KR102300686B1 - An electric muscle stimuation device including a probe for detecting an emg signal generated by electric stimulation of a motor point - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an electric muscle stimulation apparatus, comprising: a hand device for generating an EMS (Electrical Muscular Stimulation) waveform for stimulating a user's muscles; a main body case in which a rechargeable battery is built-in so that the hand device can be attached and charged, the following stimulation pen, the following electromyography detection unit, and the following stimulation pad can be accommodated; Stimulation pen for applying electrical stimulation to the user's muscles to find the exercise point; an electromyography detector configured to detect an electromyogram (EMG) signal generated from a user's muscle in response to the electrical stimulation applied by the stimulation pen; and a plurality of stimulation pads attached to the user's muscles and outputting the EMS waveform received from the hand device to stimulate the muscles, wherein the hand device includes the stimulation pen from the EMG signal detected by the EMG detector. It is determined whether the motor is located in the area of the motor point, and the stimulation pad is attached to the determined motor point.

Description

An electric muscle stimulation device for sarcopenia treatment including an EMG detector that can detect an EMG signal generated by electrical stimulation of a motor point and confirm a motion point A MOTOR POINT}

The present invention relates to an electric muscle stimulation apparatus, and more particularly, to an electric muscle stimulation apparatus capable of searching for a movement point of a muscle for precise and effective muscle stimulation and EMS stimulation of the searched movement point.

Electrical Muscular Stimulation (EMS) training has been widely known to athletes in each field since it was developed for astronauts who have to live in a zero-gravity environment. Even if you exercise for the same amount of time, if you use EMS training, the effect of exercise is amplified. EMS training can be a useful treatment tool not only for modern people who want to strengthen muscle strength in a short time, but also for patients who need rehabilitation training. In past studies, it has been reported that EMS combined with exercise alone prevents muscle loss and muscle atrophy, as well as increases the size of muscle fibers. In other words, EMS training can be applied to all subjects who need muscle strengthening and maintaining muscle mass, including sarcopenia.

In EMS training, a stimulation device that applies electrical stimulation to the user's muscles is used. In the prior art, WO 2007-017778 discloses a device for electrical stimulation of muscle tissue having an electrode system with an electrode array. The device has an electrode selector for selecting one or more stimulation stimulation pads. For example, after the electrode device is placed on the user's skin, the impedance between the respective stimulation pads and the skin is measured, and one or more stimulation pads are selected based on the measured impedance.

As another prior art, Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-2017-0058584 discloses an electric muscle stimulation training system and method and a computer-readable recording medium recording a program for executing the same. The EMS training system is an EMS training system that allows a user who wears sportswear to which EMS technology is applied to automatically adjust the location or strength of electrical stimulation according to his/her gender, age, physical condition, or current exercise. to provide.

In the EMS stimulation device, the training effect is influenced by stimulating the motor at which contraction and relaxation of the muscle occurs in consideration of the path of the muscle nerve. Conventionally, the location of an anatomically revealed movement point is presented on the user's manual so that the stimulation electrode is placed at an approximate location, the stimulation electrode is selected based on the impedance information between the skin, the user's gender, age, physical condition, etc. The stimulator was provided in such a way that the optimal exercise point was found using the information selected by the user according to the optimized and pre-stored settings.

However, there are cases where the anatomical position located in the manual does not correspond to an appropriate exercise point according to the user's physical condition, and preset information optimized according to the user's gender or age provides an accurate exercise point of the actual user's physical condition. There is a problem in that it cannot be guaranteed to be reflected.

Meanwhile, in Korean Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-2017-005854, information on the state of a muscle during exercise is acquired by including an electrode configuration for measuring an electromyography (EMG) signal in an EMS wearer. However, the electromyography signal measuring electrode configured in No. 10-2017-005854 is for generating a posture correction signal by analyzing the user's exercise posture, and an embodiment for calculating the exact position of the EMS stimulus is not disclosed.

