JPH1157030A - Medical treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medical treatment apparatus which activates the ciliary muscle of an eye by an electric stimulation, and can efficiently and surely recover the reduced vision. SOLUTION: This medical treatment apparatus l is used for the recovery of a reduced vision by electrically stimulating a ciliary muscle. The medical treatment apparatus 1 is constituted of a medical treatment signal generating circuit, and a pair of electrodes. The medical treatment signal generating circuit generates a saw blade-form wave signal wherein a voltage value becomes larger from zero as time passes, and becomes zero again when reaching a specified maximum value, and these actions are repeated. Also, the pair of the electrodes are attached to the skin around an eye ball, and transmits the saw blade-form wave signal from the medical treatment signal generating circuit to meridian points around the eye ball.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a therapeutic device which activates ciliary muscles by electrical stimulation to recover a reduced visual acuity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The eye is a sensory organ which senses information (existence, shape, color, brightness, etc. of an object) by external light and converts it into a video signal. The cornea, pupil, lens, vitreous body, retina, Consists of ciliary muscle and the like. This eye is connected to the cerebrum via the optic nerve. The eye having such a structure projects light reflected from an object on the retina through a cornea, a pupil, a lens, a vitreous body, and the like, and converts the image projected on the retina into a video signal via the optic nerve. Send to In the cerebrum, video signals sent via the optic nerve are first recognized as vision.

The eye moves as follows depending on the distance from the eye to the object. In other words, when looking at a nearby object, the lens is thickened by the tension of the ciliary muscles of the eye to increase the refraction of light, and when looking at a distant object,
The return of the tense ciliary muscle reduces the thickness of the crystalline lens and reduces the refraction of light, thereby focusing on the object.

However, in the case of myopia such as refractive myopia caused by the refractive index of the cornea or the lens becoming stronger than usual, or axial myopia caused by the eyeball becoming longer in the axial direction of the light, or the refraction of the cornea or the lens. Focusing cannot be performed well in the case of hyperopia, such as refractive hyperopia, which occurs when the rate is weaker than usual, and axial hyperopia, which occurs when the eyeball becomes shorter in the axial direction of light. Usually, these are corrected using glasses or contact lenses.

[0005]

However, a method of correcting visual acuity using eyeglasses or contact lenses is to recover the visual acuity by simply correcting the visual acuity while keeping myopia or hyperopia as it is. Was not aimed at.

[0006] Some means for restoring visual acuity have been proposed, but we have not heard that these means are effective.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and has as its object to activate ciliary muscles of the eye by electrical stimulation to efficiently reduce the reduced visual acuity. It is an object of the present invention to provide a treatment device that can reliably recover.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a therapeutic device according to the first aspect of the present invention electrically stimulates ciliary muscles and is used for restoring reduced visual acuity. A therapy signal for generating a saw-tooth wave signal in which the voltage value increases from zero over time to stimulate the ciliary muscle, and repeats to become zero again when reaching a predetermined maximum value. It is characterized by comprising a generating circuit and at least a pair of electrodes attached to the skin around the eyeball and energizing the sawtooth wave signal from the treatment signal generating circuit to the acupoint around the eyeball.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a sound processing circuit for generating a sound corresponding to the sawtooth signal during treatment is provided.

