JPH0810290A - Health equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively exert a massaging or bedsores preventing effect on a body by using a shape memory member for the body supporter of the health equipment such as a massaging device or a bedsores preventing device and surely securing an amplitude. CONSTITUTION:Concerning the health equipment provided with a mat part for supporting the body with plural supporters 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d composed of the shape memory member, heating means 2 for changing the temperatures of the supporters 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d and control part C for deforming the plural supporters 1a, 1b, 1c and ld by intermittently heating the supporters, after the lapse of prescribed time from the end of heating to one supporter 1a or 1c at least among the plural supporters, the heating to at least one remaining supporter 1b or 1d is started.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to health equipment such as acupressure devices, massage devices, and bed sores prevention devices that use shape memory materials (shape memory alloys, shape memory resins, etc.).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Of the various types of health equipment described above, a bed sore prevention device will be described as an example.

It is generally known that bed sores (formal name: bedsores) are caused by deterioration of blood circulation in the skin and subcutaneous tissues at the site where the body weight pressure is concentrated when a person continues to be bedridden for a long time. Has been. Therefore, in order to prevent this bed sore, it is sufficient to disperse the contact pressure of the part where the body weight pressure is concentrated (mainly the buttocks and back) to other parts,
For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 35-1894 discloses a decubitus preventive device in which body pressure is concentrated by using air pressure to change the applied portion.

Such a bed sore preventive device includes a pump for delivering air, a mat having two compartments that expand and contract by the delivered air, and two mats between the pump and the mat.
The mat for supporting the body is provided with a switching valve that alternately opens and closes the flow paths to the two compartments, and expands and contracts alternately every predetermined time. The body pressure is constantly changed to effectively prevent bed sores.

However, in such a bedsore prevention device using air pressure, the operating noise of the pump and the friction noise of the air may be uncomfortable for the user, and the switching valve for switching the air flow has a complicated structure. There was a problem that the cost increased.

Then, without utilizing the air pressure, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-59
If a shape memory material is used as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 129021, a floor slip prevention device that solves the above problems can be provided. That is, if the material of the spring that supports the body is a shape memory alloy and the temperature of the spring is changed so that the springs are sequentially deformed and the body pressure concentration area is constantly changed, the pump or It is possible to prevent bed slip without using a switching valve.

[0007]

However, the above-mentioned bed-slip prevention device has the following problems to be solved.

That is, in order to prevent bed sores using the same device, two support bodies made of a shape memory material may be deformed alternately, but one support body made of a shape memory material is heated. When the support made of the shape memory material on the other side is heated immediately before or after the end of heating of the support for a predetermined time, the support on the other side remains expanded in the other side due to factors such as residual heat. Since both of the supports are extended, both supports are simultaneously extended. Therefore, the support loses the opportunity to contract, and the vertical amplitude of the support disappears.

This makes it impossible to disperse the body weight pressure and prevent bed sores. Of course, the stress of the support on the non-heated side is equal to or less than the stress of the support on the heated side, but bed slippage may occur due to rubbing due to contact.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a health equipment such as a bed sore prevention device which can solve the above problems.

[0011]

According to the present invention, a mat for supporting a body by a plurality of supports made of a shape memory material, a heating means for giving a temperature change to the supports, and a heating for the supports are intermittently performed. In a health device including a control unit that deforms a plurality of supports, a predetermined time elapses after the heating of at least one support of the plurality of supports is finished, Heating was started.

[0012]

According to the above construction, the support can be contracted by utilizing the body weight pressure of the body, and the vertical amplitude can be surely given to the support.

[0013]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of a health device A according to the present invention.

The health equipment A comprises a mat section M, a control section C and an operation section F. The mat portion M is made of a shape memory alloy, and supports 1a, 1 that form rows in the direction of the back muscles of the body B.
b, 1c, 1d, heating means 2 for giving a temperature change to the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, and the supports 1a, 1b, 1
c, 1d and a fixing plate 3 made of rubber, resin, wood or the like for fixing the heating means 2. The control unit C is connected to the AC or DC power source 4 and receives power supply. The control unit C is also connected to the operation panel F.

The shape memory alloys used in the examples described later have a martensite phase in the crystal structure at room temperature and easily deform when an external force is applied. Further, the shape is memorized so that the material undergoes a phase transformation into an austenite phase when heated, and at that time the length extends. Further, the shape memory alloy has a slight difference in "temperature hysteresis" between the transformation temperatures during heating and during cooling. That is, the temperature at which the martensite phase transforms to the austenite phase during heating differs from the temperature at which the austenite phase transforms to the martensite phase during cooling.

