JPH05337195A - Electric stimulation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make an expansion period and an output of an electric stimulation pulse to coincide by providing a gate means controlling connection of the below described both means between a means oscillating a driver pulse and a driver outputting a stimulation pulse or an electric stimulation pulse and making the gate means off by means of a shrinking signal obtd. from a pulse wave. CONSTITUTION:A pulse wave of a living body obtd. by means of a pulse wave sensor 1 is amplified by means of an amplifier 2 and a shrinking period pulse sss is separately output between terminals by means of a shrinking period pulse generating means 3. An oscillator 4 outputs a pulse shown as 2c to a terminal c. A gate means 5 makes the output of the terminal c off and on in accordance with the shrinking period pulse and outputs a pulse shown as 2d. An output means 6 generates a voltage-elevating pulse in accordance with the pulse shown as 2d and outputs the voltage-elevating pulse to a terminal e. It is possible thereby to make an electric pulse adding time to coinside in a short time, with a simple constitution and surely.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electrical stimulator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional electrical stimulator, for example, a low-frequency therapy, is detected from a biological signal such as a pulse by detecting a time when it is preferable to apply a stimulus to the living body and by giving an electrical stimulation to the living body by focusing on the time. It has an excellent blood circulation promoting effect that is incomparable to that of the blood vessel, and the slimming effect can be obtained by promoting blood circulation. By the way, the time when it is preferable to apply a stimulus to the living body refers to the time (called diastole) when blood returns to the heart via veins in the activity of the heart. In general, veins have no source of power for driving blood, and thus the circulation of blood is promoted as much as possible by adding auxiliary power for driving this.

[0003]

In constructing the above-mentioned device, when the pulse wave is detected, the expansion period signal is discriminated from the pulse wave, and the expansion period signal is input. , Output means for starting the output of the electrical stimulation pulse. In the output means for inputting the expansion period signal and outputting the electrical stimulation pulse for the first time, considering the specific configuration thereof, after the expansion period signal is input,
There is an initial excessive delay due to the set components before outputting the electrical stimulation pulse, or when using a microcomputer, other program routines for preventing malfunction due to noise are incorporated, Matching the output of the electrical stimulation pulse with the diastolic signal can be difficult. Furthermore, when it is necessary to reduce the number of parts such as when forming a portable device, another device cannot be incorporated, which is an important issue.

[0004]

In view of the above, the present invention is directed to an oscillating means for oscillating a drive pulse for electrical stimulation, and a stimulating pulse boosted or boosted by the drive pulse oscillated from the drive pulse oscillating means, and a human body. A gate means is provided between the driver and the driver for outputting electric stimulation pulses accumulated to the extent that can be sensed, and the pulse wave is added to the input part for intermittent operation of this gate. By inputting the systolic signal obtained from the above and turning off the gate means at the time of input, it was possible to match the diastole with the electrical stimulation pulse output.

[0005]

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. (1) is a pulse wave sensor, which is composed of a photoelectric conversion element, a piezoelectric conversion element, etc., and has an earlobe. Used by being attached to fingertips, etc. In addition, it is possible to use a means for capturing an electric signal directly from various parts of the living body by using electrodes or the like. (2) is an amplifier, which is means for amplifying current and voltage. (3) is a systolic signal generation means, which detects the systolic period from the pulse wave signal and outputs it as a pulse. The detection method is various and is not particularly limited.
Reference numeral (4) is an oscillator, which is a device for outputting a unipolar pulse, in which the pulse width and the pulse interval are adjusted to be constant or variable. It is mainly composed of multi-vibrator. (5) is a gate circuit, which is composed of an AND gate, an OR gate, a NAND gate, a NOR gate, and the like.
(6) is an output means, which is composed of a booster element such as a transformer and a coil, a switching element such as a switching transistor and an FET, and a storage element such as a capacitor. It is intermittent and outputs a boosting pulse of ~ 200 (V) or intermittently excites the exciting current of the boosting element at several KHz to generate a boosting pulse of ~ 200 (V), which is insensitive, until the storage element is sensed. It accumulates and outputs.