[0010] To achieve the above object, a therapeutic device according to the invention according to claim 3 electrically stimulates the ciliary muscle,
A therapeutic device used for restoring reduced visual acuity, in which the voltage value increases from zero over time to stimulate ciliary muscles, and repeats to return to zero when reaching a predetermined maximum value. A treatment signal generating means for generating a sawtooth wave signal, at least one pair of electrodes attached to the skin around the eyeball and supplying a sawtooth wave signal from the treatment signal generation circuit to the acupoint around the eyeball, and searching for an acupoint. And a search bar, a current supply circuit capable of supplying a predetermined current value to the grip bar and the search bar, and an ammeter for displaying a current value flowing through the search bar. Things.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the acoustic processing generates a sound corresponding to the current value for the acupoint search at the time of the acupoint search, and generates a sound corresponding to the sawtooth wave signal at the time of the treatment. A circuit is provided.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 are views for explaining a treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the treatment device 1
The external shape is a shape having a rectangular parallelepiped casing 2, and a circuit board 3 on which a treatment device processing circuit is mounted is provided inside the casing 2. On the front operation panel 4 of the housing 2, an ammeter 5 is arranged at the center of the panel 4, and a function switch 6 and a power on / off switch with a volume are provided on the right upper side of the ammeter 5 in the figure. 7, volume knobs 8 and 9 are arranged on the left side of the ammeter 5 in the figure toward the left. Further, jacks 10 and 11 related to acupoint search are arranged on the lower right side of the ammeter 5 in the figure, and jacks 12 and 13 related to energization treatment are arranged on the lower left side of the ammeter 5 in the figure. The speaker 1 is provided inside the housing 2.
4 are arranged, and when searching for acupoints or conducting electricity treatment,
A sound corresponding to the acupoint search state or the energized state is output. A volume knob 15 is disposed below the ammeter 5.
Thus, the magnitude of the current value to be supplied at the time of searching for an acupoint can be adjusted. These ammeter 5, function switch 6, power on / off switch 7, volume knobs 8 and 9 and jacks 10, 11, 12, 1
3, the volume of the speaker 14 and the volume knob 15 are electrically connected to the circuit board 3, though not shown. In addition, on the back surface of the casing 2 of the treatment device 1,
Although not shown, a power cord and a ground terminal are provided.

Here, the ammeter 5 indicates conductivity around the eyeball when searching for an acupoint. In the figure, the function switch 6 is a switch at a position indicated as “FNC”, and can switch the operation function between energization treatment (displayed as “T”) and acupoint search (displayed as “S”). it can. The power on / off switch 7 with a volume is a switch and a volume at a position indicated as “ON / OFF” in the figure. When the switch 7 is turned on, power is supplied to the circuit board 3 and the treatment device 1 can be used. When the switch 7 is turned off, the supply of power to the circuit board 3 is stopped and the treatment device 1 cannot be used. After the switch 7 is turned on, the switch 7 can be turned to the right, so that the volume of the speaker 14 can be adjusted. The volume knob 8 is a knob at a position indicated as “R. Vol” in the figure, and can move a movable electrode of a volume inside the housing 2. The volume knob 9 is indicated by “L.
This is a knob for the position indicated as “Vol”, and the movable electrode of the volume inside the housing 2 can be moved. The jack 10 is a jack at a position indicated as “SCR” in the figure, and the plug 16 is inserted therein. The jack 11 is a jack at a position indicated as “COM” in the figure, and the plug 17 is inserted therein. The jack 12 is a jack at a position indicated as “R.TMP” in the figure, and has a plug 18 inserted therein. The jack 13 is a jack at a position indicated as “L.TMP” in the figure, and has a plug 19 inserted therein.

A search rod 24 is connected to the plug 16 via an acupoint search code 20. Plug 17
A grip bar 25 is connected via a key point searching code 21. A pair of skin contacts 26 are connected to the plug 18 via a cord 22 for electrical treatment. A pair of skin contacts 27, 27 are connected to the plug 19 via an electric treatment cord 23.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a treatment device processing circuit mounted on a circuit board of the treatment device. In FIG. 2, the treatment device processing circuit 31 includes a waveform generator 32, amplification circuits 33 and 34, a low-pass filter 35, transformers 36 and 37, a voltage-current conversion circuit 38, and a voltage-frequency conversion circuit 39. , A power transformer 40, a power regulator 41, an ammeter 5, switches 6a, 6b, 6c of a function switch 6, a volume 7a of a power on / off switch 7 with a volume, and a switch 7b of a power on / off switch 7 with a volume. And the volume knobs 8 and 9 of the volume knobs 8 and 9 and the jacks 10 and
11, 12, 13, a speaker 14, and a volume 15 a of a volume knob 15.