Further, as the shape memory alloy, a one-way shape memory alloy that exhibits a shape memory effect only when heated is usually used.

As the material of the shape memory alloy, Ni-T is mainly used.
i alloy is used. The Ni—Ti alloy is used here because it is less likely to cause fatigue fracture when repeatedly deformed, and less likely to cause corrosion caused by sweating from the body B. Besides, Cu-Al type and Cu-Zn type are also used.

The material of the shape memory resin which is another shape memory material is trans polyisoprene, polynorbornene, styrene-butadiene copolymer, polyurethane or the like.

FIGS. 2 and 3A and 3B specifically show the mat portion M, in which the coil-shaped support 1a made of a shape memory alloy is provided on the upper portion of the fixing plate 3. , 1
b, 1c and 1d are provided. Supports 1a, 1b, 1
c and 1d are arranged in a plurality of rows in the direction of the back muscle of the body B, four rows in this embodiment. Supports 1a, 1 arranged in four rows
Another row of b, 1c, and 1d is arranged in two rows. The number of columns is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more.

Further, one of the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d is fitted and fixed to a cylindrical fixing rib 5 projecting from the fixing plate 3, and the other of the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d is The free end is provided with the cushioning cover 6 for changing the contact with the body B from the line contact to the surface contact.

In FIG. 3B, the heating means 2 is screwed and coupled to the fixed plate 3 from below the fixed plate 3, and one end of the heating means 2 projects from the upper surface of the fixed plate 3 together with the coupling, and has a coil shape. Are located inside the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d. This is from the heating means 2 to the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1
There is an effect that the efficiency of heat transfer to d can be improved and the supports 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d can be fixed by the heating means 2 itself. In order to further improve the heat transfer efficiency, a heat insulating member may be interposed between the fixed plate 3 and the heating means 2, or the fixed plate 3 itself may be formed of foamed resin or porous ceramic.

The heating means 2 is not separately provided, but the fixed ribs 5 are provided with a heating function, and the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d are provided.
The fixing and the heating may be combined. this is,
Since the fixing ribs 5 are firmly in contact with each other in order to have the function of fixing, there is an effect that the heat transfer efficiency can be improved. Of course, since no additional heating means is provided, there is an effect that the cost can be reduced.

Fixed plate 3, supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d
Etc. are stored in the cover body 7. The contact surface side of the cover body 7 with the body B is made to have a cushioning property by using non-woven fabric, sponge or the like, and the support bodies 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d for the body B are provided.
I am reluctant to stimulate. Reference numeral 8 is a connecting member such as a zipper for closing the cover body 7.

If the mat portion M is laid under an existing mattress, the cover body 7 can be omitted. Further, the fixing plate 3 can be omitted by forming the cover body 7 into a shape having a pocket so that the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d can be housed and fixed.

The heating means 2 comprises supports 1a, 1b, 1c,
Various methods such as a heating method using a heater separately provided for changing the temperature of 1d, a heating method of directly applying an electric current to the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d to change the temperature, and a heating method of blowing hot and cold air To be

Next, the control of the health equipment A will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5.

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C show the support 1
FIG. 5 is an operation diagram of a, 1b, 1c, 1d, and FIG.
3 is a timing chart of starting and stopping heating of the heating means 2 performed by the above.

On the operation panel F connected to the control unit C,
A power switch S1, a forward feed operation switch S2, an alternate operation switch S3, and a cycle adjusting dial switch S4 are provided. The control unit C and the operation panel F are connected by an electric wire so as to allow the user to perform an operation at hand, and send a signal. Further, if it is a remote control type that can send a signal to the control section C by radio or optical signal instead of an electric wire, usability is improved.

By turning on the power switch S1 and turning on the alternate operation switch S3, the mat portion M is controlled as shown in FIGS. That is, in FIG. 4 (a), the heating means 2 is driven by the control section C, and the first and third rows of the supports 1a and 1c are first extended.

Next, the control unit C controls the support 1 of two rows and four rows.
A temperature change is applied to b and 1d to elongate. At this time, FIG.
ON of the heating means 2 arranged in rows 2 and 4 as shown in FIG.
When the driving is started, the heating means 2 arranged in one row and three rows are turned on.
After the lapse of a predetermined time t from the end of driving, the following is performed:
Since the stresses that support the body B of the supports 1a and 1c of the first and third rows are lost in a state in which the supports 1b and 1d of the first and third rows are not extended, and can be contracted by the body weight pressure of the body B Is.

