JPH05293132A - Thermo-medical treatment implement - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To quickly execute a detection in the case disconnection is generated in electric conduction to a heating element, and to prevent damage of a circuit of the thermo-medical treatment implement by providing a disconnection detecting circuit for detecting disconnection of a circuit to the heating element which is heated by executing electric conduction through a power supply line, and executes a thermo-medical treatment by allowing it to abut on the human body. CONSTITUTION:Usually, in the case of a normal state, an LED of a second LED display circuit 24 is lighted continuously in connection with electric conduction to a heater 18. In such a state, when one of the heater 18 and a power supply part 21 is disconnected, the led of a second LED display circuit 24 is turned off by an operation of a comparator of a disconnection detecting circuit 22. In such a way, a user can know immediately the disconnection of the heater or the power supply line by turning-off of the LED.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hyperthermia treatment device capable of performing hyperthermia treatment by heating an exothermic body by energizing the exothermic body and bringing it into contact with an affected part of a human body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A hyperthermia treatment device of this type is disclosed in JP-A-63-27984.
As shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1 (A61F 7/12), there is known a device in which electric power is supplied to a heating element via a power supply path to generate heat, and the heating element is applied to the affected area to perform thermotherapy. Then, the power to be supplied is supplied by a pulse, and the heating element is kept at a desired temperature by changing the pulse width of the pulse and supplying the power.

However, with such a configuration,
When the heating element is applied to the affected area, the power supply path for energizing the heating element is bent or pulled, and when the number of times of use increases, the power supply path is disconnected or short-circuited, and other parts More likely to break.

Usually, in such a thermotherapy device, there is a time lag from turning on the energization until the thermoelectric element warms up. For example, if the power supply path is disconnected, the user must switch on the power supply and wait for this time lag even though the power supply path is disconnected. Then, the user himself confirms that the thermoelectric element does not warm up, and knows that the power supply path is broken.

Further, when the power supply path is short-circuited, when the user turns on the energizing switch, an excessive current may flow into the circuit, possibly damaging the circuit of the thermotherapy device.

[0006]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a safe thermotherapy device capable of quickly detecting a disconnection and a short circuit in the energization of a heating element, improving usability, and not damaging a circuit. The task is to do.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention detects a heating element that generates heat when energized through a power supply path and can be treated by contact with a human body for thermal treatment, and a disconnection of a circuit to the heating element. A disconnection detection circuit is provided.

[0008] Further, a heating element that generates heat when energized through a power supply path and can be brought into contact with a human body to perform thermal treatment, and a short-circuit detection circuit that detects a short circuit of the circuit to the heating element are provided. Is characterized by.

Further, when the short circuit detecting circuit detects a short circuit of the heating element, the energization stopping means stops the energization of the heating element.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that a display body is provided for displaying a current-carrying state of the heating element.

[0011]

The user brings the heating element into contact with the affected area and energizes it through the power supply path to heat the heating element to perform thermal treatment. At this time, if the heating element or the power supply path is disconnected, the disconnection detection circuit detects the disconnection.

When the circuit to the heating element is short-circuited, the short-circuit detection circuit detects the short-circuit and the energization stopping means stops the energization.

If the circuit to the heating element is broken, the display is used for display.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings, taking a thermal type low frequency treatment device as an example.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a thermal type low frequency therapeutic device, and FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the thermal type low frequency therapeutic device.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer) for controlling this treatment device, and the microcomputer 1 is supplied with electric power from an AC adapter or a battery power source 2 through a microcomputer constant voltage circuit 3. The microcomputer constant voltage circuit 3 is composed of a diode, a constant voltage IC, and the like.

Reference numeral 4 is a power jack for supplying power from the AC adapter. The power jack 4 is always connected so as to use a battery as a power source. The connection is broken and the AC adapter is switched to. At that time, a current flows through a heater 18 (described later) connected to the output jack 5 by using an AC adapter as a power source. By connecting the heater 18 to terminals b and c of the output jack 5, the heater 18 is energized. Is possible. The terminals a and d of the output jack 5 are terminals to an electrode 16 described later. In this way, the heater 18 is energized only when the AC adapter is connected, and when driven by a battery, the heater 18 is not energized to minimize battery consumption. .. When the AC adapter is connected,
Before being input to the microcomputer constant voltage circuit 3, it is input through the AC adapter constant voltage circuit 6. The AC adapter constant voltage circuit 6 is composed of a constant voltage IC, a capacitor, and the like.

