JP6897537B2 - Muscle tone controller and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to muscle tone control equipment and programs that control voluntary contraction muscle strength limb.

Each cell that makes up a living body generates weak electricity, and when a voltage (electric current) stimulates the muscles (muscles) of the limbs and the motor nerves that control those muscles, the muscles may contract. Are known.

As a technique of attaching a pair of electrodes composed of a positive electrode and a negative electrode to the surface of a muscle, applying a voltage (current), and applying electrical stimulation to contract the muscle, for example, EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) technique or FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation) There is technology. As the applied voltage, for example, a voltage of about 40 [V] (about 10 [mA] for a current) is used.

These EMS and FES technologies are used, for example, to support rehabilitation exercises in the medical field and to train muscles in daily life, and in recent years, research on the interrelationship between humans and computers and interactive operations (hereinafter, HCI). : Human-Computer Interaction) is also attracting attention as one of the methods for advancing.

Further, as one of the application examples of the technique, it is also used for learning support for athletes to acquire a correct form in the sports field (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1 or Non-Patent Document 2).

In addition, a device has been proposed in which the contraction strength of muscles in a specific part is relaxed by electrical stimulation in combination with a myoelectric sensor that electrically measures the degree of muscle force, so-called tension, from a living body (for example,). See Patent Document 1).

By the way, in the EMS technology, for example, the agonist muscle of the target to be controlled (for example, the biceps brachii muscle) or the antagonist muscle that moves in the opposite direction to the agonist muscle (the deltoid muscle of the upper arm as a muscle corresponding to the biceps brachii muscle). An electrode is attached to the surface of the muscle to contract the muscle. Therefore, when trying to control the contraction strength of a plurality of muscles at the same time, there is a problem that the number of electrodes to be attached increases according to the number of muscles.

That is, for example, when training support is performed by controlling the voluntary contraction strength of the soleus muscle, tibialis anterior muscle, flexor carpi radialis muscle, and extensor carpi radialis muscle of both legs, all of the target muscles are composed of positive electrodes and negative electrodes. It is necessary to mount a pair of electrodes, which increases the cost of the electrodes to be prepared. The voluntary contraction refers to an exercise based on one's own intention or intention, and the voluntary contraction strength refers to the strength of muscle contraction during the exercise.

In addition, for example, in research on neuroscience and exercise science, voluntary clenching exercise affects the voluntary contraction strength of limb muscles such as soleus muscle, tibialis anterior muscle, flexor carpi radialis muscle, and extensor carpi radialis muscle. It has been clarified that it is given, and it has been reported that, for example, the maximum gripping force when gripping a dumbbell is increased by a clenching motion (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 3).

JP-A-2009-125263

Hassan et al., “FootStriker: An EMS-based Foot Strike Assistant for Running” (2017). Tatsuno et al., “Supportive training system for sports skill acquisition based on electrical stimulation” (2017). Hiroshi Nakare et al., “Changes in grip strength characteristics due to clenching”, Jpn Prosthodont Soc 46: 732-737, 2002.

However, when the masseter muscle required for the clenching exercise is controlled from the outside, the relationship between the control of the masseter muscle from the outside and the voluntary contraction strength of the muscles of the limbs has not yet been clarified.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and makes it possible to control the tension state of the muscles of the limbs with a small number of electrodes, thereby reducing the cost of the device and the burden on the subject. an object of the present invention is to provide a muscle tension control equipment and a program.

The muscle tension control device according to the present invention is a part different from a plurality of muscles to be controlled in the limbs, and is a part having a relationship related to a muscle contraction motion with the muscle , and is related to a clenching exercise. An electrode attached to the site, a voltage output circuit that applies a stimulating voltage to the electrode to promote or suppress the contraction strength of the plurality of muscles, and a voltage for stimulating the electrode by the voltage output circuit. It is provided with a control circuit for controlling application.

According to the present invention, it is possible to control the tension state of the muscles of the limbs with a small number of electrodes, which makes it possible to reduce the cost of the device and the burden on the subject.

