JPH11128370A - Multi-electrode low-frequency therapy system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low-frequency therapy system surely treating according to the mounting state and the part of an electrode by preventing pungent pain at the time of treating. SOLUTION: A low-frequency pulse output part 100 outputs a low-frequency pulse increased from 0.1 Vsamp prescribed reference voltage to 2 Vsamp/3 prescribed judging output voltage through the use of an absolute refractory period with respect to the stimulation of a living body. When the increasing rate of a current flowing between the electrodes, which is detected by a current detecting part 119 at this time, is not larger than 20%, CPU 93 judges that a pair of the electrodes are mounted to a part difficult to energize at a human body. When CPU 93 makes the judgement, the output of the low-frequency pulses of the part 100 is stopped. Then, LCD displays that the pair of electrodes are mounted to a part difficult to energize at a human body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a low-frequency therapeutic device for applying electrical stimulation to a human body to treat stiffness, pain and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a low-frequency therapeutic device has been disclosed in
No. 132566 discloses an electrode current detection circuit called a pair of conductors, which detects a current flowing between an electrode plate and an adhesive sheet, and a current value detected by the electrode current detection circuit is a predetermined value. There is disclosed a technique in which a notification circuit is provided for notifying when the value becomes equal to or less than a value, and that the state of attachment of the lead to the human body is deteriorated. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-193281 discloses a human body detection circuit that detects that an electrode is attached to a human body when a current flowing between a pair of electrodes becomes a predetermined value or more, and a human body detection circuit. A technology for determining whether or not the electrode is worn on a human body, which includes a display unit for monitoring the operation of the electronic device, is disclosed.

[0003]

However, in the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-132566, the low-frequency treatment device having the notification circuit is determined based on the absolute value, and the fatigue of the part and the part is low. There has been a problem that, due to an error in the impedance of the living body due to the degree, degree of stiffness, or the like, the determination is erroneous and a false notification is often issued. Because of these disadvantages, it is not suitable for a multi-electrode low-frequency treatment device that controls a plurality of electrode plates to treat a wide range of sites.

In the technique described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-193281, a low-frequency treatment device having this human body detection circuit is basically determined by an absolute value.
When the impedance of the living body is high due to the electrode mounting site and the degree of fatigue and stiffness of the site, there has been a problem that the determination is erroneous and an erroneous display is often issued. Because of these disadvantages, it is not suitable for a multi-electrode low-frequency treatment device that controls a plurality of electrode plates in order to treat a wide area.

[0005] Further, in the low-frequency treatment device, when the electrode of the low-frequency treatment device is attached to a small part of a muscle, such as on a shoulder blade, the voltage of a stimulation pulse is increased, so that the user becomes nervous. This causes a problem that the therapeutic effect is reduced due to discomfort. In addition, when the stimulus is applied continuously or intermittently, there is a problem that the user may feel tired after the treatment.

[0006] This problem tends to occur more frequently in women with relatively small shoulder widths and in elderly people with few muscles. An object of the present invention is to utilize the absolute refractory period of a living body (that is, a period in which no response is made even when stimulated no matter how much, the insensitive region)
Judgment is made based on the relative change in the energizing current value due to the voltage change.Before the stimulation is sensed, it is judged before the treatment stimulation that the electrode plate is attached to a site where the current is difficult to conduct, such as bone. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-electrode low-frequency treatment device which can prevent the treatment and can perform treatment comfortably.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi-electrode low-frequency therapeutic device according to the present invention.
An electrode pad formed of two pads each having a plurality of electrode plates attached to a human body, an electrode plate pair of the one pad electrode plate, and the other pad electrode plate. One or more low-frequency pulse output means for applying a low-frequency pulse; and an electrode plate selecting means for selecting which of the electrode plate pairs to output a low-frequency pulse from the low-frequency pulse output means; A multi-electrode switch comprising: a plurality of current detection means for detecting a current flowing between the electrode plate pair selected by the electrode plate selection means; and a plurality of conduction current control means for controlling a conduction current value of the low frequency pulse output means. In the frequency therapy device, during an absolute refractory period (insensitive region) to the stimulus of the living body before the start of the therapeutic stimulus, the current flowing between the electrode plate pairs selected by the electrode plate selecting means detected by the current detecting means is passed. When the current value has an increase rate of the applied current value with respect to the initial value of not more than 20% (can be changed by the sampling pulse) despite the increase in the applied stimulation voltage, the selected electrode plate pair It is characterized in that it is determined that the attachment site is a site such as a bone where current is hard to flow.

