JPH1157028A - Electric pulse emission control of electronic medical treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform the strong/weak regulation of a stimilating voltage which is applied to a human body by a means being different from a high/low change, and effectively improve and ensure safety. SOLUTION: Electrodes 2a-2d which are brought into contact with skin to apply a stimulating voltage, are attached on the skin at specified locations of a human body, and a medical treatment effect is obtained by the stimulating voltage which is emitted from the electrodes 2a-2d for this electronic medical treatment apparatus, and for such an electronic medical treatment apparatus, a strong/weak change is provided in the stimulating voltage by long/short- regulating the output time of an electric pulse signal to the electrodes 2a-2d which are attached to the skin at the specified locations.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for controlling electric pulse transmission of an electrotherapy device using electric pulses,
The present invention relates to an electric pulse transmission control method for an electrotherapy device in which an electrode for applying a stimulation voltage by bringing the electrode into contact with the skin is in skin contact with a human body, and a low frequency is emitted from the electrode to obtain a high therapeutic effect.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various types of electronic therapeutic devices have been developed or proposed in which an electric pulse signal of this type is output and a stimulation voltage is applied to a human body to enhance a therapeutic effect.

[0003] By the way, conventional products or conventional proposals are:
In both cases, when the electric pulse signal is transmitted, the adjustment of the strength of the stimulation voltage is responded by the high / low change of the voltage.

As described above, in the conventional products and proposals described above, the adjustment of the strength of the stimulation voltage is covered by changing the voltage to a high or low level. Therefore, when a particularly strong stimulation voltage is obtained, the voltage is increased. Because of the necessity, sometimes the voltage may be as high as 100 V instantaneously, so that careful attention is required in use, and the impression that the risk is high and the handling is quite troublesome cannot be wiped out.

[0005]

The inventor of the present invention has conducted intensive studies in order to solve such a situation.
It is an object of the present invention to adjust strength of a stimulation voltage applied to a human body by means different from high / low changes of a voltage to effectively improve and secure safety.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, an electrode for applying a stimulation voltage by contacting the skin is brought into skin contact with a predetermined portion of a human body, and is emitted from the electrode. In an electrotherapy device that obtains a therapeutic effect by a stimulation voltage, by adjusting the output time of an electric pulse signal to an electrode that is in contact with the predetermined location, a change in the stimulation voltage can be brought about. It was done.

According to this means, the intensity of the stimulation voltage at the predetermined position is controlled by controlling the output time of the electric pulse signal, that is, the pulse width, while keeping the voltage constant at a low value. Effective treatment can be achieved.

Therefore, the present invention has the following effects. Since it is not necessary to change the voltage even when the stimulation voltage is changed, it is no longer necessary to apply a large voltage at a time as in the prior art, and the device can be used much more safely.

Further, the present invention provides an electrode for applying a stimulating voltage by contacting the skin with a plurality of portions of the human body, and one cycle of the stimulating voltage is applied to the electrodes which are in contact with the plurality of portions. A voltage is sequentially applied to one electrode at a time under the condition that the other electrodes are not energized,
By adjusting the output time of the pulse signal, the intensity of the stimulation voltage can be varied.

According to this means, the stimulation voltage is sequentially applied to the electrodes which are in contact with a plurality of places such as the ankle, above the knee, the hip, and the waist in the order of the ankle, above the knee, the hip, and the waist. Is applied to In other words, after being applied to the ankle, the application to this ankle is stopped, applied to the next knee, and when the application to this knee is stopped, the next applied to the hip, and so on. Applied. When the application is stopped, it is not a passive method of simply not outputting a pulse signal, but under a condition in which the energization of an electrode that is positively in contact with the human body is blocked, for example, in contact with the human body. This is performed in a state where the power supply to the electrode to be applied and the drive circuit that relays the stimulation voltage to this electrode is blocked. In addition, the intensity of the stimulation voltage for each part is adjusted by controlling the output time of the stimulation voltage while keeping the voltage constant at a low value, so that an effective treatment can be achieved.