The block diagram which showed the structure of the electronic circuit of the muscle tone control device 10 which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which showed the operation of the muscle tone control device 10 which concerns on the said embodiment. It is a figure which shows the state that the contraction promoting electrode 12a and the contraction suppressing electrode 12b in the muscle tone control device 10 were attached to each of the masseter muscle and the corner of the mouth of a living body. It is a figure which shows the state which measured the contraction strength of the radial carpi radialis muscle and the radial carpi radialis flexor muscle by the myoelectric sensor 13 in the muscle tone control device 10. The figure which calculated the value obtained in the experiment under the conditions 1 to 6 using the muscle tone control device 10 using RMS (Root Mean Square), and showed it using a box whiskers.

Hereinafter, the muscle tone control device, the muscle tone control method, and the program according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic circuit of the muscle tone control device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The muscle tone control device 10 includes a control unit (CPU) 14 that functions as a computer.

A first voltage output circuit 11a, a second voltage output circuit 11b, a myoelectric sensor 13 and a memory 15 are connected to the CPU 14. Further, the shrinkage promoting electrode 12a is connected via the first voltage output circuit 11a, and the shrinkage suppressing electrode 12b is connected via the second voltage output circuit 11b.

The memory 15 includes a program area and a work area 15b for storing data of the muscle contraction control processing program 15a.

That is, the muscle contraction control processing program 15a is started and executed by the CPU 14 using the work area 15b, and the operation of each part of the circuit is controlled according to the control signal from the CPU 14 based on the muscle contraction control processing program.

The first voltage output circuit 11a supplies a first voltage (a voltage determined in the range of 0 [V] to 20 [V]) to the contraction promoting electrode 12a that promotes muscle contraction according to the control signal. Has a function.

The second voltage output circuit 11b supplies a second voltage (a voltage determined in the range of 0 [V] to 15 [V]) to the contraction suppressing electrode 12b that suppresses muscle contraction according to the control signal. Has a function.

The contraction promoting electrode 12a is attached to a living body, and based on the first voltage from the first voltage output circuit 11a, a portion that promotes contraction of the muscle of the living body (for example, masseter muscle: 1 of the muscles of mastication). An electrical stimulus is given to one) by applying a voltage having a predetermined frequency.

The contraction-suppressing electrode 12b is attached to a living body, and is predetermined to a portion (for example, a corner of the mouth) that suppresses contraction of muscles of the living body based on a second voltage from the second voltage output circuit 11b. An electrical stimulus is given by applying a voltage having a frequency.

For example, by attaching the contraction-suppressing electrode 12b to the corner of the mouth, an electric current is passed from the corner of the mouth to the inside of the oral cavity, causing pain in the nerves of the tooth via the pulp (muscle), thereby suppressing the contraction of the corner of the mouth. ..

The myoelectric sensor 13 is attached to the muscles of the limbs, such as the arms and thighs, which are different from the sites where the contraction promoting electrodes 12a and the contraction suppressing electrodes 12b are attached, and the myoelectric potentials (voluntary contractions) of these arms and thighs are attached. It has a function of measuring the strength of the muscle potential), and outputs the measured myoelectric potential data to the CPU 14.

The CPU 14 receives the myoelectric potential data from the myoelectric sensor 13, and the received myoelectric potential data is higher than, for example, a preset threshold value (the muscle contracts due to tension, and the force is higher than the ideal value. Is too much), a control signal for prompting suppression is output to the second voltage output circuit 11b, while the force is lower than the preset threshold value (the muscles are loosened and the force is lower than the ideal value). If it is not included), it has a function of outputting a control signal for promoting promotion to the first voltage output circuit 11a.

The work area 15b provided in the memory 15 stores the threshold value for determining whether or not the myoelectric potential data of the controlled object obtained by the measurement of the myoelectric sensor 13 is higher than the ideal value. To do.