Further, the control for starting the ON driving of the heating means 2 arranged in the second row and the fourth row after being shifted by the time t is performed in the vicinity of the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d so that the supports 1a, 1
The detectors capable of detecting the contracted states of b, 1c, and 1d and transmitting a signal are provided, and the support 1 of one row and three rows is provided.
It is also conceivable to cause the detection unit to detect a state of contraction due to body weight pressures a and 1c, and to perform the operation based on the signal. As the detection means, simply the supports 1a, 1b, 1c,
When 1d contracts, the mechanical switch is attached to the support 1a,
Part of 1b, 1c and 1d are brought into contact with each other, and the O
The method of controlling the N drive, the supports 1a, 1b, 1c,
Providing a protruding piece separately (may be integrated) on a part of 1d,
The protruding piece descended together with the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d is used as a part of the electrical sensor switch. That is, if a magnet is attached to the protruding piece, a reed switch can be provided, and if the protruding piece is used as a light blocker or a light reflector, an optical switch having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion on the fixing plate 3 can be provided. Can be provided. A method of controlling the ON drive of the heating means 2 by providing such an electric sensor switch can be considered. Further, the austenite phase and the martensite phase of the shape memory alloy have significantly different electric resistances, and a detection unit capable of detecting this change in physical properties may be provided to set the time t under electrical control.

By the body weight pressure at this time, the supports 1a, 1
An operation diagram in which c is contracted is shown in FIG.
Further, from the state shown in FIG. 4 (b), the supports 1b, 1d
4C is an operation diagram in which is extended.

In FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C, the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d can be reliably expanded and contracted by the above control to secure the amplitudes L1 and L2.
Further, by continuously performing the operations shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C, the point at which the body B is constantly supported can be changed, and bed sores can be effectively prevented.

As described above, in the shape memory alloy, since there is a slight difference in “temperature hysteresis” between the transformation temperatures during heating and during cooling (including natural cooling), the phase from the martensite phase to the austenite phase during heating. Temperature at which transformation ends (A
On the contrary, the temperature (Ms point) at which the phase transformation from the austenite phase to the martensite phase is started during cooling is lower than that at the point f). That is, the support 1a made of a shape memory alloy,
When heated, 1b, 1c, and 1d have a stress that supports the body B by returning to shape memory and expanding at a temperature of Af point or higher. On the contrary, the elongated supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d are cooled, and the stress that supports the body is not lost even when the temperature reaches the Af point or lower. Then, the stress is lost only at a temperature below the Ms point, and the body B contracts due to the body weight pressure. Further, the temperature at which the phase transformation from the martensite phase to the austenite phase begins is designated as As point, and the temperature at which the phase transformation to the martensite phase is completed is designated as Mf point.

Thus, in consideration of the "temperature hysteresis" of the shape memory alloy, the support 1 as shown in FIG.
At the timing of heating and cooling a, 1c and the supports 1b, 1d, when heating of the supports 1b, 1d is started after a predetermined time t has elapsed from the end of heating of the supports 1a, 1c,
Preferably, Ms at which the phase transformation to the martensite phase begins
The predetermined time t is set so that heating is started at a temperature below the point.

If a Peltier element is used as the heating means 2, heating and cooling can be forcibly performed, and the temperature change to the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d can be performed reliably, and the temperature can be changed depending on the season. Even if the temperature in the mat portion M changes, stable control is possible.

Specific examples are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
In FIG. 8, the Peltier element 9 and the heat radiation and heat absorption plate 10 are fitted and attached to the fixed plate 3 from below the fixed plate 3. The Peltier element 9 is provided with a recess and the support 1a is attached thereto. When the upper side of the Peltier element 9 to which the support 1a is attached is heated, the lower side of the Peltier element 9 is cooled, and when the polarity is reversed by the control unit C, the upper side of the Peltier element 9 is cooled and the lower side of the Peltier element 9 is cooled. Is heated. The heat radiation and heat absorption plate 10 is provided to improve the efficiency of cooling or heating.

