JPH07155385A - Electric stimulating system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically change over the functions of a stimulating device which electrically stimulates the anesthetized part of a living body to rebuild the viable functions by detecting the presence or absence of a control input device for executing control with the residual functions in the case of use of this control input device by connecting the device. CONSTITUTION:The control input device 10 is provided with a resistor 7 and a stimulating device body 20 is provided with a resistor 3 and an A/D converter 8 to detect whether the control input device 10 is connected or not by detection of the voltages divided by the resistors 3 and 7 and by utilizing the output signal line of the control input device when the control input device 10 is connected. As a result, the laboriousness of connecting the control input device 10 and setting a selector switch for rebuilding is eliminated and the problem of a mis-operation by a selection error is solved. Since a patient carries this systems the device needs be small in size and weight but the existing signal line is used in combination to detect the control input device and, therefore, there is no need for increasing the number of pins of a connector and the system is suitable for a small size and light weight.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric stimulator, and more particularly to a rehabilitation device for reconstructing a limb or the like paralyzed by a central nerve disorder such as stroke or spinal cord injury by electric stimulation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional rehabilitation device of this type. This device has a function that can be used in two ways. The control input device 1 has a switch, which is connected to the power supply in the electrostimulator 2. The electric stimulator 2 has a controller 4 that controls the stimulus output, a stimulus output unit 6, and a reconstruction / training changeover switch 5. One of the ways to use this device is
The control input device 2 is connected, and the patient operates the control input device 1 with the residual function to control the electric stimulator 2 to reconstruct the paralyzed part of the patient by electric stimulation. The other usage is to use a training input by electrically stimulating the paralyzed part for a certain period of time with a timer or the like inside the controller of the electrical stimulator without connecting the control input device. When selecting the above-mentioned reconstruction or training function, the reconstruction / training changeover switch 5 on the stimulator body is used.

[0003]

This conventional switching method has a rebuilding / training changeover switch when selecting rebuilding (connecting the control input device) or training (by the electric stimulator internal timer instead of the control input device). However, there is a problem in that the setting is required to be changed, and an erroneous operation is caused due to a selection error.

[0004]

According to the present invention, a stimulator main body having a function of outputting an electric pulse to a paralyzed part of a living body to perform stimulation training, and a function of reconstructing a biological function by electric stimulation, and a stimulus A control device for controlling the stimulator main body by connecting to the main body of the device, and the electric stimulator main body is provided with means for automatically switching between two functions by detecting whether or not the control device is connected. An electric stimulator is obtained.

The switching means is, for example, an input voltage detection circuit which detects a change in the input voltage depending on whether or not the control input device is connected, and instructs switching between two functions.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

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

In the figure, the electrical stimulator of this embodiment is
A control input device 10 having a resistor 7 and a switch 11 for short-circuiting the resistor 7, an electric stimulator main body 20 having a resistor 3, an A / D converter 8, a controller 4 for controlling electrical stimulation, and a stimulation output unit 6. Have. Control input device 10
Can be connected to and disconnected from the electrostimulator body 20,
At the time of connection, the resistor 7 is connected in series with the 5V power source in the electrostimulator main body 20 and the resistor 3. The A / D converter 8 converts the terminal voltage of the resistor 3 into a digital signal and supplies the digital signal to the controller 4. The resistor 3 and the A / D converter 8 form an input voltage detection circuit.

Next, the operation will be described. When the control input device 10 is connected to the electrostimulator main body 20, the divided voltage of the resistors 3 and 7 is A / D when the switch 11 is off.
By being detected by the converter 8, whether the control input device 10 is connected or not is detected by using the output signal of the A / D converter 8, and the controller 4
Automatically switches between rebuilding and training functions.

That is, when the control input device 10 is not connected, the input voltage value of the A / D converter 8 becomes almost 0V, but when the control input device 10 is connected, 5V is set to the resistor 3. Since the voltage divided by 7 is input to the A / D converter 8, the controller 4 can determine that the control input device 10 is connected, and thereby rebuilding (rebuilding the paralyzed part of the patient by electrical stimulation). Then, the stimulus output unit 6 is controlled so as to generate a training stimulus by a timer when not connected.

When the switch 11 of the control input device 10 is turned on while the control input device 10 is connected, A
Since the input voltage value of the / D converter 8 is 5V, the controller 4 can also make the determination. This allows the controller 4 to perform another control.

[0012]

As described above, according to the present invention, the connection of the control input device is detected, and the rebuilding or the training is automatically switched, so that the troublesome setting of the switch or the erroneous operation due to the selection error occurs. The problem is solved.

In addition, the present invention requires that the patient be carried and used by the patient, and it is necessary to make the size and weight as small as possible. However, the present method does not require a separate signal line for detection of the control input device, and the existing signal is used. Since the line is used together, there is no need to increase the number of pins of the connector, and it is suitable for small size and light weight.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a conventional electrical stimulation device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Control Input Device 2 Electrical Stimulator 3 Resistor 5 Reconstruction / Training Changeover Switch 7 Resistor 8 A / D Converter

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A stimulator main body having a function of outputting an electric pulse to a paralyzed part of a living body to perform stimulation training, and a function of reconstructing a biological function by electrical stimulation, and the stimulator connected to the main body of the stimulator. An electrostimulator having a control device for controlling a main body, comprising means for automatically switching between the two functions by detecting whether or not the control device is connected. 2. The electrical stimulator according to claim 1, wherein the switching means is an input voltage detection circuit that detects a change in the input voltage depending on whether or not the control device is connected, and instructs switching of the two functions.