In FIG. 1, a pair of a first voltage output circuit 11a and a contraction promoting electrode 12a and a pair of a second voltage output circuit 11b and a contraction suppressing electrode 12b are provided in the muscle tone control device 10. However, one set of the voltage output circuit 11a (11b) and the electrode 12a (12b) may be used. In this case, the one set of voltage output circuits 11a (11b) and electrodes 12a (12b) have both a voluntary contraction promoting function and a voluntary contraction suppressing function.

Further, the first voltage output circuit 11a and the second voltage output circuit 11b may be combined into a single voltage output circuit 11.

In the muscle tone control device 10 configured in this way, the CPU 14 controls the operation of each part of the circuit according to the instruction described in the muscle contraction control processing program 15a, and the software and the hardware operate in cooperation with each other. As a result, the muscle contraction control function as described in the following operation explanation is realized.

Next, the operation of the muscle tone control device 10 having the above configuration will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a muscle contraction control process by the muscle tone control device 10 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows that in executing the flowchart of the muscle tone control device 10, the contraction promoting electrode 12a and the contraction suppressing electrode 12b are attached to the left and right masseter muscles and the corners of the mouth (specifically, the surface portion of the mouth covering the pulp). It is a figure which shows the state in the case of mounting two sheets vertically side by side. The pulp refers to a soft tissue that fills the pulp cavity inside the tooth.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing how the contraction strength of the flexor carpi radialis and flexor carpi radialis was measured by the myoelectric sensor 13.

The contraction promoting electrode 12a is attached to a portion different from the muscle to be contracted, for example , two each vertically side by side on the left and right bite muscles, and the contraction suppressing electrode 12b is attached to a portion different from the muscle to be contracted. For example, two pieces are mounted vertically side by side on the corner of the mouth, and the myoelectric sensor 13 (flexor carpi radialis electrode 13a, flexor carpi radialis electrode 13b) is mounted on the flexor carpi radialis and flexor carpi radialis. After that, the muscle tension control device 10 is activated.

Then, the data of the myoelectric potentials (intensity of voluntary contraction) of the flexor carpi radialis muscle and the flexor carpi radialis muscle measured by the myoelectric sensor 13 by the CPU 14 are stored in the work area 15b (step S1). Next, it is determined whether or not the myoelectric potential indicated by the data stored in the work area 15b is higher than the preset threshold value (step S2).

As a result of step S2, when it is determined that the threshold value is lower than the preset threshold value (steps S2, No), the first voltage output circuit 11a is instructed to output the first voltage to the shrinkage promoting electrode 12a (step S2, No). Step S3).

As a result, the masseter muscle to which the contraction promoting electrode 12a is attached is given an electrical stimulus having a predetermined frequency to promote voluntary contraction of the target muscles (the radial carpi radialis muscle and the radial carpi radialis muscle). Can be done.

On the other hand, when the CPU 14 determines that the myoelectric potential indicating the data stored in the work area 15b is higher than the preset threshold value (step S2, Yes), the second voltage is suppressed from contraction. The second voltage output circuit 11b is instructed to apply the voltage to the electrode 12b (step S4).

As a result, an electrical stimulus having a predetermined frequency is applied to the corner of the mouth to which the contraction suppressing electrode 12b is attached, and voluntary contraction of the target muscles (the flexor carpi radialis muscle and the flexor carpi radialis muscle) is suppressed. Can be made to.

When no measured myoelectric potential signal is received from the myoelectric sensor 13, the masseter muscle and the corner of the mouth are not electrically stimulated through the contraction promoting electrode 12a and the contraction suppressing electrode 12b.

The processing steps S1 to S4 do not exclude simultaneous control.

That is, in steps S1 to S4, the contraction promoting electrode 12a and the contraction suppressing electrode 12b may simultaneously apply electrical stimulation to the target muscles (masseter muscle and corner of the mouth).

