KR20040094510A - Portable electric impulsion device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A portable electric impulsion device is provided to maximize a rehabilitation treatment effect of an upper and lower limb paralytic and to help the paralytic patient walk. CONSTITUTION: The portable electric impulsion device comprises a part for sensing a walk(2); a part for detecting an electromyogram(3); a part for selecting a mode(1); a control part(4) for storing an electric impulsion pattern in advance, outputting a switch control signal, setting a standard value at an electromyogram muscular motion mode and supplying an electric impulsion pulse in a constant time when the detected signal is higher than the set standard value; an output part; and an electrode part.

Description

Portable electric impulsion device

The present invention relates to an EMG-controlled portable electric stimulator, and more particularly, to an EMG-controlled portable electric stimulator for improving the rehabilitation treatment of neurological damage patients and walking ability of one side paralyzed patient.

In medicine, damage to the nervous system leads to impairment of motor and sensory function, muscular dystrophy, muscle stiffness, and avascular necrosis. However, for the nervous system diseases are mainly used to remove the cause, the treatment of the paralysis of the motor function due to nerve damage or recovery of the sensory function is not much. Sensory and motor function loss due to nerve damage is somewhat different depending on the degree of nerve damage, but it is almost impossible to expect a complete recovery in the case of amputation or damage of the central nerve caused by various accidents. Nerve damage also results in partial recovery or long term dysfunction. This loss of motor function and sensory function is limited to even the most basic movement in daily life, resulting in skin necrosis due to muscle atrophy, muscle stiffness and blood circulation disorder due to the long-term use of muscle.

For this reason, in recent years, various electric stimulators have been developed to restore the motor function of paralyzed patients due to damage of the central nervous system and to improve the walking ability of one-sided paralyzed patients.

However, since the conventional electric stimulator was only able to apply electric stimulation to the muscles according to the pattern embedded in the electric stimulator, the patient was only dependent on the power of the electric stimulator, which raised many questions about the effectiveness of treatment.

Therefore, the present invention was created to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to only contract the muscles by applying electrical stimulation when the patients themselves exert a force above the EMG level threshold in the lower limb or upper extremity paralyzed patients. The present invention provides an EMG-controlled portable electric stimulator that maximizes the efficiency of treatment by releasing the patient's own power and the function of the electric stimulator.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a portable electric stimulator to search for a control method by the control of the gait sensor to assist the walking of one side paralyzed patients.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an EMG adjustable portable electric stimulator according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the walking sensor in accordance with the present invention.

3 is a partial side cross-sectional view of the walking sensor of FIG.

Figure 4 is a graph of the stimulation pulse of the electrical stimulator in the EMG muscle exercise mode.

5 is a graph of the stimulation pulse of the electrical stimulation by the gait sensor.

*** Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawing ***

1: mode selector, 2: gait sensor,

3: EMG detector, 4: microprocessor,

5: reset part, 6: LCD display part,

7: constant voltage portion, 8: boosting portion,

9: rectifier, 10: constant current,

11: switching part, 12: overvoltage protector,

21: base, 21a: head,

21b: terminal portion, 22: bottom plate,

22a, 23a: contact portion, 22b, 23b: energizing band,

23: top plate, 24: blocking plate,

The present invention for achieving the above object is a gait detection means for detecting the walking state by the pressure change between the sole and the contact surface according to the user's walking and outputs the detection signal according to the control means to be described later; EMG detecting means for quantitatively measuring and amplifying the force of the paralyzed muscles of the user in the EMG muscle exercise mode to be described later to the control means side; Mode selection means for selecting a mode required by a user from an EMG muscle exercise mode, a walking exercise mode, a muscle exercise mode, and a plurality of functional electric stimulation pain treatment modes; Each electric stimulation pattern corresponding to each mode is stored in advance, and a switching control signal of the corresponding pattern is output in accordance with the output signal of the mode selecting means, the reference value is set in the EMG muscle movement mode, and Control means for supplying a residue stimulation pulse within a predetermined time when the detection signal reaches a predetermined reference value or more; Output means for converting an input power into a DC voltage of a predetermined level or more and switching the DC voltage according to a switching control signal output from the control means to output an electric stimulation waveform of a corresponding pattern; And an electrode unit for delivering the electric stimulation waveforms and the like outputted from the output means to the corresponding muscles of the patient.