In FIG. 9, the Peltier device 11a,
11b and 11c are attached to the fixed plate 3 with a space therebetween, and the supports 1a, 1b and 1c are provided therebetween. The Peltier elements 11a, 11b, 11c are arranged so that a heating / cooling action occurs in the lateral direction. In FIG. 8, the heat of only one side of the Peltier element 9 was made to act to extend and contract the support 1a, but in the one shown in FIG. 9, both sides of the Peltier elements 11a, 11b, 11c are positively activated. In order to extend the support body 1b, the support body 1b side of the Peltier elements 11a and 11b is heated. At the same time, the opposite side of the Peltier elements 11a and 11b, that is, the support 1a and 1c side is cooled. In this way, the Peltier elements 11a, 11b, 11c
If the supports 1a, 1b, 1c are provided on both sides of the above, the supports 1a, 1b, 1c can be efficiently expanded and contracted.

The predetermined time t is equal to that of the supports 1a, 1b, 1c,
If 1d is naturally cooled, it becomes longer, and if it is forcibly cooled, it becomes shorter.

Next, by turning on the power switch S1 and turning on the forward feed operation switch S3, a timing chart as shown in FIG. 6 is obtained. That is, by heating the heating means 2 by the controller C, a plurality of rows of the supports 1a, such as one row of the support 1a → two rows of the support 1b → three rows of the support 1c → four rows of the support 1d, 1b, 1c and 1d are sequentially expanded. Also in this case, the supports 1a, 1b, 1
Since the timings of heating the c and 1d are shifted by the predetermined time t, the supports 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d can be surely contracted by the body weight and the amplitude of the predetermined width can be secured. Therefore, the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d can be reliably expanded and contracted, and the blood circulation promoting effect can be obtained. In particular, it is more effective if the forward feeding direction is along the blood flow direction of the veins of the body, and the forward feeding direction is indicated by an arrow P (FIG. 2) on a part of the mat portion M, for example, the cover body 7 so that the user can easily understand. Refer to) or display lamp.

In this way, the plurality of supports 1a, 1b, 1
Another embodiment according to the present invention is a control in which c and 1d are repeatedly expanded and contracted sequentially.

As another control, a plurality of supports 1a,
1b, 1c, 1d may be randomly stretched and shrunk.
Further, in a case where a plurality of them are arranged in the direction perpendicular to the back muscle, it is possible to extend and contract alternately in that direction.

The cycle adjusting dial switch S4 is a dial type which can change the ON / OFF driving cycle of the heating means 2. In the bedsore prevention device, the support 1
The extension / contraction of a, 1b, 1c, 1d is performed in a long cycle, but in the massage device, it is difficult to obtain the massage effect in the extension / contraction of the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d in a long cycle. ).

In FIGS. 7A and 7B, the vertically placed supports 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d are horizontally placed.
FIG. 7 (a) shows a state in which the crystal structure of the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d is a martensite phase, and the stress that supports the body B is lost and the supports are crushed by the body weight pressure.
Is a state in which the crystal structure is transformed into an austenite phase by heating to restore the shape memory. Even if the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d horizontally placed in this way are arranged in a plurality of rows and alternately stretched and shrunk, bed slip can be prevented.
Further, the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d are not limited to the coil shape and may be a plate shape or a bar shape.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, the mat portion which supports the body by the plurality of supports made of the shape memory material, the heating means for changing the temperature of the supports, and the heating for the supports are provided. In a health device including a controller that deforms the support intermittently, at least one of the plurality of supports is heated for a predetermined time after the heating of at least one support is terminated. By starting the heating of the support, the support can be contracted by using the body weight pressure of the body and the vertical amplitude can be surely given to the support,
You can effectively prevent bedsores and massage your body. Further, in the health equipment utilizing air pressure, the pump and the switching valve are required, but in the health equipment of the present invention, there is no such requirement, and there is no operating noise of the pump or friction noise of air. Further, since the switching valve is not required, the structure is not complicated and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of a health device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mat portion according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 (a) is a front view showing the internal structure of the mat portion according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 (b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the mat portion according to the present invention.

4 (a) (b) (c) are operation explanatory views of the support member of the mat portion according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart of ON / OFF drive of the heating means according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is another timing chart of ON / OFF drive of the heating means according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of another support body of the mat portion according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of another heating means according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of another heating means according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a support 1b support 1c support 1d support 2 heating means B body M mat part C control part

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of supports 1a made of a shape memory material,
Mat part M for supporting the body B by 1b, 1c, 1d
And heating means 2 for giving a temperature change to the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, and the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d by intermittently heating the supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d. In the health device including the control unit C that deforms, at least one of the plurality of supports 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d is used.
After a lapse of a predetermined time t from the end of the heating of the one support 1a, 1c, the remaining at least one support 1b, 1
A health device characterized by starting heating of d.