The waveform generator 32 and the amplifier 3
4, a low-pass filter 35, transformers 36 and 37, and volumes 8a and 9a constitute a treatment signal generation circuit.

The volume 15 of the volume knob 15
a, the waveform generator 32, the amplifier 33, the voltage-current converter 38, and the switch 6a of the function switch 6,
6c forms a current supply circuit.

Further, a volume 7a of the power supply on / off switch 7 with a volume, a voltage-frequency conversion circuit 39,
The resistor 42 and the speaker 14 constitute an acoustic processing circuit.

The waveform generator 32 is provided with an arithmetic processing unit (CP
U) 321, a read-only memory (ROM) 322 storing a program for operating the same, a work memory (RAM) 323 for work, and an input / output (I / O) port 3
24 and a digital-analog (DA) converter 325. The CPU 321 includes a ROM 322, a RAM 32
3 and the I / O port 324 are connected. The digital output unit of the I / O port 324 has a DA converter 325,
A fixed terminal of the third switch 6c of the function switch 6 is connected to a digital input section of the I / O port 324. The CPU 321 operates according to the program stored in the ROM 322 and at a predetermined conversion speed.
4 is turned on / off to operate the DA converter 325. CP
U321 is connected to the DA converter 32 via the I / O port 324.
5 is repeatedly turned on or off by increasing the voltage from zero [V] with the passage of time and returning to zero [V] when a predetermined time has elapsed. Thereby, from the output terminal of the DA converter 325,
A sawtooth wave converted at a predetermined conversion speed is output. The setting position information of the function switch 6 is input to the CPU 321 via the I / O port 324. Note that the DA converter 325 is formed of a ladder network combining a resistor R and a resistor 2R.

The sawtooth signal output from the waveform generator 32 is connected to the amplifier circuit 33, the low-pass filter 35, and the S terminal of the first switch 6a of the function switch 6, respectively.

The output terminal of the amplifier circuit 33 is connected to the input terminal of the voltage-current conversion circuit 38. The voltage-current conversion circuit 38 can output a current value according to the input voltage. The voltage-current conversion circuit 38 is connected to the volume 15a of the volume knob 15, so that the output current value of the voltage-current conversion circuit 38 can be adjusted. The output terminal of the voltage-current conversion circuit 38 is connected to the T of the first switch 6a of the function switch 6.
Connected to terminal. The movable electrode portion of the first switch 6a of the function switch 6 is a (COM) jack 11
It is connected to the.

The output terminal of the low-pass filter 35 is connected to the input terminal of the amplifier circuit 34. The amplifying circuit 34 can amplify the saw-tooth wave signal from which unnecessary components have been removed by the low-pass filter 35 and supply it to the primary windings of the transformers 36 and 37. The secondary winding of the transformer 36 is connected to the jack 12 via the volume 8a of the volume knob 8.
It is connected to the. The secondary winding of the transformer 37 is connected to the jack 13 via the volume 9a of the volume knob 9.

The output terminal of the amplifier circuit 34 is connected to the T terminal of the second switch 6b of the function switch 6. S of the second switch 6b of the function switch 6
The negative terminal of the ammeter 5 is connected to the terminal. The movable electrode terminal of the second switch 6 b of the function switch 6 is grounded via the resistor 42 and connected to the input terminal of the voltage-frequency conversion circuit 39. The output terminal of the voltage-frequency conversion circuit 39 is connected to the power on / off switch 7.
Is connected to the speaker 14 via the volume 7a. The positive terminal of the ammeter 5 is connected to the jack 10.

The primary winding of the power transformer 40 is connected to a commercial power supply (AC 100 [V]) via a switch 7b of a power supply on / off switch 7 with a volume and a power cord. The secondary winding of the power transformer 40 is connected to the power regulator 41. The power regulator 41
The AC from the secondary winding is converted to DC and stabilized, so that DC can be supplied to each circuit.

