JPH09225051A - Phototherapeutic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an accurate treating effect by a method wherein an inductor is arranged in contact with an internal wall of a case body of a treating probe and a sound is generated by vibrating the inductor to notify accurately that a flash operates to emit light only when it actually emits light. SOLUTION: A treating probe 4 has an armor made up of a flat case 18 such as a resin molded product and is provided therein with a reflection hood 19 which reflects a light beam emitted from a xenon discharge tube 15 to condense, a circuit board 21 and a main capacitor 22 for emitting light. An inductor 28 which vibrates to generate a sound when an emission current flows through the xenon discharge tube 15 is glued in the case 18. The inductor 28 is inserted into a line between the main capacitor 22 and the xenon discharge tube 15 and causes and transmits a vibration by the current flowing during flash emission to generate a sound. Thus, it is possible to accurately of a user of a normal light emitting operation.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a phototherapy device for irradiating a living body with a flash of flash light for treatment by physical therapy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a phototherapy device of this kind, a light source such as a xenon discharge tube is instantaneously emitted at a constant interval to irradiate an affected area of the skin to give pulsed photothermal stimulation to improve blood flow. It is known to do so, reduce inflammation, and promote metabolism. Also, with such photothermal stimulation,
There is also known a therapeutic device in which an electrode is applied to an affected area and a low-frequency current is applied to provide low-frequency stimulation (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-66).
867, JP-A-62-66872, etc.). By the way, in such a conventional phototherapy device, when a treatment probe having a light emitting part is attached to a shoulder or a waist, the user cannot confirm the light emission, so that it is not known whether or not the treatment is being performed, and the anxiety Sometimes reduced the effectiveness of treatment. As a countermeasure against this, the control circuit emits a flash and sounds a buzzer at the same time, so that the fact that the light emitting operation is performed is pseudo-informed.

[0003]

By the way, in the above-mentioned phototherapy device, although the light emitting capacitor, the xenon discharge tube, etc. have failed, the light emitting device is not actually emitting light.
There is a case where a buzzer that the control circuit side emits light sounds, and in that case, the user cannot obtain the therapeutic effect, which is inconvenient. The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an inductor is inserted between a light emitting capacitor and a flash tube, and the light emitting current causes the inductor to vibrate to generate a sound. It is an object of the present invention to provide a phototherapy device that can properly inform the user that the light emitting operation is performed only when the light beam actually emits light, and can obtain a proper therapeutic effect.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention of claim 1 is a phototherapy apparatus for irradiating an affected part of a living body with flash light for treatment by physiotherapy. A flash light emitting section having a flash tube provided, a capacitor for supplying electric charge for light emission to the flash tube, and an inductor inserted between the flash tube and the capacitor, through which a current for light emission flows, The inductor is arranged so as to be in contact with the inner wall of the housing of the treatment probe.

In the phototherapy device according to claim 1 having the above structure, since the light emitting current supplied from the capacitor to the flash tube flows through the inductor, the inductor vibrates with the light emission, and the vibration vibrates in the housing of the treatment probe. Sound is transmitted to the wall. Therefore, the user can correctly recognize that the flash is being emitted.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of a phototherapy device according to this embodiment. The phototherapy device 1 is for applying a photothermal stimulus to a living body with flash light, or for applying a low-frequency current together with this photothermal stimulus to treat an affected area with physical therapy, and has a power supply circuit and a control circuit built-in for various settings. It is composed of a device body 2 for performing the above, and treatment probes 4 and 4 connected to the device body 2 via a connector cord 3 and attached to the affected area.

The apparatus main body 2 includes a main switch 5, various setting keys (switches) 6, a start switch 7, a stop switch 8, a memory switch 9, an LCD display unit 10,
It has an insertion slot 12 for a memory card (IC card, magnetic card, etc.) 11, an in-treatment indicator lamp 13, a terminal 14 to which the treatment probe 4 or the conductive adhesive pad 17 is connected. The treatment probe 4 is provided with a xenon discharge tube 15 (flash tube) inside so as to face the front side (body contact surface) side and emit a pulsed flash light to irradiate the human body. Low frequency current on front (several H
A transparent electrode pad 16 for applying a stimulus by flowing z to several kHz and ten and several mA) to the human body is attached. The therapeutic probe 4 is usually used as a pair at the same time, and the transparent electrode pads 16 of both of them serve as electrodes for passing a low-frequency current to the human body, but only one therapeutic probe 4 is used. Alternatively, in that case, the conductive adhesive pad 17 is used in combination as the other electrode for passing the low frequency current.