In addition, the gait detection means for achieving another object of the present invention,

It is located at the lowest part and printed on the upper part of the lower PCB where the sole of the heel is seated, and has a bottom plate having an electrically conductive strip to be connected with the silver plated contact part and the terminal part of the lower PCB for good contact on the sheet-shaped area part; ;

Located in the upper part of the lower plate and printed on the lower part of the upper PCB under the same conditions as the lower PCB, and a conductive strip connected to the silver plated contact portion and the terminal portion of the lower PCB to improve contact with the lower plate on the area of the thin plate form Having a top plate; And

The lower plate and the upper plate are interposed therebetween so as not to contact each other, and a thin film-type blocker plate having a corresponding through hole so that each contact portion can be energized by the pressure when the pressing force is generated from the upper plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an EMG adjustable portable electric stimulator according to the present invention, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the walking sensor according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a walking sensor of Figure 2 Partial side cross-sectional view, Figure 4 is a graph of the stimulation pulse of the electrical stimulator in the EMG muscle exercise mode, Figure 5 is a graph of the stimulation pulse of the electrical stimulation by the gait sensor.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention provides a selection switch for outputting a selection signal for selecting a mode required by a user from EMG muscle walking mode, walking practice mode, muscle movement mode, and a plurality of functional electric stimulation pain treatment modes. The mode selection unit 1 is provided with,

A walking sensor 2 which detects a walking state by a pressure change between the sole of the foot and a contact surface according to a user's walking, and outputs a detection signal according to the microprocessor 4 to be described later;

EMG detection unit (3) for quantitatively measuring and amplifying the power of the paralyzed muscles of the user in the EMG muscle exercise mode and outputs them to the microprocessor (4) to be described later,

Each electric stimulation pattern corresponding to the EMG muscle exercise mode, walking exercise mode, muscle exercise mode, and a plurality of functional electric stimulation pain treatment modes is stored in advance, and switching of the corresponding pattern according to the output signal of the mode selector 1 A microprocessor 4 which outputs a control signal and sets a reference value in the EMG muscle exercise mode and supplies an electric stimulation pulse within a predetermined time when the detection signal from the EMG detector 3 becomes equal to or greater than the set reference value;

A reset section 5 for automatically initializing the microprocessor 4 when the power is ON;

An LCD display unit 6 which displays the residual voltage of the battery mounted on the constant voltage unit 7 and the state of the electric stimulus to be output;

A constant voltage unit 7 for mounting a rechargeable battery to supply a stabilized DC voltage to the electrical stimulation device;

A boosting unit 8 for boosting the output voltage to an AC voltage having a level capable of electrical stimulation;

A rectifier 9 for rectifying and converting an AC voltage boosted to a predetermined level by the booster 8 into a high-voltage DC voltage;

Constant current unit 10 for supplying a constant pulse current to the skin regardless of the load resistance,

Switching unit 11 for generating an electrical stimulation pulse of a type suitable for the treatment of the boosted DC voltage by switching in accordance with the switching control signal of the microprocessor (4),

An overvoltage protector 12 or the like for preventing the output of an overvoltage above the level allowed by the switching unit 11 by the abnormal operation of the device is constituted.

In addition, as an internal component of the microprocessor 4, the watchdog 41 for monitoring the operation state of the microprocessor 4 and automatically returning to the operation stop state, and the remaining battery power of the constant voltage section 42 An oscillator for generating a reference frequency for boosting a low voltage by using an internal timer 13 and an A / D converter 42 for digitally converting an analog detection signal through the EMG detector 3. It consists of 43.

In addition, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may further include a communication repeater 14 so that the EMG signal data detected by the EMG detection unit 3 can be transmitted to the PC through serial communication. The program can be displayed in real time to monitor the patient's strength improvement and progress.