Reference numeral 7 is an oscillation frequency determining component constituted by resistors VR3 and R4. The oscillation frequency determining component 7 is a capacitor built in the microcomputer 1 to provide
It oscillates at KHz.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a reset circuit intervened in order to prevent the microcomputer 1 from running out of control, and the reset circuit 8 is always operated when the voltage drops below the guaranteed operating voltage of the microcomputer 1.

Reference numeral 9 is a treatment frequency selection circuit for changing the pulse generation cycle of the treatment frequency, that is, the treatment pulse generation speed. The treatment frequency selection circuit 9 includes the treatment frequency selection volume VR2 and the microcomputer 1. It is composed of a built-in comparator, a resistor array RN1, etc., and the treatment pulse generation rate can be changed by changing the treatment frequency selection switch VR2.

Reference numeral 10 is a treatment mode selection switch for switching the treatment mode between "tapping" and "momming". The treatment mode selection switch 10 sends a signal to the microcomputer 1 by switching the treatment mode selection switch, and the respective treatment modes are selected. Can be selected and output.

The "tapping" mode refers to a mode in which treatment pulses are periodically generated one by one. Further, in the “Mum” mode, a plurality of treatment pulses are configured by combining a soft start unit in which the pulse width increases with the passage of time and a pulse generation unit that generates pulses at regular intervals. , And these are repeated at regular intervals with a rest portion interposed.

Reference numeral 11 is a timer selection switch for deciding the treatment time by the low frequency current. By switching the timer selection switch 11, the treatment time can be selected from two types, 15 minutes and 30 minutes. The timer selection switch 11
Is capable of measuring the treatment time by sending a signal to the microcomputer 1 and counting the time by a timer function built in the microcomputer 1. Also,
This timer function also controls the time for energizing the heater control circuit 17, which will be described later.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a heating mode selection switch for switching the temperature of a heater 18 which will be described later. By switching the heating mode selection switch 12, a signal can be sent to the microcomputer 1 and output in each heating mode.

Reference numeral 13 is a first LED display circuit for blinking the LED in synchronization with the treatment pulse.

Reference numeral 14 is an output amplifier circuit for amplifying the pulse oscillated by the microcomputer 1. The output amplifier circuit 14 is composed of a transistor, a transformer, etc., and the pulse output from the microcomputer 1 is multiplied by about 10 times. Can be amplified. Then, the amplified pulse is adjusted by the output adjusting circuit 15 composed of the volume VR1,
It is output to the electrode 16 via the output jack 5, and a treatment current can be sent to the affected part of the human body. Volume V
R1 is interlocked with the power switch 20, and after the power switch 20 is turned on, the output can be gradually increased.
The output amplification circuit 14 and the output adjustment circuit 15 are collectively referred to as a treatment current generation circuit 19.

Reference numeral 17 is a heating element, that is, a power supply path to the heater 18.
A heater control circuit connected via 21 for controlling energization to the heater 18 for adjusting the temperature of the heater 18. The heater control circuit 17 is composed of transistors 27, Q7, etc. Transistor 2 by the signal from
It is controlled by turning on and off Q7. When the heating mode selection switch 12 is off,
No signal is output from the microcomputer 1 and the heater control circuit 17 does not energize the heater 18. In the case of strong and weak, the heater 18 is energized in a pulsed manner, and in the case of strong, the pulse width is made larger than weak at the same cycle as weak. The power supply path 21 is connected to the heater 18 from the output jack 5 in addition to the connection to the output jack 5 in the circuit.
Also includes codes up to (not shown).

Reference numeral 22 is a disconnection detection circuit for detecting disconnection of the heater 18 and the power supply path 21, and the disconnection detection circuit 22 is
When the heater 18 is energized, the negative input terminal of the comparator 23 is set to have a higher voltage than the positive input terminal, and by disconnecting the energization path to the heater 18, the negative terminal of the comparator 23 The voltage difference with the positive terminal is reversed, a high signal is output from the output, and the display body, that is, the LED of the second LED display circuit 24 is turned off. When the second LED display circuit 24 is normally energized, the output of the comparator 23 becomes a low output,
It is always lit.

Reference numeral 25 is a short circuit detection circuit for detecting a short circuit in the heater 18 and the power supply path 21, and the short circuit detection circuit 25 is
When the heater 18 is energized, the negative input terminal of the comparator 26 is set to have a voltage lower than that of the positive input terminal, and by short-circuiting the energization path to the heater 18, the negative terminal of the comparator 26 is The voltage difference with the positive terminal reverses, a high signal is output from the output,
As a result, the energization stopping means that has maintained the energized state, that is, the transistor 27 stops energization, and the heater control circuit 17
To shut off the power supply to the heater 18. Also, the second LE
The LED of the D display circuit 24 is also turned off.

