediately cool even in the absence of energization. Since the temperature reached by the temperature increase is substantially maintained, the temperature of the heated portion is widened as the entire heater section.

  After that, the energization control unit 30 sequentially switches the heater electrodes to be energized, and sequentially heats and raises the temperature of new parts (C, D, E) corresponding to the combination of the heater electrodes in the resistance unit 17 ( 6 and FIG. 7), the temperature rising portion in the resistance portion 17 is faster than the portion where the temperature has been previously raised is cooled, because it is faster to sequentially increase the number of portions to be heated by heat generation. Is gradually expanded, and heat conduction from the temperature rising portion in the resistance portion 17 to other portions also occurs, so that a state where the temperature is uniformly increased over a wide range of the resistance portion 17 is obtained.

  Compared with the case where there is only one pair of conventional electrodes, a plurality of heater electrodes are provided and there are a large number of heat generating portions of the resistance portion 17, and the heat generation positions are distributed for each combination of heater electrodes to be energized. Since the heat conduction path to the part without the gap is relatively short, the entire resistance portion 17 can be warmed in a short time.

  When energization is performed with all set heater electrode combinations, and each part corresponding to the electrode combination is heated, the first combination is returned (see FIG. 7B), and the same procedure is repeated thereafter. Each part is allowed to reach a specified temperature, and as a result, the resistance portion 17 is uniformly brought into an appropriate temperature rise state. After that, while switching the heater electrode to be energized, the degree of heat generation of each part is changed by control, and the part is heated to compensate for the heat lost by heat dissipation to appropriately heat each part, and the temperature of the resistance portion 17 is increased. To maintain.

  The heat generated in the resistance part 17 is transmitted to the living body 50 through the insulating part 12 and the conductive part 11, and contributes to the activation of the normalization mechanism of the living body 50 together with the stimulation by energization. Since the resistance portion 17 is uniformly warmed as a whole and heat is applied to the living body 50 from a wide range, the stimulation of the heat can be efficiently applied and the effect of activating the normalization mechanism can be enhanced.

  As described above, in the energization and heating system according to the present embodiment, the heater unit 13 provided in the pads 10 and 20 includes the first heater electrode group 15 and the second heater electrode group 16 in which a plurality of heater electrodes are arranged. And a resistor 17 that generates heat when energized, and a plurality of heater electrodes sandwiching the resistor 17 are arranged side by side with respect to the resistor 17, and a pair of heater electrodes that are energized via the resistor 17 are energized. The control unit 30 selects and energizes, and sequentially switches the energized heater electrodes to generate heat sequentially at the heat generation positions distributed over a wide range of the resistance unit 17 corresponding to a plurality of combinations of heater electrode pairs. Therefore, by repeating the state of generating heat little by little in each part of the resistance part 17, the temperature can be raised in a wide range of the resistance part 17, and the heat generation position is dispersed, The thermal conduction path to the site without heat relatively short and short time can warm the entire resistance portion 17 and applied to heat efficiently vivo 50 side as the heater unit 13.

(Second embodiment of the present invention)
In the energization and heating system according to the first embodiment, the conductive portion 11 is formed as a continuous sheet that uniformly covers one surface of each of the pads 10, 20. In addition to this, as a second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of energizing electrodes 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, 18 d, and 18 e made of a conductive sheet body are provided as a conductive portion 18 as a second embodiment. The conductive electrodes 18 a, 18 b, 18 c, 18 d, and 18 e are arranged on one surface of the pad and electrically connected to the conductive controller 30, and then the conductive controller 30 is connected to the conductive portion 18 in one pad 10. Among the energizing electrodes forming the above, the energizing electrode that overlaps the heat generating position of the resistor portion 17 and the energizing electrode that similarly overlaps the heat generating position of the resistor portion 17 in the other pad 20 are selectively paired. The energized electrodes are sequentially energized in accordance with the change of the heat generation position in the resistance portion 17 based on the switching of the heater electrodes energized by the pads 10 and 20 between the two energized electrodes. It can also be set as the structure switched.