Further, when one set of the voltage output circuit 11a (11b) and the electrode 12a (12b) has both the voluntary contraction promoting function and the voluntary contraction suppressing function, the first voltage output by the voltage output circuit 11a (11b) ( It is also possible to adjust the contraction strength of the muscle by controlling the value of the second voltage) by the CPU 14.

Specifically, the first voltage output by the voltage output circuit 11a (11b) excessively promotes the voluntary contraction (a state in which the voluntary contraction of the muscle becomes higher than the ideal value and greatly exceeds the threshold value). If the first voltage output by the voltage output circuit 11a (11b) is not zero, the first voltage by the voltage output circuit 11a (11b) is lowered from the initial value to cause the excessively promoted voluntary contraction. It may have a structure that reduces the strength.

On the other hand, the second voltage output by the voltage output circuit 11a (11b) excessively suppresses the voluntary contraction of the muscle (a state in which the voluntary contraction of the muscle is lower than the ideal value and is significantly below the threshold value), and When the second voltage by the voltage output circuit 11b (11a) is not zero, the second voltage of the voltage output circuit 11b (11a) is lowered from the initial value to reduce the strength of the excessively suppressed voluntary contraction. It may have a configuration for raising.

Further, the threshold value may be a value having a certain width. That is, if the threshold value is not set to a value having a certain width but is a predetermined value consisting of one point, the promotion and suppression of voluntary contraction are alternately promoted and suppressed in the muscle to be controlled with the predetermined value as a boundary. This is because it occurs continuously.

In the following, the steps S1 to S4 are executed, and the voltage is applied to the masseter muscle and the corner of the mouth by the first voltage output circuit 11a and the second voltage output circuit 11b controlled by the instruction from the CPU 14. , We will verify to what extent the contraction strength of muscles (extensor carpi radialis and flexor carpi radialis) in other parts different from these parts can be controlled by experiments.

The contents of the experiment (1. calibration setting, 2. experimental procedure, 3. experimental condition, 4. parameter setting, 5. hypothesis, 6. experimental result) will be explained.

<Experimental content>
1. 1. Calibration settings
First, a voltage is applied to the left and right masseter muscles in a state where two electrodes for promoting contraction 12a are vertically arranged and attached, and the contraction of the masseter muscles is confirmed (see FIG. 3). Specifically, the voltage is increased from 0 [V] to 1 [V] to confirm the contraction of the masseter muscle, and the voltage is increased up to 20 [V].

If the contraction of the masseter muscle could not be confirmed even when the voltage was increased to 20 [V], the position of the contraction promoting electrode 12a was shifted by several [mm] and the voltage was applied again from 0 [V].

Next, a voltage is applied in a state where two shrinkage suppressing electrodes 12b are vertically arranged and attached near the left and right corners of the mouth, and it is confirmed that pain occurs in the pulp. Specifically, when the voltage was increased from 0 [V] to 1 [V], 20 [V] caused more pain than necessary, so here it is about 11 [V] -15 [V]. It was decided to apply the voltage of.

As described above, the voltage applied to the dental pulp through the contraction suppressing electrode 12b is lower than the voltage applied to the masseter muscle through the contraction promoting electrode 12a. It was confirmed that the masseter muscle contracted sufficiently at about 18-20 [V].

If no pain occurred in the corner of the mouth even when the voltage was raised to 20 [V], the position of the shrinkage suppression electrode 12b was shifted by several [mm] and the voltage was applied again from 0 [V].

Next, the experimental procedure will be described.
2. Experimental procedure
Step 1. The subject is in an upright position and holds 500 [g] dumbbells in both hands.
Step 2. At the start signal, hold the dumbbells of both hands with maximum grip strength for 3 seconds.
Step 3. Weak for 10 seconds.
The steps 2 and 3 are repeated 5 times.
The myoelectric sensor 13 measures the myoelectric potentials of the forearms when the maximal grip strength of the extensor carpi radialis and flexor carpi radialis of both arms is exerted (a total of four points in total for both arms, see FIG. 4).
Steps 1 to 3 are defined as one step, and a total of six steps are performed for each subject (for example, 6 persons).