Therefore, according to this configuration, no interference occurs between adjacent electrodes or other electrodes, and the stimulation voltage is applied intensively to each part of the human body to be applied. An effective and safe treatment can be achieved.

Under the condition that the power supply to the other electrodes is blocked, a drive circuit is connected to each electrode, and the drive circuit and the electrodes are electrically disconnected from each other.
Can emerge. This is because, for example, a troublesome operation such as removal of the electrode from the human body or removal from the jack of the device is not required, and efficient treatment can be performed.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a device in a case where an electric pulse transmission control method for an electronic therapy device according to the present invention is applied to an electronic therapy device, specifically, an electric pulse transmission control method for a low-frequency therapy device. The configuration of this low-frequency treatment device and its electric pulse transmission control method will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, a controller 1 includes an ankle,
A pair of electrodes 2 [therapeutic lead (polarity-) for applying a stimulation voltage by contacting the skin at a plurality of places such as a knee, a hip, and a waist (in the example shown, the skin is in contact with the four places). Side) and unrelated inductor (polarity + side)]
(Four sets of 2a to 2d in the illustrated example) and a plurality of drive circuits 3 to 3n (3 to 3c in the illustrated example) corresponding to the plurality of sets 2a to 2n of the electrodes 2 in the controller 1.
4) are provided.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, a total of 12 electrodes 2 are provided for each pair of left and right ankles, above the knees and hips, and a total of 14 electrodes 2 are provided for a pair of waists. Of these electrodes, the ankle, the above-knee, and the hip are provided with four electrodes 2 in pairs, each on the left and right sides, and one drive circuit is connected to each. Therefore, in this embodiment, four drive circuits are provided for convenience.

[0016] The electrodes 2, further To be more specific, as shown in FIG. 2, the ankle ankle 2 ₁ and the pair 2a of the right and left pair of the knee 2 _2, above the knee is knee 2 ₃ crotch or hip part 2 ₄ left a pair of pair 2b with, hip one hip right 2 ₅ and a pair 2c of the left and right pair of the left 2 _6, a pair of waist and bottom 2 ₇ and the upper 2 ₈ across the umbilicus A set of 2d is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the electrodes 2 are detachably connected to the controller 1 by inserting and removing a connection connector 2A on the electrode side and a connection terminal 1A on the controller 1 side. You.

Accordingly, the electrode according to each claim of the present invention includes:
A pair of left and right pairs of ankles, above the knees, and the hips, and a pair of waist pairs are meant.

As shown in FIG. 1, each of the drive circuits 3 to 3n is connected to a control circuit 4 (microcomputer). The control circuit 4 is connected to a monitor display unit 5, a power supply circuit 6, a charging circuit 7, and a communication circuit 8.

The control circuit 4 receives the information (location), time, and strength of the electrode skin contact input from the apparatus 9 via the communication circuit 8, and based on the input information, first determines the location. Of the four drive circuits 3 to 3n from which information is to be output based on the input information. At the same time, information on time and strength is added, and these are output as a pulse signal (stimulation voltage) to the selected predetermined drive circuit.

A pulse signal of 5 to 100 Hz and 0 to 40 V is supplied from the control circuit 4 to the selected drive circuits 3 to 3n in a cycle of 10 to 200 m / s.
In the range of 600 μ / s, as shown in FIG. 4, the pulse width is sequentially changed from the shorter one to the longer one while being output. Therefore, first, a pulse width of 30 μ / s (w
The output of ₁ ) goes round each electrode, and the next is 50 μ / s (w
₂ ), next time 80μ / s (w ₃ ), further 110μ
/ S (w ₄ ), the pulse width is programmed in advance so that the pulse width is increased each time the circuit goes round, and is programmed so as to eventually increase to 600 μ / s in that order. This information is input from the machine 9 to the control circuit 4 of the controller.