A method for using such a treatment device 1 will be described. Here, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a program processed by the CPU 321 of the waveform generator 32 of the treatment device processing circuit 31 and stored in the ROM 322. FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing a sawtooth signal of each part of the treatment device processing circuit 31.

Before use, first connect the ground, confirm that the power on / off switch 7 is off, and then plug the power cord into the outlet. Further, the volume knobs 8, 9 and 15 are turned all the way to the left to minimize them, and the power on / off switch 7 is turned on. Power on can be confirmed by a power on / off lamp (not shown) or the like.

[Acupoint Search] A search for acupoints around the eyeball is performed as follows. The search for acupoints is performed by measuring skin resistance. First, the function switch 6 is set to the S side. Then, the plug 17 of the search code 21 to which the grip bar 25 is connected is inserted into the jack 11. Similarly, the plug 16 of the search cord 20 to which the search rod 24 is connected is inserted into the jack 10. Search stick 2
The adjustment is made by bringing the knob 4 into contact with the grip bar 25 and turning the volume knob 15 so as to vary the value of the volume 15a so that the deflection of the ammeter 5 becomes a predetermined value.

Then, while grasping the grip bar 25 with one hand and tracing the skin around the eyeball with the search bar 24, the change in the swing of the ammeter 5 is observed. Points where the current value of the ammeter 5 fluctuates greatly are acupoints.

At this time, in the treatment device processing circuit 31, the CPU 321 receives information from the I / O port 324 that the function switch 6 is connected to the T terminal side.
Detects. Then, the CPU 321 operates the DA converter 325 via the I / O port 324 such that a predetermined voltage value is generated. As a result, a predetermined DC voltage is output from DA converter 325. This voltage is supplied to the voltage-current conversion circuit 38 after being amplified by the amplification circuit 33. The voltage-current conversion circuit 38 outputs a current value according to the voltage value. Here, the search bar 24 and the grip bar 25 are brought into contact, and the volume knob 15 is turned to turn the volume 15a.
Is adjusted so that the deflection of the ammeter 5 becomes a predetermined value.

When the grip bar 25 is gripped by one hand and the skin around the eyeball is traced by the search bar 24, the jack 11, the plug 17, the search code 21, the search bar 21 are output from the output terminal of the voltage-current conversion circuit 38. 25, a human body, a search rod 24, a search code 20, a plug 16, a jack 10, an ammeter 5, a resistor 42, and a grounded line of a voltage-current conversion circuit 38 via a grounded line. Can be measured.

The voltage generated at both ends of the resistor 42 is input to the input terminal of the voltage-frequency conversion circuit 39. The voltage-frequency conversion circuit 39 forms a frequency signal according to the voltage across the resistor 42 and supplies the frequency signal to the speaker 14. Therefore, a change in skin resistance can be known by sound.

[Treatment] At the time of power-off, the plug 18 of the cord 22 to which the pair of skin contacts 26, 26 are connected is inserted into the jack 12, and the pair of skin contacts 27, 27 are connected. The plug 19 of the cord 23 is inserted into the jack 13.

Next, the function switch 6 is set to the T side. In addition, each of the skin contacts 26, 26, 27, 2 is placed on the skin where the acupoint detected by the method described above exists.
7 is attached. Then, the volume knobs 8 and 9 are adjusted to adjust the supplied current to a desired degree of stimulation.

At this time, the treatment device processing circuit 31 operates as follows. The CPU 321 of the waveform generating unit 32 outputs information indicating that the function switch 6 is on the T side to the I / O.
The data is fetched through the O port 324, and the CPU 321 determines that the current is flowing. Then, the operation of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is started.

