JPS61193660A - Electric stimulation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] This invention is a method of applying electrical stimulation directly to paralyzed muscles to contract and move the paralyzed muscles in the training process of paralysis waves such as hemiplegia due to stroke in the field of rehabilitation. This invention relates to an electrical stimulation device.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional electrical stimulation device for the lower limbs that has been commonly used in the past. A control signal generation circuit sends a control signal according to the output of the detection section 1, 3 is an electrical stimulation generation circuit, and 4 is an output section.

In addition to the above-mentioned ground contact timing, the input signals of the detection unit 1 include muscle electromyography, head displacement angle,
It is used as an input signal such as voice.

Next, the operation will be explained. The sole contact timing detected by the detection unit II/c is a swing phase (when the sole is not in contact with the ground) & C-off signal, or a signal during the stance phase (when the sole is in contact with the ground). is sent to the control signal generation circuit 2, and according to this signal, the control signal generation circuit 2 sends a control signal for generating or stopping electric stimulation to the electric stimulation generation circuit 3.
Send to.

By this transmission, the electrical stimulation generating circuit 3 generates or stops electrical stimulation directly or transcutaneously to the muscle via the output section 4.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

As mentioned above, conventional functional electrical stimulation devices are configured only for external control of the muscles of patients with fixed symptoms, and when considering training purposes, there is no device that provides the necessary sensory feedback to the patient. Therefore, functional electrical stimulation can be used as a training tool for patients who are recovering from stroke, such as hemiplegia.
It cannot be applied to biofeedback training, such as promoting recovery while sensing the sensation of muscle contraction, and furthermore, there are problems such as the electrical stimulation intensity cannot be changed to contraction etc. once it is set.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems.On the one hand, it stimulates the contraction of paralyzed muscles through functional electrical stimulation, and also receives afferent input from the outside, which is a sense of the degree of contraction. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an electrical stimulation device that can enhance sensing ability, perform biofeedback training, and adjust electrical stimulation intensity.

[Means for solving problems]

The electrical stimulation device according to the present invention detects the degree of contraction when the muscle contracts by applying electrical stimulation to the muscle, and displays the ever-changing process to the patient via the display section from the conversion section. Useful feedback information to supplement the input can be given to the patient, and furthermore, this information is fed back to the electrical stimulation generating circuit to transform and give the electrical stimulation to the patient via the output section. be.

[Effect]

In this invention, a converting unit converts the joint vocalization detected by the angle sensor into voltage as information on the degree of muscle contraction, and converts it into auditory information and presents it to the patient, and the information on the degree of muscle contraction is , myoelectricity is preferable as a more direct indicator, but when applying transcutaneous electrical stimulation, it is predicted that a large amount of noise will be generated at that moment, so angle is used, and furthermore, this contraction information is used. Since electrical stimulation is controlled and fed back to the 5 control signal generation circuit, reliable biofeedback training can be performed.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a detection unit that is attached to the sole of a shoe, etc., and detects the standing or swinging state of the leg, and 2 indicates a control signal for controlling the generation of electrical stimulation based on an input signal obtained from the detection unit 1. 3 is an electrical stimulation generation circuit that generates or stops electrical stimulation according to the control signal of the control signal generation circuit 2; 4 is an output section such as a surface electrode or needle electrode, from which electricity is applied to the muscle. Stimulation is provided. 5 is an angle sensor (sensor), 6 is a converter that converts the angle detected by the angle sensor 5 into an auditory signal, and 7 is a display that displays the sound converted by the converter 6. Note that 8 is a path from the control signal generation circuit 2 to the conversion section 6, and 9 is a path for feeding back muscle contraction information from the conversion section 60 to the control signal generation circuit 2.

FIG. 2 is a time chart showing signal processing waveforms such as output signals and detection signals of each section in FIG. 1.

Next, the operation will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. First, in FIG. 1, the detection unit 1 sends a signal to the control signal generating circuit 2, depending on the state of the sole of the foot in contact with the ground during walking, such that it is on during the stance phase and on during the swing phase. This signal causes the control signal generation circuit 2 to send the electrical stimulation generation circuit 3 to the electrical stimulation generation circuit 3 after a certain period of time (T1゜, the second half of the stance phase of each person's gait cycle) after the start of the ON signal, as shown in Fig. 2. Send control signals.

In response to this control signal, the electrical stimulation generating circuit 3 outputs an electrical stimulation pulse, which is applied to a predetermined muscle at the output section 4 via a surface electrode such as two copper plate electrodes or an embedded electrode such as a wire. At this time, when contraction occurs in the muscle, the angle sensor 5 detects the angle change due to the contraction, and the converter 6 converts the voltage into sound information with a height proportional to the voltage, and the It is displayed from the busy display section 7. on the other hand,
The electrical stimulation generating circuit 3 stops the electrical stimulation pulse after a certain period of time (T20, for example, the average swing phase time during the walking cycle of the person) has elapsed. After that, the muscles stop contracting, the sole of the foot touches the ground again, and the stance phase begins. The above operations are repeated during the walking cycle.

During this time, the path 8 sends information from the control signal generation circuit 2 to the conversion section 6 as to whether the control signal is on or off.