The output end of the pulse wave sensor (1) is connected to the amplifier (2) via the terminal (a), and the output end of the amplification (2) is the input end of the systolic pulse generating means (3). It is connected via (b) to the control input of the gate means (5). The output end of the oscillator (4) resists the input part of the gate means (5) through the terminal (C), and the output part of the gate means (5) passes through the terminal (d) and the output means (6). Connected to. The output end of the output means (6) is output to the pair of terminals (e). A conductor is connected to each of the pair of terminals (e).

Next, the operation of FIG. 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The pulse wave sensor (1) converts the pulse wave of the living body into an electric signal and outputs the waveform shown in (2a) to the terminal (a). The amplifier (2) amplifies this electric signal to generate a systolic pulse generating means.
In (3), the contraction period pulse (SSS) is separated and output between the terminals. This systolic pulse is shown in (2b). The oscillator (4)
The pulse shown in (2c) is output to the terminal (c). The gate means (5) interrupts the output of the terminal (C) according to the systolic pulse, and outputs the pulse shown in (2d). Output means (6)
Generates a boosting pulse corresponding to the pulse shown in (2d) and outputs the boosting pulse shown in (2f) to the terminal (e).
In addition, the following points can be pointed out in terms of practicality in the above description. The gating means for controlling mainly in accordance with the systolic pulse output from the systolic pulse generating means means not to deny that no electrical stimulation pulse is applied to the human body during the systolic period. That is, the pulse wave makes a vigorous exercise, the pulse rate becomes high, and the time for outputting the electrical stimulation pulse becomes short as a whole, which is meaningless. Rather, when the pulse rate becomes high in this way, for the first pulse wave, during the contraction period, the gate means forms a blocking state so that the electrical stimulation pulse is not generated, and the next pulse wave is generated. On the other hand, it is more effective to maintain the connection state of the gate means for a period including the contraction period and repeat this. The electrostimulator according to the present invention is often used continuously for a long time of at least 30 minutes to 8 hours, and even if it is used for a short time, the electrostimulation pulse is added to the systole. However, the effect is not so different from that when no electrical stimulation pulse is applied during systole. In other words, compared to systole, it is sufficient if the diastole can be applied to the human body with a significantly higher density of stimulation during the total time of stimulation. The duration of the electrical stimulation pulse is arbitrary and may be long or short, continuous or intermittent, and the pulse width of the electrical stimulation pulse sensitive to the human body is about several hundred (μsec). On the other hand, since the diastole is as long as several hundreds (msec), it may be possible to output a plurality of continuous electrical stimulation pulses, sometimes changing the amplitude. Further, the output mode of the electrical stimulation pulse is not particularly limited, but preferably,
It is more convenient in terms of energy saving and mode creation that a boosting pulse of several (KHz) to several tens (KHz) is generated, accumulated and discharged until the human body feels it.

Next, another embodiment shown in FIG. 3 will be described. The pulse wave sensor (1), the amplifier (2), and the systolic pulse generation means (3) have the same configurations as those shown in FIG. However, the output of the systolic pulse generation means (3) is such that the systolic period is at a low level and the others are at a high level. That is, the systolic pulse generating means shown in FIG.
The output of (3) is inverted. (41) is a self-excited oscillator, which is composed of a free-running multivibrator, etc., and the frequency duty is changed by the input of the control input terminal (CO1). (42) is an adjuster, which is composed of a monostable multivibrator or the like, and outputs a pulse whose duty is changed by the input of the control input terminal (CO2). (51) is a gate, which is composed of an AND gate. (61) is a driver, which is composed of a switching element. Here, a transistor is shown. (62) is a booster,
It consists of a transformer and a coil. Here, the transformer is set. The transformers may have the same or different difference number ratio. (7) is a battery, which is a primary or secondary singular or plural batteries.

The output end of the systolic pulse generating means (3) is connected to one end of the gate (51). The output of the self-excited oscillator (41) is connected to the other end of the gate (51) via the adjuster (42). The output of the gate (51) is connected to the base of the transistor (61),
The collector of the transistor (61) is input to one end of the primary side of the transformer (62), and the other end of the primary side of the transformer (62) is a battery.
It is connected to the (+) side of (7). The secondary side of the transformer is the output end
It is connected to (e) and to the conductor.