Even as a commercial product, an EMS device improved to find an accurate motor point is not provided. Accordingly, the present applicant has devised an electric muscle stimulation device capable of searching and stimulating exercise points to be suitable not only for healthcare consumers but also for the treatment of patients suffering from sarcopenia by improving the stimulation effect of the EMS device.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2017-005854 International Application Publication No. WO 2007-017778

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric muscle stimulation apparatus capable of precisely searching and stimulating a motor poing as a pulse point at which muscle contraction and relaxation occur.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electric muscle stimulation apparatus, comprising: a hand device for generating an EMS (Electrical Muscular Stimulation) waveform for stimulating a user's muscles; a main body case in which a rechargeable battery is built-in so that the hand device can be attached and charged, the following stimulation pen, the following electromyography detection unit, and the following stimulation pad can be accommodated; Stimulation pen for applying electrical stimulation to the user's muscles to find the exercise point; an electromyography detector configured to detect an electromyogram (EMG) signal generated from a user's muscle in response to the electrical stimulation applied by the stimulation pen; and a plurality of stimulation pads attached to the user's muscles and outputting the EMS waveform received from the hand device to stimulate the muscles, wherein the hand device includes the stimulation pen from the EMG signal detected by the EMG detector. It is determined whether the motor is located in the area of the motor point, and the stimulation pad is attached to the determined motor point.

Preferably, the hand device includes a waveform generator that generates a pulse having a wavelength of 110 μs to 760 μs as the EMS waveform, and the waveform generator includes a plurality of wavelength bands set differently from each other in a wavelength range of 110 μs to 760 μs. The EMS waveform can be generated by randomly combining pulses.

Preferably, the hand device evaluates the degree of decrease in the amplitude of the action potential of the EMG signal detected by the EMG detector to obtain information about the nerve line of the muscle, and selects the motor nerve of the muscle based on the information about the nerve line. It may include a motion point detector for determining whether the position of the muscle stimulated by the stimulation pen by searching corresponds to a motor point.

Preferably, the plurality of stimulation pads are coupled such that a pair of stimulation pads can apply simultaneous EMS stimulation to both distal ends of the muscle, and the hand device is configured to: It can be controlled by sending an EMS waveform.

Preferably, the EMG detector includes: an EMG sensor attached to the muscle to which the stimulation pen applies electrical stimulation to detect an EMG signal; and an EMG signal processing unit that rectifies and amplifies the EMG signal detected by the EMG sensor.

According to the present invention, the EMG detector may obtain an EMG signal of a muscle stimulated by the stimulation pen, and the hand device may detect an exercise point of the muscle stimulated by the stimulation pen from the obtained EMG signal. After confirming the exercise point of the muscle with the stimulation pen, the user attaches a plurality of stimulation pads to the identified exercise point. Accordingly, according to the present invention, EMS stimulation is possible at precise exercise points in spite of various physical conditions of users, so that an optimized effect of EMS training can be expected during exercise or rehabilitation treatment.

1 shows an electric muscle stimulation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 shows a body case and a hand device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 shows a stimulation pen according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 shows an EMG detector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 shows the use of the electric muscle stimulation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a block diagram of a hand device and EMS waveforms according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the contents described in the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited or limited by the exemplary embodiments. The same reference numerals provided in the respective drawings indicate members that perform substantially the same functions.

Objects and effects of the present invention can be naturally understood or made clearer by the following description, and the objects and effects of the present invention are not limited only by the following description. In addition, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

1 shows an electric muscle stimulation apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electric muscle stimulation device 1 refers to an EMS (Electrical Muscular Stimulator) device. EMS refers to a device that artificially induces muscle contraction through electrical signals. The electric muscle stimulation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment may include a hand device 10 , a body case 20 , a stimulation pad 30 , an EMG detector 303 , and a stimulation pen 40 .

2 shows a body case 20 and a hand device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2 , the electric muscle stimulation device 1 may accommodate a stimulation pad 30 , an EMG detector 303 , and a stimulation pen 40 inside a main body case 20 , and the main body case ( The hand device 10 may be configured to be charged by binding to the front portion of the 20).

