KR100734901B1 - Medical apparatus capable of thermal stimulation using thermoelectric module - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric and thermal stimulating apparatus for a medical service using a thermoelectric module is provided to promote precise temperature control and efficient cure by respectively providing functions as a cool stimulator, a thermal stimulator, and an electric stimulator, or simultaneously providing the functions. The apparatus includes: a medical electrode(130) for generating an electrode by receiving an electricity; a thermoelectric module(110) coming in contact with the rear side of the medical electrode, and supplying cool or thermal air to the medical electrode; a heat exchange block(120) coming in contact with the opposite side of a contact side of the medical electrode, and performing a heat exchange using a heat exchange liquid; a piping and pumping unit(150,140) for circulating the heat exchange liquid by being connected to the heat exchange block; a temperature detecting unit(160) for detecting the temperature of the medical electrode and generating an electric signal corresponding to the temperature; and a control part(100) for controlling powers supplied to the medical electrode and the thermoelectric module.

Description

MEDICAL APPARATUS CAPABLE OF THERMAL STIMULATION USING THERMOELECTRIC MODULE}

1 is a block diagram showing a medical electrical and cold stimulation device using a thermoelectric element according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the medical electrical and cold stimulation device using a thermoelectric element according to the present invention.

The present invention relates to a medical electrical and cold stimulation apparatus using a thermoelectric element, and more particularly to a medical electrical and cold stimulation apparatus that can provide or simultaneously provide a medical cold stimulator, a thermal stimulator and an electrical stimulation using a thermoelectric element. .

As medical equipment, there is a medical electrical stimulation treatment device that applies electrical stimulation to the human body. The medical electrical stimulation therapy device uses electrical electrodes (also referred to as ceramics) to apply electrical electricity to the tissue to stimulate the body. Medical electrodes stimulate the muscles and nerves using medical currents to physically exercise the muscles and nerves to gently release the muscles, thereby relieving pain and applying high-frequency currents to biological tissues to generate joule heat in the tissues, thereby producing microvascular vessels. There is a high frequency deep diathermy (high frequency stimulator) that relieves pain through dilation and tissue activation.

Among medical equipment are cold or hot stimulators. In general, the heat and inflammation of the lesion (treatment site) destroys the cells and delays the treatment process. The cold stimulator treats the lesion by applying cold stimulation.

Cold stimulation constricts blood vessels in limited areas, causing blood cells to temporarily decrease in size, which reduces the amount of blood flowing to the wound. This action temporarily suppresses neurotransmission, relieves pain, and minimizes cell destruction at the wound site, thereby reducing edema and inflammation. The fact that cold stimulation is more effective than electrical stimulation to facilitate the absorption of drugs is described in the 2002 paper "FARMACOTERAPIA A LOCALIZZAZIONE MIRATA MEDIANTE" CRIOELETTROFORESI "NELLE PATOLOGIE ARTICOLARI E MUSCOLARI by A. Aloisi, M. Matera, R. Potenza. It is. According to the above paper, it can be seen that the absorption of the drug is most smooth when the temperature is maintained at -5 ° C to 0 ° C using ice or the like.

The thermal stimulation treatment device is a device for treating by applying a thermal stimulus to an abnormal site.

An iontophoretic device is an device that effectively infiltrates drugs such as vitamins useful for living tissues into skin or living tissues using electro-ionophoresis.

As an element used in a cold / hot stimulation treatment device, there is a thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric device includes a thermistor, which is a device using a temperature change of electrical resistance, a device using the Seebeck effect, a phenomenon in which electromotive force is generated by a temperature difference, and a device using a Peltier effect, a phenomenon in which heat is absorbed (or generated) by current. Phosphor Peltier element and the like. Thermistors are a kind of semiconductor device whose electrical resistance changes greatly with temperature.Thermal temperature coefficient thermistor whose electrical resistance decreases with the increase of temperature, and the positive temperature coefficient thermistor (PTC) whose resistance increases with temperature rise positive temperature coefficient thermistor). Thermistors are made by sintering oxides such as molybdenum, nickel, cobalt, and iron in plural components and used for stabilizing circuits and detecting heat, power, and light.

The Seebeck effect is a phenomenon in which electromotive force is generated when two ends of two kinds of metals are connected and the temperature of both ends is different, and it is applied to temperature measurement using a thermoelectric pair.

The Peltier effect is a phenomenon in which two types of metal ends are connected and a current flows therethrough, whereby one terminal absorbs heat and the other terminal generates heat according to the current direction. By using semiconductors such as bismuth (Bi) and tellurium (Te), which have different electric conduction methods, instead of the two kinds of metals, a Peltier element having an efficient endothermic and heat generating action can be obtained. It is possible to switch the endotherm and the heat generation in accordance with the current direction, and the endotherm and the heat generation amount are adjusted in accordance with the amount of current, and thus it is applied to the manufacture of a refrigerator having a small capacity or a precise thermostatic chamber near room temperature.