However, one of the following experimental conditions 1 to 6 is randomly selected at each step, and the experiment is carried out under each experimental condition.

Next, experimental conditions 1 to 6 will be described.
3. 3. Experimental conditions
Condition 1. Grip the dumbbell without applying a voltage to either the masseter muscle or the corner of the mouth.
Condition 2. Grip the dumbbell while clenching it without applying voltage to either the masseter muscle or the corner of the mouth.
Condition 3. With the voltage applied to the masseter muscle, the dumbbell is gripped without tightening.
Condition 4. With the voltage applied to the corner of the mouth, grip the dumbbell without tightening.
Condition 5. With the voltage applied to the masseter muscle, grasp the dumbbell while clenching.
Condition 6. With the voltage applied to the corner of the mouth, grasp the dumbbell while clenching it.
4. parameter settings
Parameters other than the voltage applied through the shrinkage promoting electrode 12a and the shrinkage suppressing electrode 12b were determined with reference to the parameters generally used in the EMS technique.

Specifically, the pulse width of the voltage applied through the shrinkage promoting electrode 12a and the shrinkage suppressing electrode 12b is 100 [μsec], and the voltage frequency is 1000 [Hz]. Further, the sampling rate at which the myoelectric sensor 13 acquires data is set to 1000 [Hz].

Further, a bandpass filter having a pass band of 20 [Hz] to 450 [Hz] is applied to the data acquired by the myoelectric sensor 13 (the data every 3 seconds is totaled 5 times). That is, after filtering the acquired data having a frequency of 20 [Hz] to 450 [Hz], this is used as the target data, and the calculated window width is set at 100 [ms] intervals with respect to the target data every 3 seconds. RMS (Root Mean Square) is measured as.

Here, RMS is one of the indexes generally used in myoelectric measurement as an index of voluntary contraction strength, and the higher the RMS value, the more the muscle contracts, and the higher the voluntary contraction strength. Show that.

Further, in the measurement of this RMS, the average value of the RMS from the start time t0 when the dumbbell is gripped to the time t1 (0 seconds to 1 second) is taken as a representative value of the measured values (hereinafter, the maximum voluntary contraction strength value).

5. hypothesis
Below, before obtaining the experimental results, the following hypotheses (1) to (3) were established based on the action of activation of motor neurons. In particular,
(1) As shown in the above condition 2, when the biting exercise is performed, the voluntary contraction of the radial carpi radialis muscle and the radial carpi radialis muscle is promoted, and the maximum voluntary contraction strength is increased.
(2) As shown in the condition 3, when a voltage is applied to the masseter muscle and an electrical stimulus is applied, the voluntary contraction of the radial carpi radialis muscle and the radial carpi radialis muscle is promoted, and the biting exercise is not performed. Maximum voluntary contraction strength increased,
(3) As shown in the above condition 6, when a voltage is applied to the corner of the mouth and an electrical stimulus is applied, the voluntary contraction of the radial carpi radialis muscle and the radial carpi radialis muscle is suppressed, and even if the biting exercise is performed, the biting exercise is performed. The maximum voluntary contraction strength is lower than that in the case of merely performing the biting exercise (Condition 2), and the value is about the same as that of Condition 1.
Is the hypothesis. The experimental results will be described below.

6. Experimental result
FIG. 5 is a diagram (graph) in which the values obtained in the experiments under the conditions 1 to 6 using the muscle tone control device 10 were calculated using the RMS, and the calculated values were shown using a boxplot. ).

First, how to read the measurement data in the graph will be described.
In the graph, the vertical axis represents the RMS value, and the horizontal axis represents conditions 1 to 6. The RMS value shown on the vertical axis is a value measured under condition 1 and normalized based on the acquired value. In other words, the RMS value of the other conditions 2 to 6 is a value divided by the RMS value obtained in the condition 1. The RMS values of conditions 1 to 6 are the sum of the representative values measured by the four sets of myoelectric sensors 13 (radial carpi radialis electrode 13a, radial carpi radialis electrode 13b). is there.