The hand device 10 may generate an EMS (Electrical Muscular Stimulation) waveform for stimulating the user's muscles. The hand device 10 may be understood as a control body through which the user manipulates the on/off of the EMS stimulus, the intensity of the stimulus, and the like. The hand device 10 is a device capable of mounting a wireless communication module and a microprocessor for logical operations such as EMS waveforms and electromyography detection.

The main body case 20 may be provided as a case that can be opened and closed, and a rechargeable battery is built-in so that the hand device 10 can be attached and charged, and a stimulation pen 40, an electromyography detector 303, and a stimulation pad ( 30) may be formed so as to be accommodated therein.

3 shows a stimulation pen 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the stimulation pen 40 may include a stimulation probe 401 and a signal generating module 403 . The stimulation probe 401 has a pen-shaped pin contact with the muscle region to which the stimulation pad 30 is attached to find the motor point of the muscle, and receives an electrical stimulation signal from the signal generating module 403 and emits it to the contacted muscle. .

4 shows an EMG detector 303 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the EMG detector 303 may include an EMG sensor 3031 and an EMG signal processor 3033 .

The EMG sensor 3031 may detect an EMG signal by being attached to a muscle to which the stimulation pen 40 applies electrical stimulation. The EMG signal processing unit 3033 may include a circuit board that rectifies and amplifies the EMG signal obtained from the EMG sensor 3031 to perform signal processing. The EMG sensor 3031 may be cable-connected to the EMG signal processing unit 3033, and the EMG signal processing unit 3033 further includes a suction pad at the bottom so that it can be attached to the body near the area sensed by the EMG sensor 3031. can be implemented. The electromyography sensor 3031 is located in the muscles around the stimulation pen 40 in contact with the pen so as to acquire a signal of a muscle that responds to the stimulation of the stimulation pen 40 .

5 shows a state of use of the electric muscle stimulation apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5a shows a state in which a muscle movement point is detected using the EMG probe 303 and the stimulation pen 40, and Fig. 5b shows an effective EMS stimulation is performed by positioning the stimulation pad 30 at the detected movement point. shows how to become

Referring to FIG. 5A , the stimulation pen 40 and the EMG probe 303 may be used to detect a movement point of a user who will first perform EMS training. The user may scan the exercise muscle area by making a pin contact with the stimulation pen 40 . The EMG sensor 3031 of the EMG probe unit 303 is attached to the periphery of the stimulation pen 40 and detects a muscle response according to the stimulation of the stimulation pen 40 by EMG. The EMG pointer 303 may signal-process the obtained EMG signal and transmit it to the hand device 10 . In the hand device 10, the motion point detector 103 receives the EMG signal and analyzes the action potential. The motor point detection unit 103 can distinguish the muscle nerve line and the muscle motor nerve by evaluating the degree of decrease in the amplitude of the action potential, and finally the position of the muscle stimulated by the stimulation pen 40 is the motor point 5 . It can be determined whether

Thereafter, referring to FIG. 5B , EMS stimulation is applied by attaching the stimulation pad 30 to the area of the movement point 5 detected by the EMG signal. The stimulation pad 30 is configured as a stimulation module together with the EMG detector 303 and the stimulation pen 40 . The stimulation pad 30 may be provided on the suction pad 301 to be attached to the user's muscle, and may output the EMS waveform received from the hand device 10 to stimulate the muscle.

The stimulation pad 30 may be configured in plurality. In this embodiment, the plurality of stimulation pads 30 may be coupled such that a pair of electrode pads 3011 can simultaneously apply EMS stimulation to both distal ends of the muscle. In the example of FIG. 5B , a pair of stimulation pads 3011 coupled vertically can be seen. In this case, the hand device 10 can control each pair of electrode pads 3011 by transmitting the EMS waveform through an independent channel.

6 shows a configuration diagram of a hand device 10 and an EMS waveform 13 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the hand device 10 may include a waveform generating unit 101 , a motion point detecting unit 103 , a communication module 105 , and a display unit 107 .

The waveform generator 101 may generate a pulse having a wavelength of 110 μs to 760 μs as the EMS waveform. The waveform generator 101 may generate the EMS waveform 13 by outputting a plurality of pulses having different wavelength bands set to each other in a random combination in a wavelength range of 110 μs to 760 μs.