First, the CPU 321 sets a register J (not shown) to zero (step 101). Next, C
The PU 321 determines whether the value of the register J has reached the maximum value Vmax (Step 102). The CPU 321
It is determined that the value of the register J has not reached the maximum value Vmax (step 102; NO), and the predetermined value α is stored in the register J.
Is added (step 103). And the CPU 321
Changes the state of the I / O port 324 to a state according to the value of the register J.
Is operated (step 104). As a result, a voltage corresponding to the value of the register J is output from the DA converter 325.

Next, the CPU 321 determines whether an on-time (Ton) has elapsed by an internal timer (not shown) (step 105). When the internal timer determines that the on-time (Ton) has not elapsed (step 105; NO), the CPU 321 keeps the operation of the I / O port 324 (step 104, step 10).
5; NO). When the internal timer determines that the on-time (Ton) has elapsed (step 105; YES), the CPU 321 turns off all the digital outputs of the I / O port 324 (step 106).

The CPU 321 determines whether or not the off time (Toff) has elapsed using an internal timer (step 10).
7). When the internal timer determines that the off time (Toff) has not elapsed (step 107; NO), the CPU 321 repeats the state of turning off all the I / O ports 324 (steps 106 and 107; N).
O). When the internal timer determines that the off time (Toff) has elapsed (step 107; YES), the CPU 321 returns to step 102 again.

By repeating steps 101 to 107 described above, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the voltage increases with time and returns to zero when a predetermined time is reached. Wave signal is DA converter 32
From 5

The sawtooth signal generated in this manner is filtered by a low-pass filter 35 to remove unnecessary components, amplified by an amplifier circuit 34, and then supplied to primary windings of transformers 36 and 37. The bipolar sawtooth wave signals generated in the secondary windings of the transformers 36 and 37 are output to the jacks 12 and 13 via the volumes 8a and 9a. The jacks 12, 13 are supplied to skin contacts 30, 32.

The sawtooth signal output from the DA converter 325 is unipolar as shown in FIG. 4A. However, the signal is generated by the operation of the low-pass filter 35 and the transformers 36 and 37. 4 (b).

Since the sawtooth signal is input to the input terminal of the voltage-frequency conversion circuit 39, a frequency signal corresponding to the voltage value of the sawtooth signal is output from the voltage-frequency conversion circuit 39. Originating from the edge, this is the volume 7a
Through the speaker 14. Therefore,
The sound of the frequency signal corresponding to the voltage value of the sawtooth wave signal is output from the speaker 14.

When the treatment was conducted with the treatment device 1 described above, the reduced visual acuity due to myopia, hyperopia and the like was recovered. In addition, a remarkably good recovery effect was obtained by a saw-tooth wave signal (see FIG. 4B) energizing the acupoints around the eyeball.

In practice, when the saw-tooth wave signal shown in FIG. 4B is applied to the acupoint, it cannot be confirmed from the surroundings, but the energized person repeats in synchronization with the saw-tooth wave signal. You will see a flash of light.

Further, as described above, the treatment device processing circuit 31
Are CPU 321, ROM 322, RAM 323, I /
Since the treatment device 1 according to the present invention includes the O port 324 and the D / A converter 325, the treatment device 1 according to the present invention is configured to cause the CPU of a personal computer, a game machine, a mobile phone, or the like to perform the above-described operation. The above treatment can be received when these are used or not used, and the circuit and the like can be shared, so that the therapeutic device 1 can be provided at low cost.

[Embodiment] In the treatment device processing circuit 31 shown in FIG. 2, the maximum current flowing through the jacks 10 and 11 is 200 μA ± 5% when the load is short-circuited. Also,
The maximum voltage output from the jack 12 or the jack 13 is 70 [V] ± 20 [%] at the peak to peak. Furthermore, the power supply voltage uses a commercial power supply, and AC1
00 [V] ± 10 [%]. Furthermore, the power consumption is 5
[W], and the fuse rating is 0.5 [A].