[0008] According to such a configuration, by using the absolute refractory period of the living body, the current detecting unit can detect the value of the current flowing between any pair of electrode plates of the low-frequency treatment device having a plurality of electrode plates. Since the reading is performed, it is possible to determine that the electrode is attached to a site where current is difficult to pass, such as a bone, before a sensible therapeutic stimulation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi-electrode low-frequency therapeutic device according to the present invention, wherein the multi-electrode low-frequency therapeutic device according to the first aspect is configured to stimulate a living body before the start of the stimulation treatment. During the period of stimulation treatment, the low frequency pulse output to the electrode plate pair is determined during the stimulation treatment for the electrode plate pair that is determined to be in a site where the current does not easily pass, such as bone, during the absolute refractory period (insensitive region). It is characterized by stopping.

[0010] According to such a configuration, during the absolute refractory period of the living body, the current detector detects the current value flowing between any pair of electrode plates, and determines the mounting site of each electrode plate pair such as a bone. Judgment is made as to whether or not the current is difficult to pass through. If it is considered that the electrode plate pair is difficult to pass the current, the application to the electrode plate pair is stopped at the time of therapeutic stimulation. Can prevent in advance the discomfort that occurs from the patient, and can continue treatment of other sites.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi-electrode low frequency treatment device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the treatment stimulation is not started. During the absolute refractory period to the stimulus of the living body, when it is determined that the electrode plate pair is attached to a site such as a bone through which electric current hardly passes, during stimulation treatment, the output of the low-frequency pulse is stopped. A display means for identifying and displaying a pair is provided.

According to such a configuration, when it is considered that a portion where the electrode plate pair is attached is a portion such as a bone through which a current hardly passes, application to the electrode plate pair is stopped at the time of treatment stimulation. At the same time, it is possible to notify the user before the start of the therapeutic stimulus or at the time of the therapeutic stimulus by displaying that the application of the voltage to the site is stopped.

In a multi-electrode low-frequency therapeutic device having a plurality of electrode plates controlled by a microcomputer, a current detecting section for measuring a value of a current flowing between each pair of electrode plates is provided, so that an arbitrary pair of electrode plates is provided. The flowing current value can be read. Also, based on the read current value,
From the program written in the ROM in the microcomputer in advance, it is predicted that the electrode plate pair mounting site at the current treatment site is located in a region such as a bone through which electric current hardly passes, and based on the predicted contents, each electrode plate pair is mounted. An output voltage control unit is provided as a control unit for controlling the value of the current flowing therebetween. Physiologically, when a muscle is excited by muscle stimulation, the muscle does not excite until a certain time has passed. The period during which no response occurs at all, no matter how intense the stimulus, is called the absolute refractory period. The stimulation time of the stimulation voltage of 0.5 to 2.0 msec is the absolute refractory period. In order to perform the current measurement using the absolute refractory period of the living body, the stimulation time of the stimulation voltage (output voltage) was controlled to be 0.5 to 2.0 msec.

[0014]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a multi-electrode low-frequency treatment device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 91 denotes a liquid crystal display element (hereinafter, referred to as LCD) as a notification unit and a display unit, 92 denotes a power key, a start key,
An operation unit having various keys operated by the user, such as a stop key, a treatment mode selection key, and intensity adjustment, and a central processing unit (CPU) 93 that controls a waveform mode such as a type and a cycle of a low-frequency pulse. , 94 is a RAM (random access memory) for temporarily storing various data used for the operation of the CPU 93, 95 is an operation amount table 96, low-frequency pulse data 9 used for the CPU 93
7 and a ROM (random access memory) provided with an electrode selection table 98. The operation amount table 96 of the ROM 95 indicates the frequency (period) of the low-frequency pulse.
The low-frequency pulse data 97 stores the waveform mode information (cycle, pulse width, electrode connection N) representing the waveform of the low-frequency pulse corresponding to the treatment mode.
o. And the like, and the electrode selection table 98
In an electrode pad 112 to be described later, information on an electrode plate to be connected to a positive polarity, information on an electrode plate to be connected to a negative polarity, an A / D converter to be selected, and a D / A corresponding to an electrode plate pair to be selected.
Stores converter information.