Here, the "box whiskers" is a graph for arranging the data in ascending order from the bottom to express the distribution and variation of the data in an easy-to-understand manner, and extends from a hexagonal box with a notch and both ends thereof. Expressed as a beard. The notch refers to the height of the boxplot having a V-shape or an inverted V-shape.

Specifically, five statistics can be shown by using the boxplot, and in addition to the minimum value (lower end of the beard) and the maximum value (upper end of the beard), the first quartile (box). The bottom of the box is q1: 25 percent of the total), the median (q2: 50 percent of the total), and the third quartile (the top of the box is q3: 75 percent of the total). Can be represented.

Then, the minimum value at the lower end and the maximum value at the upper end of the vertically extending "whisker" in FIG. 5 use the first quartile (q1) and the third quartile (q3). hand,
The minimum value is represented by q1-1.5 (q3-q1).
The maximum value is represented by q3 + 1.5 (q3-q1).

Also, the cross plot is called an "outlier" and is displayed when it contains values that are significantly distant from other measurement data.

Further, the confidence interval (the range of the median value of the population estimated from the median value (q2) of the acquired data with a probability of 95%) is represented by the break (the notch) of the box. Here, the value at the upper end of the notch is represented by q2 + 1.57 (q3-q1) / sqrt (n), and the value at the lower end of the notch is q2-1.57 (q3-q1) / sqrt (n). It is represented by. Note that n indicates the number of observations, that is, the number of measurements.

Here, a one-way ANOVA was performed to create a graph using the boxplot.
One-way ANOVA is a method used to compare the mean of each data measured under three or more conditions using the F distribution, and the F value and p value are used.

The F distribution is a continuous probability distribution used in statistics and the like, and is a method applied to analysis of variance.

Further, the F value means the ratio of dispersion in the measured data, and the p value is an index calculated from the F value and determining whether or not a significant difference has occurred, and the p value. If the value is lower than the significance level, it is judged that there is a significant difference.

Further, the significance level is a probability that is a criterion for judging that the probability that a certain event occurs is unlikely to be accidental (significant), and 5% is usually used.

That is, if the probability that a certain event (for example, the value of the maximum voluntary contraction strength larger than condition 1) occurs is 5% or more of the total number of measurements, the measurement result obtained under that condition is a coincidence. It is difficult to think, that is, it is judged that there is a significant difference.

In this experiment, F value = 5.714 and p value = 0.0002 (<significance level = 5%) were obtained. Therefore, in this experiment, it was judged that there was a significant difference between conditions 1 to 6.

However, although this one-way ANOVA shows that there is a difference between any one or more conditions, there is a specific difference between which condition and which condition. I don't know if there is.

Therefore, in this embodiment, multiple comparisons were further performed using the Tukey-Kramer method. When the same type of experiment (procedures 1 to 3) is repeated by multiple comparison to determine whether or not there is a significant difference in the whole (conditions 1 to 6), a difference occurs between which condition and which condition. You can know if you are there.

Specifically, by using the multiple comparison in FIG. 5, the confidence interval of condition 1 (length of notch 1) and the confidence interval of each condition 2 to 6 (notch 2 to notch 6) are exceeded. It can be determined that the significant difference is observed when no wrapping is performed.

As a result, the significant difference between the condition 1 and the other conditions 2 to 6 was observed in the condition 2 and the median (q2) in which the median RMS value (q2) was 1.06. Was 1.08, and the median (q2) was 1.06.

That is, according to the hypothesis (1), if the dumbbell is gripped while clenching without applying a voltage to the masseter muscle (condition 2), the RMS value is higher than that when the dumbbell is gripped without any clenching (condition 1). Although it is within the expected range, the RMS value becomes larger than the value of the above condition 1 only by applying a voltage to the masseter muscle, although the bite is not tightened as in the hypothesis (2). Condition 3) was able to be demonstrated.