Next, the operation will be described.

When the treatment is performed, each switch 9, 10,
The treatment mode, the treatment time, the treatment polarity, etc. are set to desired values by the users 11 and 12, and the output is varied by the volume VR1 of the output adjusting circuit 15. At this time, the oscillation frequency of the microcomputer 1 is determined by the oscillation frequency determining component 7, and the microcomputer 1 outputs a pulse. Then, it is amplified by the output amplification circuit 14, and is output from the electrode 16 by the output adjustment circuit 15 at the output desired by the user. at the same time,
If the heating mode selection switch 12 is not turned off, the microcomputer 1 also energizes the heater control circuit 17 and energizes the heater 18. Since the heater 18 and the electrode 16 are in contact with each other, the temperature of the electrode 16 also rises as the temperature of the heater 18 rises. Then, the treatment current and heat are applied from the electrode 16 to the affected area to loosen the muscle of the affected area. At this time, if the heater 18 is energized, the LED of the second LED display circuit 24
Lights up, which allows the user to confirm that normal energization is being performed. When the treatment progresses and the treatment current flows for the time selected by the timer selection switch 11, the signal from the microcomputer 1 to the output amplification circuit 14 is stopped, and the treatment current is automatically stopped. At this time, the power supply to the heater control circuit 17 is also stopped, and the power supply to the heater 18 is stopped.

For example, the state where the heater 18 and the power supply path 21 are disconnected will be described.

Normally, in the normal state, the second LED display circuit
The LED 22 continues to light up as the heater 18 is energized. However, if any one of the heater 18 and the power supply path 21 is disconnected, as described above, the comparator 23 of the disconnection detection circuit 22.
By the action of, the LED of the second LED display circuit 24 is turned off. The user can confirm that the heater 18 is not warmed up by confirming that the LED is off. In addition, if it is confirmed that the LED is turned off at the same time as the start of use, the heater 18
Since it is possible to confirm the disconnection to, you do not have to wait for several hours as in the past, and it is easy to use.

Next, the state where the heater 18 and the power supply path 21 are short-circuited will be described.

Normally, in a normal state, the transistor 27 is in an ON state due to the low output of the comparator 26 of the short circuit detection circuit 25. However, if one of the heater 18 and the power supply path 21 is short-circuited, as described above, the transistor 27
When the high signal is input from the comparator 26 to the base side of the transistor 27, the transistor 27 is deenergized and the heater 18 is deenergized. At this time, the second LED display circuit
The 24 LEDs are turned off when the power supply to the heater 18 is stopped and the power supply state to the heater 18 can be recognized.

With the above configuration, when the heater 18 or the power supply path 21 is broken, the disconnection detection circuit 22 detects the disconnection, and the second LED display circuit 24 displays the LED, so that the heater 18 is disconnected. Will be confirmed soon. That is, the user turns on the power switch 20 and waits for the time lag until the heater 18 warms up, but the user himself confirms that the heater 18 does not warm up even though the power supply path 21 is disconnected. The second LED display circuit 24 can immediately recognize that the wire is broken.

When the heater 18 and the power supply path 21 are short-circuited, the short-circuit detection circuit 25 activates the energization stopping means, that is, the transistor 27 to stop energization of the heater 18 before an excessive current flows in the circuit. Therefore, the circuit can be prevented from being damaged, and the LED of the second LED display circuit 24 is turned off, so that the abnormality can be immediately known.

[0038]

According to the present invention, since the disconnection detecting means can detect the disconnection of the heating element or the power supply path, the user can immediately detect the disconnection, which is easy to use and is excessive even when a short circuit occurs. Current does not flow,
It's safe. In addition, since the current-carrying state of the heating element can be displayed by the display element, the user-friendliness can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 Power supply path 18 Heating element (heater) 22 Disconnection detection circuit 25 Short circuit detection circuit 27 Energization stopping means (transistor) 24 Indicator (second LED display circuit)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A heating element that generates heat when energized via a power supply path and can be brought into contact with a human body to perform thermotherapy,
A thermotherapy device, comprising: a disconnection detection circuit for detecting disconnection of the circuit to the heating element. 2. A heating element that generates heat when energized through a power supply path and can be brought into contact with a human body to perform thermotherapy,
A thermotherapy device comprising a short circuit detection circuit for detecting a short circuit of the circuit to the heating element. 3. The thermotherapy device according to claim 2, wherein when the short circuit detecting circuit detects a short circuit of the heating element, the energization stopping means stops the energization of the heating element. .. 4. The hyperthermia treatment device according to claim 1, further comprising a display body for displaying a power supply state to the heating element.