JPH04193184A - Low-frequency therapeutic unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily obtain the optimum therapeutic signal by detecting the action state of an output control switch, and generating the therapeutic signal with the wave-form in response to the detection content. CONSTITUTION:One action knob 18 of an output control switch 16 is provided on the upper face 14 side of a main body case 12. A pair of directors 24 provided at the upper end position of the main body case 12 are covered with conducting adhesive pads 40 on electrodes 38 to apply the therapeutic signal to the skin face of a patient, and both electrodes 38 are connected to a jack 34 on the main body case 12 side with a plug 44 at the tip of cords 42. An electronic circuit 26 has a microcomputer as a controller 48, and an output selection section 50 has an on/off-switch 16 selecting the therapeutic signal 20 simulating the 'tap' or 'rub' state and controlling the output timing. An action knob 18 outputs the pressure signal 55 with the value corresponding to the pushing force of the knob 18 like a pressure sensor or the value corresponding to the size of the depressed stroke and controls the peak value of the therapeutic signal 20.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a low frequency treatment device for home use.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, this type of low-frequency treatment device has generally been of a type in which a treatment mode provided in the device is selected in conjunction with a switching operation of a switch.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned low-frequency treatment device, various conditions such as the generation cycle of the treatment signal are set to suit the average human, so it is easy to stimulate. There were some inconveniences, such as the rhythm of the music did not suit my body and I felt uncomfortable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and includes:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a low frequency treatment device that allows a user to easily obtain an optimal treatment signal.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The low frequency treatment device according to the present invention, as shown in its schematic configuration in FIG. and a signal generating means capable of generating a therapeutic signal (20) having a waveform corresponding to the content detected by the detecting means.

The detection contents performed by the above-mentioned detection means include the length of the operation time of the output control switch (16), or the magnitude of the operation pressure of the output control switch (16).

[Operation J] With the above-described configuration, when the output control switch (16) is pressed in a rhythm of one's preference, a therapeutic signal (20) is generated at a timing corresponding to the rhythm.

Here, differences in the operation state such as the length of operation time or the operation pressure of the output control switch (16) are detected, and a therapeutic signal (20) with a waveform corresponding to the detection result is detected.
By outputting this from the signal generating means, a variety of therapeutic signals (20) can be obtained with a minimum number of switches.

For example, if the configuration is such that the operation time of the output control switch (16) is detected, when the switch (16) is operated for a short time, the therapeutic signal (20a) corresponding to a single "tap" state is sent to the fifth When the output is output as shown in Figure (C) and the switch (16) is pressed continuously for more than a certain period of time, a continuous signal (20b) with a relatively high frequency corresponding to the "kneading" state is generated, etc. Changes are made.

[Example] The low frequency treatment device (10) according to the present invention has a curved surface (14) of a rectangular flat main body case (12), as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 schematically. Only one operation knob (18) for the output control switch (16) is provided on the side, and a treatment signal (
Two light emitting diodes (22, 22) are provided to enable display corresponding to the output timing and type of 20). Furthermore, inside the main body case (12), a treatment signal (20
) to the conductor (24).
6) and a battery (28) that supplies driving power to the electronic circuit (26). In addition, a variable resistor (32) for output adjustment is provided on the side of the main body nurse (12), and is equipped with a power switch (30) that regulates the timing of energization from the battery (28) to the electronic circuit (26). , main body case (1
2) is provided with a jack (34) at the upper end position for detachably connecting the conductor (24).

The conductor (24) is for applying a therapeutic signal (20) output from the main body case (12) side to the skin surface of the affected area, and is mounted on a flat plate on an insulating base (36). A set of two electrodes (38) each having a shaped electrode (38) covered with a conductive adhesive pad (40) is used as a picture electrode (38).
The plug (44) at the end of the cord (42) is connected to the jack (34) on the main body case (12) side.

The electronic circuit (26) described above uses the clock signal output from the oscillation section (46) as a reference signal, and is equipped with an l-chip microcomputer as a control section (48) that operates according to a program stored in the ROM. The control section (48) sends a drive signal (54) corresponding to the selected state to the output section (56) in conjunction with the input of the selection signal (52) input from the output selection section (50). The display section displays a display corresponding to the output state of the drive signal (54), for example, a display that lights up a light emitting diode (22) on the top surface of the main body case (14) in accordance with the output period and type of the treatment signal (20). (5
8).

The output selection unit (50) includes an on/off switch (18) for output control to select a therapeutic signal (20) that simulates the "tapping" or "kneading" state during acupressure and to control the output timing. The operation knob (18) for turning on the switch (16) is attached to the main body case (12).
) is provided on the upper surface (14) side. Furthermore, the operation knob (1
8) is capable of outputting a pressure signal (55) of a value corresponding to the pressing force of a knob (18) such as a pressure sensor or a value corresponding to the size of the depression stroke loaf, thereby generating a therapeutic signal. The peak value of (20) can be controlled.

The output section (56) has approximately the same configuration as the conventional one, and converts a low voltage of several volts output from a battery (28), for example, to a high voltage of several tens of volts or more using a chopper type booster circuit (60). Convert. That is, in conjunction with the input of the boost signal (62) of a sufficiently high frequency output from the control unit (48), the current flowing through the choke coil is intermittent at high speed to generate a pulse voltage, and this voltage is integrated by a capacitor. By this,
This creates a voltage that is sufficiently higher than the battery voltage.

On the other hand, the selection signal (5
2), the control unit (48) outputs a drive signal (54).
) is sent to the output control circuit (64). Output control circuit (
64) controls the turn-on timing of the output circuit (66) for regulating the output of the high voltage formed by the booster circuit (60), and is linked to the input of the drive signal (54) and is controlled at a predetermined time. A shape control I-fold signal 68) is sent to the output circuit (66), and the charge stored in the capacitor in the booster circuit (60) is extracted as a pulsed output signal (70).