That is, it is possible to control the voluntary contraction strength in two muscles, the radial carpi radialis muscle and the radial carpi radialis muscle, which are other parts different from the masseter muscle, simply by applying a voltage to the attached contraction promoting electrode 12a. I was able to prove it.

On the other hand, the conditions 4 (1.03) and 6 (1.00) did not show a significant difference. That is, as in condition 6, even if the dumbbell is gripped by clenching, when a voltage is applied to the corner of the mouth, the RMS value becomes smaller than the conditions 2 and 3, and condition 1, that is, "voltage on the masseter and corner of the mouth". The value was about the same as in the case of "holding the dumbbell without biting without applying" (hypothesis 3).

By controlling the voltage applied to the corner of the mouth in this way, it can be demonstrated that the voluntary contraction strength in the two muscles, the flexor carpi radialis and the flexor carpi radialis, can be controlled in the same manner as the masseter muscle, and the hypothesis 1-The validity of Hypothesis 3 could be proved.

Therefore, according to the muscle tension control device 10 having the above configuration, the contraction promoting electrode 12a and the contraction suppressing electrode 12b are attached to the bite muscle and the corner of the mouth, respectively, and the first voltage output circuit 11a and the second voltage output circuit are attached. By applying the first (second) voltage corresponding to the voltage supply from 11b to either the bite muscle or the corner of the mouth, the flexor carpi radialis muscle and the flexor carpi radialis muscle, which are different sites, 2 It controls the shrinkage strength of the part to be strengthened or weakened.

That is, even if the electrodes are not attached to the plurality of muscles (extensor carpi radialis and flexor carpi radialis) of the limbs to be controlled, the electrodes are attached and the masseter muscle and the corner of the mouth are electrically stimulated. since it is possible to control the muscles, Ru can be suppressed cost by decreasing the number of electrodes that need.

Further, according to the muscle tone control device 10 having the above configuration, by increasing the voltage of the contraction promoting electrode 12a attached to the masseter muscle, the contraction strength of the flexor carpi radialis and flexor carpi radialis is increased, and the angle of the mouth is increased. By increasing the voltage of the contraction suppressing electrode 12b attached to the radial carpi radialis muscle, the increase in the contraction strength of the flexor carpi radialis muscle and the flexor carpi radialis muscle is suppressed.

As a result, by applying an appropriate voltage to the sites (masseter and mouth corners) that affect the voluntary contraction strength of the extensor carpi radialis and flexor carpi radialis muscles from the outside, electrical stimulation is applied. The contraction strength of the flexor carpi radialis and flexor carpi radialis can be controlled.

Furthermore, it has been reported that the clenching exercise affects the voluntary contraction strength of the muscles of the extensor muscles such as the soleus muscle and the tibialis anterior muscle, in addition to the flexor carpi radialis and extensor carpi radialis muscles of both arms. Therefore, if the voltage applied to the bite muscle is controlled by using the muscle tone control device 10 having the above configuration, the contraction strength of the soleus muscle and the tibialis anterior muscle can be similarly controlled.

Therefore, the required number of electrodes can be further reduced, and the cost can be further suppressed.

If the contraction strength of the flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi radialis, soleus, and tibialis anterior muscles can be controlled, the position where the contraction-suppressing electrode 12b is attached is, for example, the pulp, not the corner of the mouth, and its pulp. It may be the nerve that controls the nerve, and the tooth.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be variously modified at the implementation stage without departing from the gist thereof. Further, the embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by an appropriate combination of a plurality of disclosed constituent requirements. For example, even if some constituent elements are deleted from all the constituent elements shown in the embodiment or some constituent elements are combined in different forms, the problem described in the problem to be solved by the invention is solved. If the problem can be solved and the effect described in the section of effect of the invention is obtained, the configuration in which this constituent requirement is deleted or combined can be extracted as the invention.