The CPU 93 has an output waveform control unit 99 for controlling the output of the low frequency pulse, and an operation amount control unit 127 for controlling the operation amount output by the output waveform control unit 99.
And a mounting part determination unit 128 that determines the state of the mounting part of the electrode plate before starting the treatment. The above CPU
The control unit 93 performs a low-frequency treatment control process based on key information such as starting and stopping from the operation unit 92 and selecting a waveform mode. At this time, the LCD 91 is driven by a liquid crystal driver (not shown) built in the CPU 93, and displays various information such as an operation state and an output state of the multi-electrode low frequency treatment device.

Reference numeral 100 denotes a low-frequency pulse output unit composed of n low-frequency pulse output units 101 to 103;
Reference numeral 04 denotes a boosting unit including n boosting units 105 to 107, and 108 denotes a D / A converter as an output voltage control unit including n D / A converting units 109 to 111, 119
Is a current detection unit composed of n current detection units 120 to 122, and 123 is n A / D conversion units 124 to 126
The reference numeral 112 denotes an electrode pad composed of a pad A and a pad B. The pad A is provided with m electrode plates A-1 to Am, while the pad B is provided with m electrode plates B-1 to B-m.

Switching between the electrode plates A-1 to B-m and the low-frequency pulse output unit 100 is performed by the port A of the output waveform control unit 99.
And an A / D converter 123 that controls the port O and selects a D / A that determines the output voltage by controlling the port D of the output waveform control unit 99 to detect a current flowing between the selected electrode plates.
Is controlled by the port C of the output waveform control unit 99, the type of the low-frequency pulse output from the low-frequency pulse output unit 100, the cycle, and the like, are controlled. The manipulated variable output to converter 108 is controlled.

A switch is arranged between the booster 104 and the electrode plates A-1 to Bm, and a port A of the output waveform controller 99 is provided.
Alternatively, when the signal from the port O becomes HIGH, this switch is turned ON and the booster 104 and the electrode plate pairs A-1 to B-
m is connected, the low-frequency pulse output unit 100 and the boosting unit 104 are connected to an arbitrary pair of electrode plates, and an electrode plate can be selected. Further, between the output waveform control unit 99 and the D / A converter 108, the output waveform control unit 99
When a signal from port D or port C of the output waveform control unit 99 becomes HIGH, the switch is turned on and the output waveform control unit 99 and the D / A converter are disposed. 108, the output waveform control unit 99, the current detection unit 119, and the A / D converter 123 are connected.
A / A converter 108 or A / D converter 123 is connected,
The D / A converter 108 and the A / D converter 123 can be selected.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing the relationship between the stimulation voltage (D / A output value) of a person who does not feel tingling pain on the horizontal axis and the conduction current (A / D conversion value) on the vertical axis. , Arm Av
r, Avr in arm, Avr in middle, Avr in neck, and neck A
vr indicates the average for the arm, the middle of the arm, the middle, the middle of the neck, and the neck region, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the stimulus voltage (D / A output value) of a person who feels tingling pain on the horizontal axis and the conduction current (A / D conversion value) on the vertical axis. Arm Av
r, Avr in arm, Avr in middle, Avr in neck, and neck A
vr indicates the average for the arm, the middle of the arm, the middle, the middle of the neck, and the site of the neck, respectively. When the electrode of the low-frequency treatment device is attached to a portion of the scapula that has less muscle, the voltage of the stimulation pulse is increased, thereby causing a tingling pain on the arm side of the shoulder of the user.

The above-mentioned electrode pad is composed of two sets of a pad A and a pad B (FIG. 1).
5-1 to Am and electrode plates B-1 to B-m are each composed of five conductors each having an adhesive material adhered thereto. Also,
The electrode plates are A-1 and B-1, A-2 and B-2, respectively.
A-3 and B-3, A-4 and B-4, and Am and Bm
Form a pair, and when m = 5, five pairs, CH1, C
H2, CH3, CH4, and CH5, and the output waveform control unit 99 selects which of the five pairs to apply a pulse to.

Here, A-1 and B-1 are used, but A-1 and B-1 are controlled by the output waveform control unit 99.
2,... Or A-1 and A-2,. Current detecting means 120 to 1 of current detecting section 119
22, A / D conversion means 124 to 1 of A / D converter 123
26 detects a current value flowing through the pair to which the output pulse is applied.

The control process of the CPU 93 will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. Physiologically, when a muscle is stimulated to excite a muscle, there is a characteristic that the muscle does not excite until a certain period of time elapses. The period during which the stimulus voltage is applied is 0.5 to 2.0 msec. Is an absolute refractory period, and it does not respond at all no matter how strongly the stimulus is applied. The absolute refractory period of the living body, that is, the application time of the stimulus voltage (output voltage) for performing the current measurement in the insensitive region is 0.5 to 2.
It controlled so that it might be 0 msec.