According to the prior art, most electrical stimulation treatments involve heat and pain on the surface of the skin to be in contact, and electrical cramps may occur. In addition, burns can be caused by the level of energy used. This heat and pain reduces the therapeutic effect and causes side effects such as burns and skin damage. Especially in the case of deep diathermy, high-frequency current flows to the skin surface and not to the deep lesion of the human body.

In addition, the electrical stimulation therapy device, the cooling therapy device, and the thermal therapy device are not only separate equipments, but even if the hospital is equipped with the electrical stimulation therapy device, the cooling therapy device, and the thermal therapy device, the use of the electrical stimulation therapy device, the cooling therapy device, and the thermal therapy device at the same time is performed on the patient. Almost impossible. Therefore, there is a problem that the patient receiving treatment is difficult to receive efficient treatment.

In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a medical electrical and cold stimulation apparatus that can provide or simultaneously provide a medical cold stimulator, a thermal stimulator and an electrical stimulation using a thermoelectric element.

Medical electrical and cold stimulation apparatus according to the present invention is a medical electrode for generating stimulation by receiving electricity; A thermoelectric element contacting a rear surface of the medical electrode and supplying cold air or heat to the medical electrode; A heat exchange block in contact with a surface opposite to a surface in contact with the medical electrode and performing heat exchange using a heat exchange liquid; Piping and pumping means connected to the heat exchange block to circulate the heat exchange liquid; Temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of the medical electrode to generate an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature; And a controller for controlling the power supplied to the medical electrode, the pumping means, and the power supplied to the thermoelectric element according to the temperature.

Here, the heat exchange block is in contact with the thermoelectric element, the lower block having a flow path through which the heat exchange liquid flows; An upper cover fastened to the lower block to seal the heat exchange block; And an outlet port and an inlet port connected to the pipe to which the heat exchange liquid enters and exits, and the heat exchange liquid is preferably an antifreeze solution.

In addition, the controller may change the heat absorbing surface and the heat generating surface of the thermoelectric element by switching the polarity of the power supplied to the thermoelectric element.

The thermoelectric element is preferably a Peltier element, preferably the pumping means circulation pump.

Medical electrical and cold stimulation apparatus according to the present invention is a medical electrode for generating stimulation by receiving electricity; A thermoelectric element contacting a rear surface of the medical electrode and supplying cold air or heat to the medical electrode; A heat exchange block in contact with a surface opposite to a surface in contact with the medical electrode and performing heat exchange using a flow of air; Ventilation means for supplying air to the heat exchange block; Temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of the medical electrode to generate an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature; And a controller for controlling the power supplied to the thermoelectric element according to the power supplied to the medical electrode, the ventilation means, and the temperature.

Here, the heat exchange block may be provided with a plurality of cooling fins, the ventilating means may comprise a fan.

The controller may change the heat absorbing surface and the heat generating surface of the thermoelectric element by switching the polarity of the power supplied to the thermoelectric element, and the thermoelectric element is preferably a Peltier element.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

1 is a block diagram showing a medical electrical and cold stimulation device using a thermoelectric device according to the present invention.

1, the medical electrical and cold stimulation apparatus according to the present invention includes a control unit 100, a thermoelectric element 110, a heat exchange block 120, a medical electrode 130, a pipe 150, and a pumping means 140. And temperature sensing means 160.

Hereinafter, each component of the medical electrical and cold stimulation apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail.

The control unit 100 controls each component and the overall system of the medical electrical and cold stimulation apparatus according to the present invention. Specifically, the control unit 100 controls the power supplied to the thermoelectric element 110 according to the power supplied to the medical electrode 130, the ON / OFF and the temperature of the pumping means 140.

The thermoelectric element 110 contacts the rear surface of the medical electrode 130 and supplies cold air or heat to the medical electrode 130. In the medical electrical and cold stimulation apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit 100 switches the polarity of the power supplied to the thermoelectric element 110 so that the thermoelectric element 110 supplies the cold stimulus and the warm stimulus, that is, (+ ) The heat absorbing surface and the heat generating surface of the thermoelectric element 110 may be changed by changing the positive electrode and the negative electrode. Therefore, the thermoelectric element 110 may alternately provide a cold stimulus and a warm stimulus under the control of the user. In addition, the thermoelectric element 110 is preferably a Peltier element.

The heat exchange block 120 is in contact with the opposite side of the surface in contact with the medical electrode 130, and performs the heat exchange using the heat exchange liquid. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the heat exchange block 120 is in contact with the thermoelectric element 110 and fastened to the lower block 123 having the flow path through which the heat exchange liquid flows, and to the lower block 123. It is composed of an outlet and an inlet 129 which is connected to the upper cover 126 and the pipe 150 which performs the sealing of the heat exchange block 120 and the heat exchange liquid enters and exits. Heat exchange liquid is introduced to the inlet side and the introduced liquid passes through the heat exchange block 120 along the flow path and then flows out through the outlet. Heat exchange may occur while the heat exchange liquid flows along the flow path, thereby controlling the temperature of the thermoelectric element 110. Here, it is preferable that the heat exchange liquid contains an antifreeze liquid having a very low freezing point.

The medical electrode 130 receives electricity to generate a stimulus and delivers a cold or warm stimulus generated in the thermoelectric element 110 to the patient.