The following operation will be described. The self-excited oscillator (41) is based on the input signal of the adjustment input terminal (C1)
Outputs the set pulse. This pulse is a regulator
It is input to (42), the duty is adjusted based on the input signal of the adjustment input terminal (C2), and output. Coordinator (42)
The pulse that outputs is input to the gate means (51). When the pulse output from the systolic pulse generation means (3) is at high level, the pulse output from the regulator (42) is the gate means (5
When output from 1) and input to the gate means (51) with the low level maintained, the output pulse of the gate means (51) maintains the low level. The pulse output from the gate means (51) is input to the transistor (61) as a drive pulse,
The transistor (61) performs an intermittent operation. At this time, the exciting current on the primary side of the transformer (62) is interrupted by the intermittent operation of the transistor (61). The secondary side outputs the counter electromotive force generated when the exciting current is intermittent on the primary side to the output end (e).
This back electromotive force reaches 100 (V), and its width exceeds the human sensitive area value, and becomes a stimulation pulse. However, in this case, the load on the battery (7) becomes large, and moreover, it takes time to accumulate electric energy in the coil and the transformer.
It may be unfavorable when it is continuously used for 6 to 7 hours or when electric stimulation pulses of various modes are generated.

On the other hand, a more preferred embodiment is shown in FIG. The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is one in which the dotted line shown in FIG. 1 is formed by one one-chip microcomputer. The operation of the microcomputer in this embodiment is
The drive pulse generation program is the main routine,
The systolic pulse is mainly input as an interrupt signal, and the drive pulse generation program in the microcomputer is temporarily suspended during this pulse period, or the drive pulse generation program is combined with another routine program and is output to the output terminal of the microcomputer. This forms a state in which no dry pulse is generated. The input systolic pulse of the microcomputer does not have to have a complete pulse width in systole, for example, the systolic pulse simply indicates the start point or end point of systole, and this pulse is A program for inputting and converting into a pulse indicating a contraction period may be operated in the microcomputer. During this period, when the drive pulse generation program is interrupted and another instruction is executed, for example, an instruction to set the state of the output port according to the state of the driver is executed, or as described above, another program is executed. The case where the drive pulse generation programs are combined and the drive pulse is not output to the output end is shown. Incidentally, the temporary interruption in the interrupt in this case can be a preferable configuration example of the present embodiment when the main routine of the one-chip microcomputer is mainly the drive pulse generation program. The microcomputer may be formed as a substitute for only the systolic pulse generating means and the gate means shown in FIG. 1, or may be formed as a substitute for only the systolic pulse generating means, the gate means, or the oscillator.

Next, a more specific embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. (31) is a pulse wave sensor, emitting diode,
cds, or a combination of LEDs and phototransistors. The pulse wave sensor (31) converts the change in light due to blood flow into an electrical change and outputs it. (32) is a differentiating circuit,
It has a structure that doubles as an amplification means. Reference numeral (33) is a peak hold circuit, which performs an output while holding the potential with respect to the input. Reference numeral (34) is a comparator, which has at least two inputs, and turns the output on and off according to the potential difference between these two inputs. Reference numeral (35) is a microcomputer, which performs signal processing determination or the like on an input signal based on a built-in storage means and outputs a drive pulse. The drive pulses (3a), (3b), and (3c) have different frequencies and different duties. (3a) is a drive pulse for generating a boosting pulse of several HKz, and (3b) and (3c) are low-frequency electrical stimulation generation drives. Pulses (3b) and (3c) are output for polarity conversion, (3b) is a drive pulse for positive electrode electrical stimulation, and (3c) is a drive pulse for negative electrode electrical stimulation. (36) is a switching transistor, the drive pulse (3a) output from the microcomputer (35)
The switching operation is performed by. Reference numeral (37) is a boosting inductor, which generates a boosting pulse so that the exciting current flowing through the inductor is interrupted. (38) is a storage means, which mainly comprises a capacitor. (39) is a switching means, and (39a) and (39c) are PNP type (39b) and (39).
d) is an NPN type switching transistor. (40)
Is an output end, and a conductor is attached to each of the output ends and is attached or attached to the affected part of the biomedical treatment.