In FIG. 4, when the process is started, "0" is set to the output voltage V, "1" is set to the channel CH in step S1, and a reference value flag basis_F is set.
Is set to “0” and the reference value flag “basis” is set. Reset F. Next, proceeding to step S2, the reference value flag basis_basis_
It is determined whether or not F is “0”, and the reference value flag “basis” is determined. F
Is determined to be "0", the process proceeds to step S3, and R
After reading the sampling pulse data from the low frequency pulse data 97 of the OM 95, the output voltage of the low frequency pulse is set to 0.1 Vsamp.

Next, proceeding to step S5, after reading the electrode plate selection pattern from the electrode selection table 98 of the ROM 95, proceeding to step S6, the application time is set to 0.5 to 2.0.
The pulse output of the stimulation voltage, which is a pulse of 0 msec., Is controlled. In step S7, the current detector 119 and the A / D
After reading the energizing current value AD (CH) of the selected channel CH by the converter 123, step S8 is performed.
Go to channel C to prepare for the next channel
The value of H is incremented (+1).

Next, in step S9, if it is determined that the channel CH has not exceeded "6",
Return to 2. If it is determined in step S9 that the channel CH has exceeded "6", the flow advances to step S10 to determine whether the reference value flag basis_F is "1". Then, in step S10, the reference value flag basis If it is determined that F is not "1", the process proceeds to step S11, where the reference value flag basi
s After setting F to "1", the process proceeds to step S12, where "1" is set to the channel CH, and the process returns to step S2.

Next, at step S2, the reference value flag basis_basis_
If it is determined that F is not “0”, the process proceeds to step S13,
After reading the sampling pulse data from the low frequency pulse data 97 in the ROM 95, the output voltage is set to 2 × Vsamp / 3 in step S14. Steps S15 and S16 are the same as steps S5 and S
The same operation as that of No. 6 is performed. Next, proceed to step S17,
After reading the energizing current value RF (CH) of the selected channel CH, the process proceeds to step S18, where the value of CH is incremented (+1) to prepare for the next channel.
Then, the process proceeds to step S9, where it is confirmed that the current values of all the channels for comparison are read.
Proceed to 10 and reference value flag basis If it is determined that F is "1", the process proceeds to step S19, and the control subroutine shown in FIG. 5 is performed.

Thus, the current values AD (1) to AD (5) of the channels CH1 to CH5 and the current values RF
(1) to RF (5) are obtained, and the rate of increase in current is determined in the control subroutine. In the control subroutine of FIG.
In step S30, all the channels CH of the prohibition flag PH are reset. After “1” is set to the channel CH in step S31, the process proceeds to step S32, where the energizing current value RF (CH) is set to the comparison source energizing current value AD.
It is determined whether it exceeds 1.2 times (CH), and if it exceeds 1.2 times, the process proceeds to step S33 and the channel C
H is incremented (+1). And step S
At 34, it is determined whether the channel CH is "6" or more,
If the channel CH is less than "6", the process returns to step S32, and the next energized current value is compared.

On the other hand, if there is a channel in step S32 in which the current value RF for comparison is smaller than 1.2 times the current value AD in the comparison source, the process proceeds to step S38. It is determined that it is in a difficult part, and the process proceeds to step S39 to set a flag prohibiting output to the electrode plate. Then, in step S34, channel C
If H is "6", the flow proceeds to step S35, in which the output of the channel for which the prohibition flag is set to the electrode plate is prohibited, the position of the channel prohibited in step S36 is displayed, and the flow proceeds to step S37. Start treatment using the channel.

FIG. 6A shows a display example of the display means when an electrode which is hard to be energized is detected, and FIG. 6B shows a display example of the display means after the start of treatment. In FIG. 6 (A), the display lamp blinks and the remaining display lamps are not lit for CH1, which is detected as having difficulty in energization, so that an abnormal electrode can be recognized at a glance. Then, the user notices the abnormality, and can select whether to re-attach the electrode pad 112 or to start the treatment as it is.

At this time, if the user enters the treatment without noticing the abnormality, the display lamp of CH1 turns off and the remaining display lamps blink, so that the electrode pad 112 must be re-attached at that time, or You can choose to continue. Even in such a case, since the application of the stimulation voltage to the abnormal CH is stopped, no unpleasant pain is caused.