Further, the path 9 sends muscle contraction information (voltage information before being converted to sound) from the converter 6 to the control signal generating circuit 2. This path 9
An example of how this can be used is when the electrical stimulation intensity is too strong for the patient under certain conditions (for example, the electrode is dry and the contact resistance with the skin is high, etc.) to prevent too large a contraction. shows. In this case, the control signal circuit 2 determines the magnitude of the signal from the path 9 (in this case, the angle) and sets a preset threshold value (for example, the angle at the time of swing is 4).
If the voltage exceeds 5° or more), the generation of electrical stimulation is stopped or the electrical stimulation intensity is changed (by setting the voltage to 901 or lowering the frequency, etc.).

In addition, in the case of walking, since the timing differs for each person, the control signal generation circuit 2 and the electrical stimulation generation circuit 302 time (T1
．． T2) Settings need to be variable.

Furthermore, the electrical stimulation generation circuit 3 also makes the stimulation frequency (pulse frequency), pulse width, pulse intensity, rise time T to the set intensity, and fall time T variable. Also, in Figure 2, the second electrical stimulation exceeded the angle threshold, so
An example is shown in which the control signal generation circuit 2 generates an electrical stimulation interruption pulse (off) from the moment the threshold is exceeded, and stops the electrical stimulation after a fall time T, 4.

In the above embodiment, the signal from the detection unit 1 is output as an ON signal during the stance phase and an OFF signal during the swing phase, but instead of this OFF signal, a signal with a magnitude proportional to the ground contact pressure of the sole of the foot is output. A signal may also be output.

Here, in the above embodiment, the plantar pressure was used as the input signal, but
The patient's other remaining functions (myoelectricity in other parts of the body, voice, eye movements, mechanical displacements and rotations of the shoulders, fists, and neck, and jaw movements, hand movements, etc.) of the patient may also be used. In this case, a conversion processing section (for example, a myoelectric sensor, an amplifier, and an integrator in the case of myoelectric signals) corresponding to each signal may be provided. Furthermore, if the upper or lower limbs are used for muscle strength training other than walking, the doctor or patient themselves may turn on or off the timing of electrical stimulation; in this case, the input signal detection section 1 may be a simple switch. Furthermore, even when the detection unit 1 is used, the time settings for the control signal generation circuit 2 and the electrical stimulation generation circuit 30 may not be necessary for purposes other than walking. In addition, the angle sensor 5 for sensory feedback may be a myoelectric sensor when electrical stimulation is applied transcutaneously and a set of insulated wire implanted electrodes or the like is used for detection, or a more direct sensor. It becomes possible to feed back muscle contraction information. In addition, the converter 6
used sound taking movement (walking into fF) into consideration, but in addition to converting this sound into pitch, it also set a threshold to turn on the sound,
In this case, the melody can be created in advance with a synthesizer, etc., and the timing can be converted into information such as on/off. , the display section 7 may be a speaker, but earphones are more desirable. Further, the display unit 7 may be a visual display for static training, or may be realized by displaying blinking LEDs or various graphics on a CRT.

The electrical stimulation generation information from the path 8 may be monitored by a KLED or the like for the patient as well as the doctor. Furthermore, if the patient's symptoms have not stabilized and some voluntary contractions have appeared as the patient recovers, electrical stimulation may be stopped or the intensity reduced (for example, if it occurs randomly or manually by an operator such as a doctor). The information regarding the electrical stimulation and the contraction information at the time of operation) may be visually displayed on the display section 7 at the same time.

Path 9 may be information obtained by detecting myoelectricity of the target muscle, rather than information about actual contraction. In this case, if even a slight voluntary contraction occurs, the control signal generation circuit will reduce the intensity of the next electrical stimulation. 2 or direct path 9
may act directly on the electrical stimulation generating circuit 3 to modulate the electrical stimulation one by one in real time into AM modulation that is inversely proportional to the myoelectric information.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention is configured to capture muscle contraction information when functional electrical stimulation is generated and present that contraction information to the patient as sensory feedback. It can also be used for biofeedback training, including the promotion of sensing the degree of muscle contraction.
An excellent effect is that the electrical stimulation can be changed when a voluntary contraction occurs.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a functional electrical stimulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a time chart for the signal processing of the main parts of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electrical stimulation device. In the figure, 1 is a detection section, 2 is a control signal generation circuit, 3 is an electrical stimulation generation circuit, 4 is an output section, 5 is an angle sensor (sensor), 6 is a conversion section, and 7 is a display section. In each figure, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. WJlrMA (jl hinoki signal procedure amendment (voluntary)

Claims (1)

[Claims] A detection unit that detects movement and static caused by electrical stimulation of the muscles of a patient undergoing rehabilitation training; a control signal generation circuit that controls the generation of the electrical stimulation based on an input signal obtained from the detection unit; an electrical stimulation generation circuit that generates or stops the electrical stimulation to the muscle according to the output of the signal generation circuit via an output unit; and a sensor that detects the degree of contraction of the muscle caused by the electrical stimulation; An electrical stimulation device comprising: a conversion unit that feeds back the result to the control signal generation circuit and displays the degree of contraction on a display unit so as to inform the patient of the degree of contraction.