2 (a) (b) (c) show the structure of the therapeutic probe 4. As shown in FIG. The treatment probe 4 is a flat case 18 (housing) whose exterior is made of a plastic molding or the like, and inside of which, a reflector 19 for reflecting the emitted light of the xenon discharge tube 15 and condensing the luminous flux, and a circuit. A substrate 21 and a main capacitor 22 for light emission are provided. Case 1
8 is provided with a light emitting panel 23 made of quartz glass or the like that transmits the light emitted from the xenon discharge tube 15 (ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared light), and the transparent electrode pad 16 (see FIG. 2) is provided on the front surface thereof. (Not shown) is mounted. The transparent electrode pad 16 is obtained by applying an adhesive material layer to the back surface of the transparent electrode, and is detachably attached to the surface of the light emitting panel 23 with the adhesive material layer. In the case where the transparent electrode pad is attachable / detachable as described above, when a large number of people share the device 1, a plurality of transparent electrode pads are prepared so that the device can be dedicated to each person. The transparent electrode is electrically connected to a circuit inside the treatment probe 4 by a conductive member.

Further, the xenon discharge tube 15 is held by a reflecting umbrella 19, and the reflecting umbrella 19 is fixed to a fixing member (referred to as a heat insulating plate) 20 having a low thermal conductivity, such as a glass epoxy substrate, by screwing. The heat insulating plate 20 is fixed by screwing to an inner case block 18a provided so as to slide in and out of the case 18. The inner case block 18a is urged to project by a spring 25,
The light emitting panel 23 is attached to the opening surface of the inner case block 18a. The xenon discharge tube 15
Is held by being fitted into holes formed in both side surfaces of the reflecting umbrella 19 in the longitudinal direction. And like this,
Even if the xenon discharge tube 15 and the reflector 19 become high in temperature, the heat is not directly transmitted to the case 18 by fixing the reflector 19 not through the case 18 but through the heat insulating plate 20. As a result, those attachment parts do not melt and break. Moreover, unlike the conventional case, it is not necessary to increase the shape of the case 18 for heat dissipation, and the case 18 can be made small, so that it can be easily attached to the body.

Further, the case 18 and the inner case block 18
An attachment detection switch 24 for detecting that the treatment probe 4 is attached to the body is provided between the a and the a. When the treatment probe 4 is attached to the body, the light emitting panel 23 is pushed, the inner case block 18a slides inward, and the attachment detection switch 24 is closed. By adopting such a mounting detection configuration, the mounting is surely detected regardless of which part of the body the therapeutic probe 4 is mounted on, and the treatment is possible, and the light emitting operation is performed only after being mounted on the body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the flash light from being directly seen by the user due to an erroneous operation.

On the surface of the main capacitor 22,
A temperature sensor 26 such as a thermistor is arranged, and the detection output of the temperature sensor 26 is input to the control circuit, and when the temperature of the main capacitor 22 reaches a predetermined value or more,
Flash emission is prohibited to prevent destruction of the main capacitor 22 due to overheating. Furthermore, the outer periphery of the main capacitor 22 arranged in the case 18 is cylindrically surrounded by a heat dissipation member 27 made of aluminum or the like having a low heat resistance, and a part of the heat dissipation member 27 is treated outside the case 18 by the treatment probe 4. When exposed to the body contact surface side, the treatment probe 4 contacts the body and radiates heat through the heat radiating member 27 when the treatment probe 4 is attached to the human body. This structure also prevents the main capacitor 22 from being destroyed by overheating. Moreover, the main capacitor 2
Since 2 is not directly exposed to the outside, there is no chance that something with a sharp tip will hit and be damaged.

Further, the heat dissipation member 27 is made of a conductive material and is divided into two or more members, and the members are used as + and-terminals and the resistance between them is detected by the control circuit.
When the heat dissipation member 27 contacts the body and the resistance between the members is detected to be equal to or less than a predetermined value, it may be determined that the treatment probe 4 is attached to the body.

In the case 18, an inductor 28 for vibrating to generate a sound when a light emitting current is flowing through the xenon discharge tube 15 is provided by gluing.
The inductor 28 is inserted in the line between the main capacitor 22 and the xenon discharge tube 15 (see FIG. 8, which will be described later), and the inductor 28 vibrates due to the current flowing at the time of flash emission, and the vibration is transmitted to the case 18. Sound is generated. As a result, the user can surely know that the light emitting operation is normally performed, and failure of treatment or the like is eliminated. Further, on the back side of the case 18, a belt loop 29 for mounting the treatment probe 4 on a human body by using a belt is provided.