When each of the drive circuits 3 to 3n receives the pulse signal, the drive circuits 3 to 3n perform the one output time (that is, the pulse width of 30 μ / s, 50 μ / s, 80 μ /
s and each pulse width finally reaching 600 μ / s)
Each time, the stimulation voltage is output to the corresponding electrode 2 in the manner described above, but after one output time, the drive circuit 3 is set to a high impedance state, and the circuit connecting the pair of electrodes 2 is electrically connected. It is configured so as to be cut off, so that when a stimulus voltage is applied to another electrode, the stimulus voltage is prevented from being short-circuited and applied to the pair of electrodes. In this way, the condition in which the current supply to the other electrode is blocked is revealed.

The above-described procedure for exposing the condition in which the current supply to the other electrodes is blocked is performed while the electrodes 2 to 2n are in a state where the electrodes 2 to 2n can be supplied with electricity (while the circuit connecting the pair of electrodes remains connected). Then, when a pulse is output to a certain electrode 2, another inactive electrode 2 that is not supplying a stimulation voltage through the human body
In addition, since a stimulation voltage flows from the currently operating electrode 2, so-called interference occurs, and effective treatment cannot be performed. This is a measure taken to prevent this. In this way, the stimulation voltage is applied intensively to each part of the human body to be applied, and an effective and safe treatment can be achieved for each part. There are characteristics, and by doing so, the intended task can be achieved successfully.

The display circuit 5 displays the information input to the control circuit 4 through the communication circuit 8 of the main unit 9, that is, the location, time, and strength as described above by appropriately using a lamp or the like. Therefore, the device 9 is provided with an input switch or the like that can input this information.

The power supply circuit 6 is linked to a battery 11 and a charging circuit 7 that can obtain power from either the main unit 9 or an external AC adapter.

As described above, in the configuration shown in the embodiment, first, when predetermined information, for example, all the electrodes are selected from the machine 9 and the start button of the controller 1 which receives the information for performing the treatment is pressed. , 100H from the control circuit 4.
Assuming that a pulse signal of 10 m / s (10 m / s is shown for convenience in the example in the figure) for 10 volts as one cycle (one cycle), as shown in FIG.
/ S pulse width (w ₁ ), the first drive circuit 3
A stimulus voltage is applied to the electrode 2a of the ankle via.

Next, similarly, a pulse width of 30 μ / s (w
₁ ) In the second drive circuit 3a, the electrode 2 on the knee is
A stimulation voltage is applied to b.

Then, similarly, a stimulation voltage is applied to the hip electrode 2c via the third drive circuit 3b with a pulse width (w ₁ ) of 30 μ / s.

Finally, a pulse width of 30 μ / s (w
_{In 1} ), a stimulation voltage is applied to the waist electrode 2d via the fourth drive circuit 3c.

During the above operation, the electrodes other than the operating electrodes are electrically disconnected from the corresponding drive circuits, so that the stimulation voltage is applied to the other electrodes. There is no danger that the stimulation voltage will flow through the human body to the adjacent or other electrodes, and the stimulation voltage can be applied intensively to the required places.

When the application of the stimulus voltage to all the electrodes is completed with the pulse width (w ₁ ) of 30 μ / s, the pulse width is automatically changed from the information input to the control circuit 4. Is changed to 50 μ / s (w ₂ ), and as before,
Assuming that 10 m / s is one cycle, the first drive circuit 3
, A pulse signal is sequentially output to the fourth drive circuit 3d, and a stimulation voltage is applied to each electrode.

Needless to say, even in the operation with the pulse width of 50 μ / s, each electrode and the corresponding drive circuit are electrically connected to each other during the operation of the specific electrode. It is kept in the cut-off state, and there is no possibility that the stimulation voltage is short-circuited between the electrodes.

[0033] In this manner, along a given program to control circuit 4 sequentially pulse width, for example, as shown, 80 [mu] / s pulse width (w _3), then 11
The pulse width (w ₄ ) is increased to 0 μ / s, and a stimulation voltage is sequentially applied to each electrode while increasing the pulse width to 600 μ / s finally, and a predetermined treatment is performed.