The exercise point detector 103 evaluates the degree of decrease in the amplitude of the action potential of the EMG signal detected by the EMG detector 303 to obtain information about the nerve line of the muscle, and based on the information about the nerve line, It may be determined whether the position of the muscle stimulated by the stimulation pen 40 corresponds to a motor point by searching for a motor nerve.

The communication module 105 is composed of a well-known short-range network communication module such as Bluetooth, and can transmit and receive signals through wireless communication without being connected to the stimulation unit 30 with a separate cable.

The display unit 107 may display the positions of the plurality of stimulation pads 30 and the EMG detector 303 , and indicate whether the displayed stimulation pads 30 are located at the detected exercise point 5 .

The display unit 107 may present the position of the stimulation pad 30 disposed together with the body image in which the preferred position of the manually provided electrode is preset. That is, as an example, the user may search for exercise points with reference to the appearance of the lower extremities displayed on the display unit 107 and the stimulation pads 30 disposed up and down on the front of the thighs among the lower extremities. After wearing, the exercise point 5 is displayed based on the stimulation pad 30 displayed on the display unit 107 , so that the user can attach the stimulation pad 30 to correspond to the position of the exercise point 5 .

Although the present invention has been described in detail through representative embodiments above, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that various modifications are possible within the limits without departing from the scope of the present invention with respect to the above-described embodiments. will be. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments and should be defined by all changes or modifications derived from the claims and equivalent concepts as well as the claims to be described later.

1: electric muscle stimulation device
5: Area where motor point is detected
13: EMS waveform
10: hand device
101: waveform generator
103: signal processing unit
105: communication module
107: display unit
20: body case
30: stimulation pad
301: suction pad
3011: a pair of electrodes
303: electromyography detection unit
3031: electromyography sensor
3033: EMG signal processing unit
40: stimulation pen
401: stimulation probe
403: signal generation module

Claims (5)

a hand device for generating an EMS (Electrical Muscular Stimulation) waveform for stimulating the user's muscles;
a main body case in which a rechargeable battery is built-in so that the hand device can be attached and charged, the following stimulation pen, the following electromyography detector, and the following stimulation pad can be accommodated;
Stimulation pen including a pen-shaped stimulation probe for applying electrical stimulation to the user's muscles in order to find an exercise point; and
Including; and an electromyography (EMG) detection unit for detecting an electromyogram (EMG) signal generated from the user's muscle in response to the electrical stimulation applied by the stimulation pen;
The electromyography detector,
an electromyogram sensor for which the stimulation pen is attached to a muscle that applies electrical stimulation to detect an electromyogram (EMG) signal; and
and an EMG signal processing unit that rectifies and amplifies the EMG signal detected by the EMG sensor,
The hand device,
A plurality of stimulation pads attached to the user's muscles and outputting the EMS waveform received from the hand device to stimulate the muscles;
and a motion point detection unit that receives the EMG signal from the EMG detection unit and determines whether the position of the stimulation pen is an exercise point by evaluating the degree of decrease in the amplitude of the action potential;
An electric muscle stimulation apparatus, characterized in that by measuring a muscle contraction signal generated by electrical stimulation applied with a single probe of the stimulation pen, determining whether an exercise point exists based on the strength of the signal according to the position of the contraction.
The method of claim 1,
The hand device,
A waveform generator for generating a pulse of a wavelength of 110 μs to 760 μs as the EMS waveform,
The waveform generator,
An electric muscle stimulation apparatus, characterized in that the EMS waveform is generated by randomly combining a plurality of pulses having different wavelength bands in a wavelength range of 110 μs to 760 μs.
delete The method of claim 1,
The plurality of stimulation pads,
a pair of stimulation pads coupled to apply simultaneous EMS stimulation to both distal ends of the muscle;
The hand device,
An electric muscle stimulation apparatus, characterized in that for controlling by transmitting the EMS waveform through an independent channel for each of the pair of stimulation pads.
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