3 (a) (b) (c) and FIG. 4 (a)
(B) shows the configuration of another example of the therapeutic probe 4, and the configuration for attachment detection is different from that of the above example.
That is, in the structure shown in FIG. 3, the mounting detection member 30 which can be retracted and retracted is arranged so as to face the space of the belt loop 29 of the case 18, and the mounting detection switch 24 is provided inside the case 18 so as to face the mounting detection member 30. Is provided.
The xenon discharge tube 15 and the reflector 19 are attached to the fixed inner case 18b via a heat insulating plate (not shown). When the treatment is performed by attaching the treatment probe 4 to the arm or elbow of the body,
When the belt 31 is passed through the belt loop 29 and tightened, the mounting detection member 30 is pushed by the belt 31 and the mounting detection switch 24 is closed.

In FIGS. 4A and 4B, a plurality of mounting detection members 30 are arranged so as to be retractable in four directions around the light emitting panel 23, and the mounting detection switch 24 is opposed to these members.
Is provided. When the treatment probe 4 is attached to the body, the attachment detection member 30 is pushed in and the attachment detection switch 24 is closed. By adopting such a mounting detection configuration, as shown in FIGS.
Even when the treatment probe 4 is attached to a non-planar portion such as a shoulder or an elbow, it is detected that the treatment probe 4 is securely attached to the body, and treatment is possible.

FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram of the control unit in the apparatus main body 2. The control unit 33 charges the microcomputer 34 as a control circuit for performing light emission control for hyperthermia treatment and current control for low frequency treatment, and the light emitting main capacitor 22 provided in the treatment probe 4 having a light emitting unit. It has an AC / DC converter 35 and the like as a charging circuit that operates. The microcomputer 34 includes various setting switches 36 (see FIG.
(Equivalent to 6) of 6) is input. Further, a signal for driving the trigger circuit (FIG. 8) in the treatment probe 4 to cause the xenon discharge tube 15 to emit light is output from the terminal HK of the microcomputer 34. In addition, the microcomputer 34 is an LC
It has a function of driving the D display unit 10 and the like, a timer function of measuring time based on various inputs, and a function of receiving a mounting detection signal from the mounting detection switch 24 of the treatment probe 4 and controlling a light emitting operation. The structure for low-frequency treatment is not shown.

FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b) show examples of temperature rise curves displayed on the LCD display unit 10. FIG. 7 (a) shows a case where the timer time is 20 minutes in the strong operation, and FIG. A temperature rise curve of a standard skin temperature with respect to a lapse of time from the start of operation when the time is 10 minutes is displayed two-dimensionally. In conjunction with the passage of time, the current temperature is displayed on the curve at the blinking position or the contrast of the cursor is increased. The following effects can be expected by performing such display. That is, immediately after the start of treatment, the heat capacity of the body is large, so that the temperature of the treatment area does not rise easily.
Therefore, the user may set the strength to be high immediately after starting the treatment. However, if a certain period of time or more elapses with such settings, the temperature of the treatment part may rise more than the person himself thinks, and in some cases burns may occur. On the other hand, as mentioned above, the temperature rise curve of the treatment part from the start of treatment to the end of the set timer is displayed on the temperature rise curve so that it can be seen at a glance, and the current state is also displayed with the cursor By doing so, the user will not accidentally set the strength to a level higher than necessary.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of the light emitting section in the treatment probe 4. The light emitting unit 40 includes a main light emitting capacitor 22.
And a xenon discharge tube 15 connected in parallel to the capacitor 22 and a trigger circuit 41 for triggering the light emission thereof.
Etc. The trigger circuit 41 is a trigger thyristor 4
The gate of the trigger thyristor 42 is connected to the connection point of the thermistor 26 and the resistor 43 in the series circuit of the mounting detection switch 24, the temperature detecting thermistor 26 of the main capacitor 22, and the resistor 43. The line 28 between the main capacitor 22 and the xenon discharge tube 15 is connected with the above-described sound generating inductor 28. The + and-terminals are configured by the heat dissipation member 27 described above (the signal line to the microcomputer 34 is not shown). An AC / DC converter 35 is connected to the terminal HV.
, And the output from the microcomputer 34 is given to the terminal HK.

In the above circuit, the temperature of the main capacitor 22 does not rise above a predetermined value when the treatment probe 4 is mounted on the body, the mounting detection switch 24 is closed, and the main capacitor 22 is charged. When the resistance value of the thermistor 26 is low and the terminal HK becomes “H”, the trigger thyristor 42 is turned on to drive the trigger circuit 41 to trigger the xenon discharge tube 15 and the main capacitor 22. To discharge the charge of. As a result, the xenon discharge tube 15 emits flash light, and the light is applied to the affected area through the light emitting panel 23, so that the affected area can be treated with heat. When the temperature of the main capacitor 22 rises above a predetermined value during the operation, the resistance value of the thermistor 26 increases, so that the trigger thyristor 42 does not turn on even when the terminal HK becomes “H”, and the light emission occurs. The operation stops. As a result, heating of the main capacitor 22 is prevented. Further, the inductor 28 for sound generation is
It consists of a group of windings in one direction. When a light emitting current flows, the windings repel each other and vibrate as a whole.