Output signal (70) taken out by the output circuit (66)
is divided to the required peak value by a variable resistor (32),
Since the therapeutic signal (20) is sent to the picture electrodes (38, 38) of the conductor (24), the adhesive pad (40) of the conductor (24) is pasted on the affected area in advance at a distance. By placing the image electrodes (38, 38) on the skin surface, a predetermined low frequency current flows on the skin surface between the picture electrodes (38, 38).

In the above-described configuration, the present invention is capable of outputting a therapeutic signal (20) corresponding to the operating state in conjunction with the pressing operation of the output control switch (16) provided in the pressure selection section (50). It is characterized by

That is, as shown in the flowchart in FIG. 4, when the power switch (30) is turned on (step 100), various initializations are performed in step 102, and then step 104 is performed.
The standby state continues until the output control switch (16) is turned on.

If it is determined here that the operating knob (18) has been pressed, a counter is incremented in step 106, and the pressing force of the operating knob (18) is detected in step 108, and this detected pressure is the previous pressure. If the value exceeds the value, the peak value of the pressing force is saved by replacing the stored value in step 110.

Next, in step 112, the count value is checked and it is determined whether the on period of the output control switch (16) exceeds a set value δt of, for example, about 0.5 seconds. If "NO", further steps are performed. In step 114, it is checked whether the switch (16) has returned to the off state, and if it is confirmed that it continues to be in the on state, the process returns to step 106 and continues counting the on time of the switch (16).

If it is determined in step 114 that the switch (16) is turned off before the on time exceeds the set value, in step 116 a single pulse having a peak value corresponding to the maximum operating pressure maintained in step 110 is generated. (2
0a) is generated. Thereafter, the detected pressure and counter values are reset in step 118, and the process returns to step 104 to wait for the next push of the operation knob (18).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 112 that the on time of the switch (16) has exceeded the set value, the process moves to step 120 and after checking the pressing force of the operation knob (18), the peak value corresponding to the pressure is determined. The output of the continuous wave (20b) is started (step 122). At this time, when it is confirmed in step 124 that the switch (16) is turned off, it is further confirmed in step 126 that the aforementioned set time δt has elapsed, and then in step 128, the continuous wave (20b) is output. By stopping the operation, a continuous wave (20b) with a voltage value proportional to the pressing force of the operation knob (18) is extracted for the operation time.

In the case described above, the output of the therapeutic signal (20b) may be immediately stopped when the output control switch (16) is turned off in step 124.

Instead of detecting the pressing force of the operation knob (18), the pulse width or peak value of a single pulse (2oa) is detected according to the length of the suppression time of the operation knob (18) within the set time δ. It is also possible to change the . Furthermore, by making the continuous pulse (20b) a relaxation waveform whose peak value gradually increases, it is also possible to set the peak value to increase as the operating knob (18) is pressed for a longer time.

As shown in Fig. 6, a single pulse (20a) is output at the same time as the operation knob (18) is pressed, and after it is confirmed that the operation knob (18) has been pressed for a predetermined time period δt. By outputting the continuous pulse (20b) only during the period when the operating knob (18) is being operated, the timing difference between the operating timing of the operating knob (18) and the output timing of the therapeutic signal (20) can be reduced. It is possible to reduce this as much as possible.

In addition, one operation knob (18) is provided for each of "Massage J" and "Tap", and it is possible to output a therapeutic signal (20) with a different waveform for each knob operation, and the operation knob ( It is also possible to detect the operating pressure in step 18) and set it to a peak value corresponding to the pressure.

Furthermore, the rate of change in the pressing force of the operation knob (18) was examined,
If the rate of change in pressure immediately after starting the knob operation is greater than a set value, a morning pulse (20a) may be output, and if the rate of change is below the set value, a continuous pulse (20b) may be output.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention detects the operation state of the output control switch (16), and generates the treatment signal (2) corresponding to the detection result.
0), it is possible to output the necessary stimulation according to the operator's will by using the minimum number of switches.

Furthermore, by making it possible to change the output waveform of the therapeutic signal (20) according to the length of operation time of the output control switch (16), a wide variety of therapeutic signals (20) can be produced with a simple configuration. can get.

Furthermore, by making it possible to change the peak value of the therapeutic signal (20) in accordance with the magnitude of the pressing force of the operating knob (18), the therapeutic signal (20) approximates the operating state of the operating knob (18).
20) can be obtained, and a stimulation closer to actual acupressure can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the basic configuration of the present invention. 2 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external shape, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration, FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operating state, and FIG. Figure 5 (a)
-(C) are waveform diagrams showing the relationship between the operation state of the output control switch and the output therapeutic signal. 6(a) and 6(b) are waveform diagrams similar to FIG. 5 in another embodiment. (16)... Output control switch (18)... Operation knob (202... Treatment signal (24)... Conductor (28)... Battery (30)... ...Power switch (48) ...Control section (50) ...Output selection section (52) ...Selection signal Inventors: Kiyoaki Ito and Kiyotaka Imamura

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An output control switch (16), means for detecting the operating state of the output control switch (16), and a therapeutic signal (with a waveform corresponding to the detection content of the detection means). 2
A low frequency treatment device comprising a signal generating means capable of generating 0). 2. The low frequency treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the above-mentioned detection means is capable of detecting the length of operation time of the output control switch (16). 3. The low frequency treatment device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the above-mentioned detection means is capable of detecting the magnitude of the operating pressure of the output control switch (16).