On the other hand, the gait sensor 2 is specifically,

Located on the lowest part, printed on the upper part of the lower PCB 21 where the sole heel is seated, and the silver plated contact part 22a and the terminal part of the lower PCB 21 to improve the contact state on the area of the sheet form. A lower plate 22 having a current carrying band 22b so as to be connected to the base 21a;

Located above the lower plate 22, printed below the upper PCB 23 under the same conditions as the lower PCB 21, and facing the contact portion 22a of the lower plate 22 on the bottom surface area in the form of a thin plate. An upper plate 24 having a separate contact portion 24a and having a conduction band 24b connected to the terminal portion 21a of the lower PCB 21; And

The lower plate 22 and the upper plate 24 are interposed therebetween so as not to contact each other, and corresponding contact holes 22a and 24a are energized by the pressure when the pressing force from the upper plate 23 is generated. It consists of a thin film | membrane type | mold block plate 25 which has ().

Referring to the operation of the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

When the user wants to receive the electric stimulation treatment, the electrode part connected to the output terminal (OUT) of the electric stimulator as shown in FIG. 1 is fixed to the electrode part on the part to be treated in the lower limb or upper limb, and the walking sensor 2 is attached to the bottom of the shoe. Mount it on the inside or inside, then turn on the power switch.

As a result, the battery voltage output from the constant voltage unit 7 is supplied to the boosting unit 8 to be boosted to an AC voltage at a level capable of electric stimulation. The AC voltage thus boosted is rectified by the rectifying unit 9, and the rectified voltage is switched by the timer 13 of the microprocessor 4 in the switching unit 11 in a predetermined pattern. Accordingly, the electrical stimulation waveform of the pattern is supplied to the treatment site through the output terminal OUT and the electrode portion.

At this time, the microprocessor 4 detects the walking motion of the user through the walking sensor 2, and the electric stimulation waveform of the pattern requested by the user through the mode selection unit 1 is synchronized with the walking motion. The timer 13 is set by selecting a corresponding pattern from a plurality of electric stimulation patterns previously stored in the internal memory to be output.

For reference, the muscles of the human body are classified into fast muscles, which are fast and instantaneously strong, but fatigue is fast, and fatigue which is slow even when exerted for a long time (continuous). .

By the way, the fast muscle is known to react at a relatively high frequency of about 40Hz, the root muscle is known to react at a lower frequency of 20Hz. In the present invention, the electrical stimulation pattern was set in consideration of these muscle characteristics. In addition, it provides an electrical stimulation pattern to help the paralyzed patient walking in conjunction with the movement of the muscle, and provides an electrical stimulation pattern for massage use to suppress muscle fatigue.

In an embodiment of the electrical stimulation apparatus as shown in FIG. 1, an electrical stimulation pattern of 20 Hz, 30 Hz, and 40 Hz is used in a frequency range of 1 Hz to 100 Hz, and a frequency width of 200 Hz is used in a frequency range of 50 to 500 Hz. Experiments with patients and normal subjects showed that 20Hz was effective for the root muscle and 40Hz was effective for the root muscle. In addition, the 30 Hz electric stimulation pattern is proposed for use in muscles that are simultaneously present in the near and the near muscles.

In relation to the electrical stimulation pattern as described above, in the mode selection unit 1, two functional electrical stimulation modes, two therapeutic electric stimulation modes, two EMG muscle exercise modes, and four massage modes for recovery of muscle fatigue. A selector switch was provided to select a desired stimulation mode.

The frequency width of the electric stimulation mode or massage mode uses a frequency range of 20 Hz, 30 Hz, 40 Hz in the frequency range of 1 Hz ~ 100 Hz and 200 Hz in the frequency range of 50 ~ 500 Hz.

The functional electric stimulation mode is a mode that operates in conjunction with the gait sensor 2, and when the switch of the gait sensor 2 is short-circuited as shown in FIGS. Contact plate 22a, 24a of the lower plate 22 printed on the upper portion of the lower PCB 21 and the upper plate 24 printed on the lower portion of the upper PCB 23 are interposed between the plates by the pressing force of the heel. There is a first functional electric stimulation mode in which electrical stimulation is performed when contacting each other while winning (25), and a second functional electric stimulation mode in operation when falling.

As shown in FIG. 5, the electrical stimulation is operated in order of the stimulation pattern of the rising time, the duration, the falling time, and the rest time. Ascending time and falling time are set within 0.5 ~ 1.5 seconds and the duration is continued when the switch is turned on in the mode that is operated when the pedestrian sensor 2 is pressed, the idle time is continued when off. The mode operated when the walk sensor 2 is switched off is in the reverse order.