FIG. 9 is an external view of a phototherapy device 1 according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, various setting keys 6 shown in FIG. 1 are used.
The configuration of the main switch 5, etc.
In addition to the start switch 7, a strength changeover switch 6p and a timer setting switch 6t are provided. The circuit configurations of the control unit and the light emitting unit are the same as those in FIGS. 6 and 8 described above.

The operation of the microcomputer 34 of the phototherapy apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The setting signals of the intensity changeover switch 6p and the timer setting switch 6t are input (# 1), and the temperature rise curve determined by the set intensity and the timer is displayed on the LC.
It is displayed on the D display unit 10 (# 2), waits for the start switch 7 to be turned on (YES in # 3), and the light emission interval is controlled according to the intensity setting (# 4). The light emission interval is, for example, 2 seconds for strong and 5 seconds for weak. Next, the current temperature on the temperature rise curve is displayed from the elapsed time as shown in FIG. 7 (# 5). After that, the processes of # 4 and # 5 are repeated until the timer counts up, and when the count is up (YES in # 6), the process ends.

FIG. 11 shows a display example of the LCD display unit 10 of the phototherapy apparatus 1 shown in FIG. The LCD display unit 10 has a menu consisting of frequency / time / intensity of low-frequency treatments A and B (alternately repeated), light emission intensity of heat treatment with light, a timer of set treatment time, and skin temperature with time. The temperature rise curve and current status of are displayed. The various setting keys 6 (FIG. 1) are arranged corresponding to each of these menus. The key for setting the strength is surrounded by a raised ridge in order to distinguish it from other keys so as not to be erroneously operated.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the above embodiment, the xenon discharge tube 15 is used as the flash light for performing the thermal treatment.
Xenon light is used, and it is desirable because it has good permeability to living organisms, but it is not limited to this, as long as it is a glass tube filled with a rare gas that emits light when an electric current is passed, and an infrared lamp. Etc. may be used. Also, the circuit that charges the main capacitor 22 for light emission is
It may be provided on the treatment probe 4 side, or may be driven by a battery. Further, in the above embodiment, the one provided with both hyperthermia treatment and low frequency treatment was shown, but the present invention is
It can be applied to a device that can perform only thermal treatment.

[0024]

As described above, according to the phototherapy device according to the invention of claim 1, when the treatment probe is attached to the affected part to cause the flash emitting part to emit light, and the affected part is subjected to photothermal stimulation, a flash light is emitted. The current for light emission supplied to the tube flows through the inductor, and the inductor vibrates along with the light emission, and the vibration is transmitted to the inner wall of the housing of the treatment probe to generate a sound, so that the user can normally perform flash light emission. It is possible to accurately recognize whether or not there is a failure in the condenser or flash tube.
In addition, it is possible to prevent the treatment from being mistaken because the user thinks that the treatment is being performed even though the light emitting operation is not performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a phototherapy device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a sectional view of a therapeutic probe, FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2C is a sectional view taken along line BB ′.

3A, 3B, and 3C are a rear view, a cross-sectional view, and a perspective view showing a use state according to another embodiment of a therapeutic probe, respectively.

4A and 4B are a front view and a partial cross-sectional view, respectively, of a therapeutic probe according to still another embodiment.

5 (a) and 5 (b) are views showing a mounted state of a therapeutic probe.

FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram of a control unit in the apparatus body.

7 (a) and 7 (b) are diagrams showing an example of a temperature rise curve displayed on an LCD display unit.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of a light emitting unit in the treatment probe.

FIG. 9 is an external view of a phototherapy device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the operation of the phototherapy device 1.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of an LCD display unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Phototherapy device 4 Treatment probe 15 Xenon discharge tube (flash tube, flash light emitting part) 18 Case (case) 22 Light emitting capacitor 28 Inductor for sound generation

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A phototherapy apparatus for irradiating an affected part of a living body with flash light for physiotherapy, wherein a flash emitting part having a flash tube provided on a treatment probe attached to the affected part, and a flash tube for emitting light. A capacitor for supplying electric charge, and an inductor inserted between the flash tube and the capacitor, through which a current for light emission flows, and the inductor is arranged so as to be in contact with the inner wall of the casing of the treatment probe. A characteristic phototherapy device.