In the present invention, as described above, the stimulus voltage to be applied to the human body is reduced by holding down the volt number to about 40 volts at the highest and sequentially changing the width of the output pulse to 30 to 600 μ / s. Because of the variation, especially when a strong stimulus voltage is obtained, the voltage needs to be increased, and this risk is completely different from the conventional method that sometimes causes a voltage as high as 100 V in some cases. Is completely gone, light, and
It can be used safely and simply.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the electric pulse transmission control method is described by exemplifying a case where the present invention is applied to an electron therapy device having a large number of electrodes 2a to 2n.
In this electric pulse transmission control method, in particular, by adjusting the output time of the electric pulse signal to the electrode that is in contact with the human body, that is, by changing the pulse width, the stimulus voltage is increased or decreased. The technology that allows the change is provided with only a pair of electrodes [therapeutic lead (polar negative side) and the unrelated lead (polar positive side)] for the controller, which has been widely and generally recognized in the past. It can be easily applied to a therapeutic device, and can be used much more safely, and at the same time, has an effect of improving usability.

In each of the figures, the drive circuits 3 to 3n
And the electrodes 2a to 2n are connected to the connection terminal 1 on the controller 1 side.
A, and is configured to be separable via the electrode-side connection connector 2A, but is not limited to this configuration. Although not shown, the drive circuits 3 to 3n are directly connected to the electrodes 2a to 2n. That is, the controller 1 and the electrodes 2a to 2n are directly connected and cannot be separated from each other.

In the illustrated example, the structure employing the main unit (master unit) is illustrated. However, as shown in FIG. 5, the communication circuit 8 can be omitted and the embodiment can be implemented only by the controller 12. Compact and easy to carry,
The treatment can be performed while being carried, and the effect that the convenience is further improved is exhibited.

Of course, in each of the illustrated embodiments,
After obtaining information and charging from the machine 9, the controller 1
Since the configuration that can be used independently by being separated from the main unit 9 is adopted, it is extremely safe to use, as in the case where the main unit 9 shown in FIG. This makes it extremely easy to carry, allows treatment while being carried, and has the effect of improving convenience.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram in a case where an electric pulse transmission control method according to the present invention is applied to a low frequency treatment device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a skin contact portion of an electrode.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory external view of a main part showing a specific structure of a connection portion between a controller and an electrode.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of a pulse signal transmitted to each electrode.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram in a case where an electric pulse transmission control method according to the present invention is applied to a low frequency treatment device according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Controller, 1A ... Connection terminal, 2 ... Electrode, 2A
... connection connector, 2 a to 2 n ... electrode, 2 ₁ to 2 ₈ ... electrode, 3～3N ... drive circuit, 4 ... control circuit, 5 ... display circuit, 6 ... power supply circuit, 8 ... communication circuit, 9 ... the machine.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electrotherapy device wherein an electrode for applying a stimulation voltage by contacting the skin is in contact with a human body, and a therapeutic effect is obtained by a stimulation voltage emitted from the electrode. A method for controlling the transmission of electric pulses in an electrotherapy device, characterized in that the output time of the electric pulse signal to the electrode to be adjusted is adjusted so as to change the stimulation voltage. 2. An electrode for applying a stimulation voltage by bringing the electrode into contact with the skin so as to be in skin contact with a plurality of portions of a human body, and the electrode being in contact with the plurality of portions is applied in one cycle of the stimulation voltage. By applying voltage sequentially to each electrode under the condition that the other electrodes are not energized, and by adjusting the output time of the electric pulse signal, the intensity of the stimulation voltage can be changed. An electric pulse transmission control method for an electrotherapy device, characterized in that: 3. A drive circuit is connected to each electrode, and when the drive circuit and the electrode are electrically disconnected from each other, a condition in which energization of the other electrode is blocked appears. Item 3. An electric pulse transmission control method according to Item 2.