10 ... Muscle tone control device, 11a ... First voltage output circuit, 11b ... Second voltage output circuit,
12a ... Shrinkage promoting electrode, 12b ... Shrinkage suppressing electrode, 13 ... Myoelectric sensor,
13a ... Electrode for radial carpi radialis, 13b ... Electrode for radial carpi radialis, 14 ... Control unit (CPU), 15 ... Memory, 15a ... Muscle contraction control processing program, 15b ... Work area.

Claims (7)

Electrodes attached to the parts of the limbs that are different from the multiple muscles to be controlled and that are related to the muscle contraction movement with the muscles and are related to the clenching movement.
A voltage output circuit that applies a stimulating voltage to the electrodes to promote or suppress the contraction strength of the plurality of muscles.
A control circuit that controls the application of a stimulating voltage to the electrodes by the voltage output circuit, and
A muscle tone control device. The electrode is
A promotion electrode attached to a site that promotes the contraction strength of the plurality of muscles,
An inhibitory electrode attached to a site that suppresses the contraction strength of the plurality of muscles,
With
The control circuit
By applying the stimulation voltage from the voltage output circuit to the promotion electrode, the contraction strength of the plurality of muscles is promoted.
By applying the stimulation voltage from the voltage output circuit to the suppression electrode, the contraction strength of the plurality of muscles is suppressed.
The muscle tone control device according to claim 1. The electrode is
A promotion electrode attached to a site that promotes the contraction strength of the plurality of muscles,
An inhibitory electrode attached to a site that suppresses the contraction strength of the plurality of muscles,
With
The control circuit
Wherein when contraction strength of several muscle is lower than the threshold set in advance, as a stimulus voltage to said accelerating, the first voltage from the voltage output circuit that is applied to the accelerating electrode, wherein Promotes contraction strength of multiple muscles ,
Higher than threshold contraction muscle strength of the multiple number set in advance, as a stimulus voltage to said suppressed, the voltage output circuit the suppression electrode a second voltage lower than said first voltage from be applied to the, Ru is suppressed contraction intensity of said plurality of muscles,
The muscle tone control device according to claim 1. Electrodes that are different from the plurality of muscles to be controlled in the limbs and that have a relationship with the muscles related to the muscle contraction motion and are attached to the parts related to the clenching movement.
A voltage output circuit that applies a stimulating voltage to the electrodes to promote or suppress the contraction strength of the plurality of muscles.
A control circuit that controls the application of a stimulating voltage to the electrodes by the voltage output circuit, and
With
The control circuit
When made to function the voltage output circuit for the promotion of the contraction intensity, the stimulation voltage to promote contraction intensity of said plurality of muscles to the electrode from the voltage output circuit was applied by the control circuit As a result, when the contraction strength of the plurality of muscles is higher than the preset threshold value, the stimulation voltage applied to the electrode is used, and the contraction strength of the plurality of muscles is preset. Reduce it to a value that approaches the threshold value,
When made to function the voltage output circuit for the suppression of the contraction intensity, the stimulation voltage for suppressing the contraction intensity of said plurality of muscles to the electrode from the voltage output circuit was applied by the control circuit result, when the contraction intensity of said plurality of muscles is lower than a preset threshold, the applied the stimulus voltage to the electrodes, contraction intensity of said plurality of muscles to the threshold Decrease to a value that approaches
Muscle tone control device. The electrode is
Attached to other muscles that promote or suppress the contraction strength of the plurality of muscles or the nerves that control the muscles.
The muscle tone control device according to any one of claims 2 to 4. It is a part different from the plurality of muscles to be controlled in the limbs, and is a part having a relationship related to the muscle contraction motion with the muscle, and is attached to the first part and the second part related to the clenching exercise, respectively. Shrinkage promoting electrode and shrinkage suppressing electrode,
A voltage output circuit that outputs a first voltage and a second voltage lower than this first voltage,
A control circuit for the first voltage is applied to the first site and the second voltage to control the voltage output circuit so that is applied to the second portion,
A muscle tone control device equipped with. A program for causing a computer to execute an operation of a control circuit included in the muscle tone control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images