[0032]

As described above, the multi-electrode low-frequency therapeutic device of the present invention according to the first aspect utilizes the absolute refractory period to the stimulus of the living body before the start of the therapeutic stimulus, and uses the electrode plate selecting means. If the current flowing through the selected pair of electrode plates has an increase rate of only 20% or less of the initial current value with respect to the initial value in spite of the increase in the stimulation voltage, the site where the electrode plate pair is attached may be a bone or the like. It is determined before the therapeutic stimulus that the current is difficult to pass through.

Therefore, irrespective of the variation of the impedance of the human body, etc., before starting the stimulation of the treatment, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned electrode plate is attached to a part where electric current is hard to flow such as a bone of the human body in an insensitive state. If the electrode plate is attached to a part of the human body where it is difficult to conduct electricity, the output of the low-frequency pulse for treatment may be stopped in a state that the user does not feel before starting treatment. The user can be warned with a display or the like to prevent tingling at the time of treatment, and reliable treatment can be performed according to the mounting portion of the electrode plate.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a multi-electrode low-frequency therapeutic device according to the first aspect, wherein the CPU is configured to mount the electrode plate so that current such as bone does not easily pass. When it is detected that the patient is in a part, the application of the stimulation voltage to that part is stopped during treatment, so that discomfort generated from that part can be prevented beforehand, and treatment to other parts can be performed comfortably. You can continue.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the multi-electrode low-frequency therapeutic device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the CPU is a part of the mounting of the electrode plate. When it is determined that there is a part where the electric current is hard to pass such as bone,
The display means informs the user that a part of the electrode plate is attached to a part of the human body that is difficult to conduct electricity, so that the user can be notified that stimulation to that part has been stopped. The user who knows the above can select whether to perform the treatment as it is or to change the mounting position of the electrode.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram according to an embodiment of a multi-electrode low frequency treatment device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing a relationship between a stimulation voltage of a person who does not feel pain and an energizing current value in the multi-electrode low frequency treatment device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a relationship between a stimulation voltage of a person who feels pain and an energization current value in the multi-electrode low frequency treatment device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a main routine of a program executed by a CPU of the multi-electrode low frequency treatment device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a subroutine of a program executed by a CPU of the multi-electrode low frequency treatment device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of a display means according to the multi-electrode low frequency treatment device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 91 LCD (liquid crystal display unit) 92 operation unit 93 microcomputer (CPU) 94 RAM 95 ROM 96 operation amount table 97 low frequency pulse data 98 electrode selection table 99 output waveform control unit 100 low frequency pulse output unit 104 booster unit 108 D / A converter 112 Electrode pad A-1, A-2, Am Electrode plate of pad A B-1, B-2, Bm Electrode plate of pad B 119 Current detection unit 123 A / D conversion unit 127 Operation Quantity control unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electrode pad which is mounted on a human body and is composed of two pads each having a plurality of electrode plates, an electrode plate of one of the pads, and an electrode plate of the other pad. Applying a low frequency pulse to a pair of electrode plates 1
One or more low-frequency pulse output means; an electrode plate selection means for selecting which of the electrode plate pairs to output a low-frequency pulse from the low-frequency pulse output means; and an electrode selected by the electrode plate selection means. A multi-electrode low-frequency treatment device having a plurality of current detection means for detecting a current flowing between the pair of plates, and a plurality of conduction current control means for controlling a conduction current value of the low-frequency output means; During the absolute refractory period of the body's stimulus,
The energizing current value flowing between the electrode plate pairs selected by the electrode plate selecting means detected by the current detecting means is not more than 20% of the initial current value despite the increase of the stimulation voltage. When does not show an increase in
A multi-electrode low-frequency treatment device characterized in that it is determined that the selected part of the electrode plate pair is located in a part such as a bone where current is difficult to flow. 2. The multi-electrode low-frequency therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that the device is attached to a site where current is difficult to flow, such as bone, during an absolute refractory period to the stimulus of the living body before the start of the therapeutic stimulus. A multi-electrode low-frequency therapeutic device for stopping output of a low-frequency pulse to the pair of electrode plates during stimulation treatment. 3. The multi-electrode low-frequency therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein a current such as bone flows through the electrode plate pair during an absolute refractory period to the stimulus of the living body before the start of the therapeutic stimulus. When it is determined that the low-frequency pulse output is stopped when it is determined that the low-frequency pulse output is stopped, the multi-electrode low-frequency Therapeutic device.