  In this case, the energization electrodes are sequentially switched in accordance with the change of the heat generation position in the resistance portion 17 and the living body can be sequentially energized at the location overlapping the heat generation position, so that the resistance portion 17 is most likely to transmit heat. By repeating the state of energizing the living body near the heat generation position that is a part, it is possible to intensively apply stimulation by energization and heat to a narrow range of the living body, urging reaction to stimulation by energization and heat in the living body, The activation of the living body can be advanced efficiently.

  In the energization and heating system according to each of the above embodiments, the energization control unit 30 is configured not to perform special control other than switching the heater electrode to be energized to the heater unit 13, but is not limited thereto. A temperature sensor (for example, a thermocouple) is built in the pads 10 and 20, and is electrically connected to the energization control unit 30, and the temperature of the pads 10 and 20 is acquired by the energization control unit 30 using such a temperature sensor. Based on temperature, it can also be set as the structure which adjusts and controls the electricity supply state to the heater electrode in the heater part 13 so that the heat transmitted from the pads 10 and 20 to the biological body 50 may become preset temperature.

  Further, in the energization and heating system according to each of the above embodiments, the resistance portion 17 of the heater portion 13 has a uniform sheet body 13a made of rubber or elastomer mixed with carbon fibers added with fiber orientation. The heater electrode is overlapped and integrated with each heater electrode in the direction having the electrical resistance, and the portion is located between the heater electrodes. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the resistor portion is sandwiched between the heater electrodes. A member having a predetermined electrical resistance disposed only in the part, or a member composed of a part located between the heater electrodes and the other part, but resistance is generated by energizing only the part located between the heater electrodes. It is also possible to give the property to be Furthermore, as long as the pad can properly contact the living body, a non-flexible material other than rubber or an elastomer material may be used for the heater portion including the resistance portion.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Current supply and heating system 10, 20 Pad 11 Conductive part 11a Electrode 12 Insulating part 13 Heater part 13a Sheet body 13b, 13c Sheet body 14 Covering part 15 Heater electrode group 15a, 15b, 15c Heater electrode 16 Heater electrode group 16a, 16b, 16c Heater electrode 17 Resistance part 18 Conductive part 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 18e Conductive electrode 30 Energization control part 31 Power supply part 32 Conductive part control part 33 Heater part control part 34 Switching control part 50 Living body

Claims (2)

A conductive portion that contacts the surface of the living body, and a heater portion that heats up by energization, and a pair of pads that adhere to different parts of the living body and between the conductive portions of the pair of pads are in an energized state In the energization and heating system of the pad for the electric thermotherapy device having an energization control unit for setting each heater unit to a temperature rising state,
The heater unit is energized by being positioned at least between the first heater electrode group and the second heater electrode group, and a first heater electrode group and a second heater electrode group in which a plurality of heater electrodes are arranged, respectively. And a resistance portion that generates heat, and is placed on the surface of the conductive portion that does not contact the living body in an electrically insulated state with respect to the conductive portion,
The first heater electrode group and the second heater electrode group of the heater section are arranged apart from each other with the direction in which the heater electrodes are arranged parallel to each other, and a plurality of heater electrodes constituting each heater electrode group are respectively supplied with the energization Electrically connected to the control unit,
The energization control unit makes one of the heater electrodes of the first heater electrode group and one of the heater electrodes of the second heater electrode group in an energized state via the resistance unit. An electrical heating and treatment device pad energization and heating system, wherein the heater electrodes to be energized in pairs are sequentially switched to sequentially change the heat generation position in the resistance portion. In the energization and heating system of the pad for electric thermotherapy equipment according to claim 1,
The conductive portion includes a plurality of conductive electrodes arranged in contact with the surface of the living body,
The energization control unit is electrically connected to the energization electrode, and between the energization electrode that overlaps the heat generation position of the resistance portion in one of the pads and the energization electrode that overlaps the heat generation position of the resistance portion in the other pad. An energization and heating system for a pad for an electric thermotherapy device, wherein the energization electrode for energizing each pad is sequentially switched in accordance with the change of the heat generation position in the resistance portion of each pad while being energized through a living body .

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