The conversion speed at which the CPU 321 operates the DA converter 325 is 20 [Hz], and the cycle is 1/20.
[Second], and 1/20 [second] = Ton + Toff.
Further, the frequency of the sawtooth signal generated by the operation of the DA converter 325 by the CPU 321 is 1/5 [Hz], and the period Tk thereof is 5 [seconds]. By passing the sawtooth signal through the low-pass filter 35 and the transformers 36 and 37, an alternating current in which the sine wave signal is equivalently modulated by the sawtooth signal is obtained.

[0048]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a saw-tooth wave signal is applied through at least a pair of electrodes attached to the skin around the eyeball.
By activating the ciliary muscle by electrical stimulation,
For example, there is an effect of efficiently and surely recovering a reduced visual acuity due to myopia or hyperopia.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since a sound corresponding to the sawtooth wave signal is generated during the treatment, the state of the treatment can be confirmed by the sound.

According to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to having the same effects as the first aspect of the invention, by measuring the skin resistance with an ammeter, anyone can easily remove the acupoint. Since there is an effect of being able to be discovered, and since a circuit for searching and a circuit for treating are integrated, it is possible to easily perform the searching and treating of acupoints, and it is convenient to use.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a sound corresponding to the current value for acupoint search is generated at the time of acupoint search, and a sound corresponding to the sawtooth wave signal is generated at the time of treatment. Also, the effect of the treatment can be confirmed through sound.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a treatment device processing circuit of the treatment device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the CPU of the treatment device processing circuit of the treatment device.

4A and 4B are waveform diagrams showing sawtooth wave signals generated in a treatment device processing circuit of the treatment device, wherein FIG. 4A shows a sawtooth signal output from a DA converter 325, and FIG. It shows a sawtooth signal that energizes surrounding points.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 treatment unit 2 housing 3 circuit board 4 front operation panel 5 ammeter 6 function switch 7 power on / off switch with volume 8, 9 volume knob 10, 11, 12, 13 jack 14 speaker 15 volume knob 16, 17, 18, 19 Plug 20, 21 Acupoint search code 22, 23 Power supply code 24 Search bar 25 Grip bar 26, 27 Skin contact 31 Therapeutic device processing circuit 32 Waveform generator 34 Amplification circuit 35 Low-pass filter 36, 37 Transformer 39 Voltage-frequency conversion circuit

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] September 25, 1997

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Figure 3

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 3 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ───

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] September 26, 1997

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Figure 3

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 3

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] November 14, 1997

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All figures

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG.

FIG. 2

FIG. 3

FIG. 4

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A therapeutic device for electrically stimulating ciliary muscles for restoring reduced visual acuity, wherein a voltage value increases from zero with time to stimulate the ciliary muscles. A treatment signal generating circuit for generating a saw-tooth wave signal that repeats to become zero again when reaching a predetermined maximum value, and a saw-tooth wave signal attached to the skin around the eyeball and output from the treatment signal generation circuit to the eyeball. A treatment device, comprising: at least a pair of electrodes for energizing surrounding acupoints. 2. The treatment device according to claim 1, further comprising an acoustic processing circuit for generating a sound according to the sawtooth wave signal during treatment. 3. A therapeutic device for electrically stimulating ciliary muscles for restoring reduced visual acuity, wherein a voltage value increases from zero with time to stimulate ciliary muscles. A treatment signal generating means for generating a saw-tooth wave signal which repeats to be zero again when the predetermined maximum value is reached, and a saw-tooth wave signal attached to the skin around the eyeball and from the treatment signal generation circuit to the eyeball. At least a pair of electrodes for energizing surrounding acupoints, a grip bar and a search bar for searching for acupoints, a current supply circuit capable of supplying a predetermined current value to the grip bar and the search bar, and a current flowing through the search bar A therapeutic device comprising an ammeter for displaying a value. 4. The sound processing circuit according to claim 3, further comprising a sound processing circuit for generating a sound corresponding to the current value for the acupoint search at the time of the acupoint search, and generating a sound corresponding to the sawtooth wave signal at the time of the treatment. Treatment device.