Pumping means 140 for circulating the heat exchange liquid is connected to the outlet and the inlet of the heat exchange block 120 via the pipe 150. Here, the pumping means 140 is preferably a circulation pump for circulating the heat exchange liquid.

The temperature sensing unit 160 senses the temperature of the medical electrode 130 to generate an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature and transmits it to the control unit 100. The control unit 100 receives the control of the current supplied to the thermoelectric element 110 according to the temperature of the medical electrode 130, or by controlling the pumping means 140 to adjust the temperature.

Although not shown, as another embodiment according to the present invention, instead of the heat exchange block 120, the pipe 150, and the pumping means 140, a heat exchange block and a ventilation means using a flow of air may be used. Another embodiment according to the present invention is the same as the above-described embodiment according to the present invention except for the heat exchange block 120, the pipe 150 and the pumping means 140, detailed description of the same parts will be omitted.

First, the heat exchange block 120 according to another embodiment of the present invention is in contact with the opposite side of the surface in contact with the medical electrode 130, and performs heat exchange using the flow of air. For efficient heat exchange, the heat exchange block 120 may include a plurality of cooling fins made of metal.

The ventilation means supplies air of a predetermined temperature to the heat exchange block 120.

When air is supplied to the heat exchange block 120 by ventilating means, heat exchange occurs and the heat exchange block 120 may be maintained at a constant temperature by the heat exchange. Here, the ventilating means is preferably a fan.

The control unit appropriately controls the power supplied to the thermoelectric element 110 according to the ventilation means and the temperature according to the temperature value provided by the temperature sensing means.

Medical electrical and cold stimulation apparatus according to the present invention by providing a cold / hot stimulation and electrical stimulation using a thermoelectric element, or at the same time, it is possible to precise temperature control and efficient treatment for the patient, It aims to reduce the possibility of pain and burns, to enable efficient treatment for patients, and to increase the efficiency of deep diathermy by eliminating hot burning sensation on the surface of the living body generated during deep diathermy using high frequency electrical stimulation. The advantage is that the cost can be dramatically reduced.

In particular, by applying electric stimulation treatment and cold stimulation at the same time, it is possible to reduce the possibility of pain and burn by suppressing the electricity irritated by the electricity generated during the treatment and the heat of the skin surface. By removing the hot burning sensation on the surface of the living body through cold stimulation and increasing the impedance of the skin surface, the high frequency current is induced to penetrate deep deep lesions of low impedance skin tissue, thereby lowering the energy level.

In addition, in the treatment of electro-ionophoresis, by using cold stimulation together, the amount of the drug penetrated and the depth of penetration can be increased to increase the therapeutic effect.

Claims (11)

A medical electrode configured to generate electricity by receiving electricity; A thermoelectric element contacting a rear surface of the medical electrode and supplying cold air or heat to the medical electrode; A heat exchange block in contact with a surface opposite to a surface in contact with the medical electrode and performing heat exchange using a heat exchange liquid; Piping and pumping means connected to the heat exchange block to circulate the heat exchange liquid; Temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of the medical electrode to generate an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature; And And a control unit for controlling the power supplied to the medical electrode, the pumping means and the power supplied to the thermoelectric element according to the temperature. The method of claim 1, The heat exchange block A lower block in contact with the thermoelectric element and having a flow path through which the heat exchange liquid flows; An upper cover fastened to the lower block to seal the heat exchange block; And Medical electrical and cold stimulation device characterized in that it comprises an outlet and inlet for the heat exchange liquid is connected to the pipe inlet and out. The method of claim 1, The electrical and cold stimulation device for medical use, characterized in that the heat exchange liquid comprises an antifreeze. The method of claim 1, The control unit is a medical electrical and cold stimulation device, characterized in that for changing the heat absorbing surface and the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric element by switching the polarity of the power supplied to the thermoelectric element. The method of claim 1, The thermoelectric device is a medical electrical and cold stimulation device, characterized in that the Peltier device. The method of claim 1, And said pumping means is a circulation pump for circulating said heat exchange liquid. A medical electrode configured to generate electricity by receiving electricity; A thermoelectric element contacting a rear surface of the medical electrode and supplying cold air or heat to the medical electrode; A heat exchange block in contact with a surface opposite to a surface in contact with the medical electrode and performing heat exchange using a flow of air; Ventilation means for supplying air to the heat exchange block; Temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of the medical electrode to generate an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature; And And a control unit for controlling the power supplied to the medical electrode, the ventilation means, and the power supplied to the thermoelectric element according to the temperature. The method of claim 7, wherein Medical heat and cold stimulation device, characterized in that the heat exchange block is provided with a plurality of cooling fins. The method of claim 7, wherein The ventilation means is medical electrical and cold stimulation device, characterized in that it comprises a fan. The method of claim 7, wherein The control unit is a medical electrical and cold stimulation device, characterized in that for changing the heat absorbing surface and the heat absorbing surface of the thermoelectric element by switching the polarity of the power supplied to the thermoelectric element. The method of claim 7, wherein The thermoelectric device is a medical electrical and cold stimulation device, characterized in that the Peltier device.

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