Therapeutic electrical stimulation mode exhibits excellent effects in the first therapeutic electrical stimulation mode having a frequency component of 20 Hz and the second therapeutic electrical stimulation mode having a frequency component of 30 Hz, and the fast muscle at 40 Hz. There is a third therapeutic electrical stimulation mode.

In particular, when the EMG muscle exercise mode is selected, the EMG muscle exercise mode is composed of a stimulation pattern of the rise time, the fall time, and the rest time as shown in FIG. 4, when the patient applies a constant force to the paralyzed muscle, the EMG detector When the EMG is detected at (3) and sent to the microphone processor 4, the detected value is compared with the input reference value, and if the force of the paralyzed muscle is less than the reference value, no stimulation is applied, and the reference value is If it is larger than the reference value, the stimulus is divided into constant duration and fall time according to the rise time. The rise time and fall time are preferably set within 0.5 to 10 seconds, the duration is set to 1 to 20 seconds, the rest time is the time until the muscle strength does not exceed the reference value.

Meanwhile, the pain treatment mode includes a first massage mode showing a tapping effect, a second massage mode showing a rubbing effect, a third massage mode showing a continuous weak and quick tapping effect, and the first to third There is a fourth massage mode in which the massage modes are appropriately synthesized.

In addition, the microprocessor 4 has a watchdog 41, an A / D converter 42, and a timer 13 as internal components, and the watchdog 41 controls the operating state of the microprocessor 4; It monitors and automatically returns to the operation stop state, and the A / D converter 42 performs the function of converting the analog voltage into a digital value so that the battery residual power of the constant voltage unit 7 can be checked. At the same time to convert the analog detection signal through the EMG detector 3 to digital, the timer 13 is set in a corresponding pattern by the microprocessor to perform the various electric stimulation mode as described above, the switching unit 11 To control the switching operation.

In addition, the reset unit 5 is for automatically initializing the microprocessor 4 when the electric stimulator is turned on.

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings, and various substitutions, modifications, and changes are possible in the art without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. It will be clear to those of ordinary knowledge.

As described above, the present invention is an EMG-controlled electric stimulator that combines the power of the patient and the function of the electric stimulator, and enables the patient's own training away from the conventional treatment method that relies only on the electric stimulator. In order to maximize the rehabilitation treatment of the stimulation, the electric stimulation mode by the control of the gait sensor to assist the walking of one side paralysis patients has the advantage of improving the walking ability of hemiplegic patients and feet.

Claims (2)

Walk detection means for detecting a walking state by a change in pressure between the sole of the foot and the contact surface according to the user's walking and outputting a detection signal according to the control means to be described later; EMG detecting means for quantitatively measuring and amplifying the force of the paralyzed muscles of the user in the EMG muscle exercise mode to be described later to the control means side; Mode selection means for selecting a mode required by a user from an EMG muscle exercise mode, a walking exercise mode, a muscle exercise mode, and a plurality of functional electric stimulation pain treatment modes; Each electric stimulation pattern corresponding to each mode is stored in advance, and a switching control signal of the corresponding pattern is output in accordance with the output signal of the mode selecting means, the reference value is set in the EMG muscle movement mode, and Control means for supplying an electric stimulation pulse within a predetermined time when the detection signal becomes equal to or greater than a set reference value; Output means for converting an input power into a DC voltage of a predetermined level or more and switching the DC voltage according to a switching control signal output from the control means to output an electric stimulation waveform of a corresponding pattern; And an electrode unit for transmitting the electric stimulation waveform of each mode outputted from the output means to the corresponding muscle part of the patient. The method of claim 1, wherein the gait detection means It is located at the lowest part and printed on the upper part of the lower PCB where the sole of the heel is seated, and has a bottom plate having an electrically conductive strip to be connected with the silver plated contact part and the terminal part of the lower PCB for good contact on the sheet-shaped area part; ; Located in the upper part of the lower plate and printed on the lower part of the upper PCB under the same conditions as the lower PCB, and a conductive strip connected to the silver plated contact portion and the terminal portion of the lower PCB to improve contact with the lower plate on the area of the thin plate form Having a top plate; And EMG control, characterized in that the lower plate and the upper plate is interposed therebetween so as not to contact each other, a thin film-type blocking plate having a corresponding through hole so that each contact is energized by the pressure when the pressing force from the upper plate is generated; Portable electric stimulator.