Next, the operation will be described. Pulse Wave Sensor (31)
Is attached to various parts of a living body, converts a pulse wave into a change in potential, and outputs the change. The output signal of the pulse wave sensor (31) is input to the differentiating circuit (32). The pulse wave signal is converted into a differential signal in the differentiating circuit (32) and output to the peak hold circuit (33) and one end of the comparator (34). The peak hold circuit (33) outputs a potential holding the peak potential of the differential signal, and is input to the other end of the comparator (34). The comparator (34) compares the output signal of the peak hold circuit (33) with the potential of the differential signal of the differentiating circuit (32) and outputs a pulse when a predetermined potential difference occurs. The pulse is first in the peak region
It outputs a pulse wave pulse signal as a division point. The microcomputer (35) inputs this pulse,
A delay of (msec) is applied and then the signal is caused to fall and one pulse is generated. The electrical stimulation output allowable period is from the fall of this pulse to the rise thereof. Microcomputer (35)
Drive pulse to terminal (3a), terminal (3b), terminal
Output (3c). The pulse output to the terminal (3a) is a short-wave pulse having a frequency of several KHz, and the transistor (36) is turned on and off by the pulse. Transistor (3
When 6) turns on and off, the current flowing through the inductor (37) is intermittent. The inductor (37) generates a counter electromotive force when the current is interrupted and is stored in the capacitor (38) via the diode. The terminals (3b) and (3c) output a rectangular wave pulse of several (Hz), and when the terminal (3b) outputs a pulse, the transistors (39b) (39c) turn on and off. The electric charge accumulated in the capacitor (38) is discharged through the output terminal (40) of the transistor (39c) and the load (RZ) transistor (39b). When the terminal (3c) outputs a pulse, the transistor (3c
9a) (39d) turn on and off. The electric charge accumulated in the capacitor (38) is transferred to the transistor (39a) output end (40) load (R
Z) is discharged through the transistor (39d). Terminal (3
When b) outputs a pulse and when the terminal (3c) outputs a pulse, an electrical stimulation pulse whose polarity is reversed when viewed from the output end (40) is output. Therefore, a pulse output from the microcomputer (35) to the terminals (3a), (3b), and (3c) outputs an electrical stimulation pulse of maximum 200 (V) to the output terminal (40), and the terminals (3b) and When the polarity changes depending on the presence or absence of the pulse of (3c) and the pulse width and the pulse interval of the terminal (3a) to the terminal (3c) change, it is possible to output the changed electrical stimulation to the output end (40). .. As a specific example, the pulse width is several hundreds (μsec), and the frequency is several tens (Hz), and one or more continuous waves are shown. In addition to the microcomputer, a logic circuit such as a gate array can be used. The program contained in the microcomputer may take any form as long as it can perform the above-described operation.

Further, FIG. 5 shows an embodiment when the present invention is mounted on a human body and used. Reference numeral (10) is a main body, which incorporates the circuit shown in the above-described embodiment and further incorporates a rechargeable secondary battery. The secondary battery is exemplified by about four nickel-cadmium battery AAA type batteries. (52) is an ear sensor, which is a photoelectric conversion type pulse wave sensor. (Five
3) is Michiko, which constitutes Seki Michiko and Inseki Michiko. The conductor (53) may be adhesive or non-adhesive, and at least has a conductivity on the surface that comes into contact with the living body. (54)
Is an abdominal band, which is formed of cotton cloth, synthetic fiber, or the like. The guide (53) is fixed by being sandwiched between the abdominal band and the abdomen. Repeated use for 7-8 hours per day on average in such a state, the blood circulation promoting effect becomes remarkable and the muscles surrounding the internal organs are moved to promote the burning of excess fat in the body, resulting in a slimming effect. It is a thing.

[0015]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the systolic pulse is generated from the pulse wave, and the gate means for intermittently outputting the output pulse of the electrical stimulation pulse output means according to the systolic pulse is used in a short time. Moreover, with a simple configuration, there is an effect that the period during which the electrical stimulation pulse is applied, that is, the diastole and the output time of the electrical stimulation pulse can be reliably matched.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of each part of the block diagram shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 pulse wave sensor 2 amplifier 3 systolic pulse generation means 4 oscillator 5 gate means 6 electrical stimulation pulse output means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pulse wave sensor, a systolic signal generation means for generating a systolic signal from the pulse sensor, an electrical stimulation generation signal oscillator, and an electrical stimulation pulse output according to an output signal of the electrical stimulation generation signal oscillator. Electrical stimulation pulse output means, the electrical stimulation generation signal oscillator, and a gate means for controlling the connection between the electrical stimulation pulse output means and the electrical stimulation pulse output means in accordance with the systolic signal output from the systolic signal generation means. An electric stimulator characterized by the above.