KR20130109422A

KR20130109422A - Thermal stimulation apparatus being closed to the skin

Info

Publication number: KR20130109422A
Application number: KR1020120031149A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 김서곤; 허현; 최효준; 문기욱; 장택주; 김상호; 임동수
Original assignee: 주식회사 솔고 바이오메디칼
Priority date: 2012-03-27
Filing date: 2012-03-27
Publication date: 2013-10-08

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cold and hot stimulation apparatus, and more particularly, to install a tube in close contact with the skin by pneumatic pressure inside the band-shaped outer shell extending in the horizontal direction, the cold and hot stimulator and the cold and hot stimulus Skin-contacting cold and hot stimulation apparatus comprising a conductor for transferring cold air or heat generated from the sieve to the skin in contact with the outer skin, and a radiator for discharging the heat generated from the cold and hot stimulator to the outside of the tube It is about.

Description

Skin stimulation apparatus being closed {thermal stimulation apparatus being closed to the skin}

In general, thermotherapy for contacting the skin with heat is effective for redness of the skin, blood circulation enhancement, spasms of muscle spasms, and pain reduction, and cooling therapy for contacting the skin with cold reduces the inflammation or non-inflammatory rheumatism. It is known to have the effect of preventing edema during fracture, pain relief after surgery, healing of sprains or contusions or bruises, relieving muscle tension, healing of dislocation or ligament abnormalities, relieving joint wounds, and increasing skin elasticity.

Therefore, a cold and hot stimulation device or a cold and hot steaming device capable of alternately stimulating such thermotherapy and cooling therapy in a short time is known in the art.

The operation method of the cold and hot stimulation apparatus or the cold and hot steaming apparatus can be divided into two types, the first is the operation method of cooling or heating the liquid while circulating the liquid, and the second is stimulating the local area by using the Peltier element, which is a semiconductor device. There was a way.

When cooling or heating while circulating the above liquid, in the case of performing cooling therapy, the liquid is converted into a low temperature liquid of about 0 degrees Celsius using a cooler such as a compressor, and the low temperature liquid is supplied to a pad. The affected area is cooled to a low temperature for a set time, and in case of thermotherapy, the low temperature liquid is converted into a high temperature liquid of about 50 degrees Celsius by using a heater, and then the high temperature liquid is supplied to the pad. Heat the affected part to a high temperature for a set time.

The liquid circulation type cold and cold stimulation device can maintain a constant temperature, and has the advantage of stimulating cold and cold in most parts, but the addition of a pump device for circulating the liquid, a cooler such as a compressor, and a pipeline for circulating the liquid. It is difficult to miniaturize the device because it requires equipment, and it takes a lot of manufacturing cost, and because it uses the liquid for thermal circulation, it is not easy to maintain due to the leakage of liquid, so the maintenance is not easy, and the liquid is circulated directly, so it is cold Another disadvantage was that the conversion did not occur quickly.

On the other hand, when the Peltier device combines two types of metal conductors and flows a DC current to one side, one of the contacts generates heat and the temperature rises, while the other ends absorbs heat and lowers the temperature. It is used in small sized refrigerators and precision thermostats. Here, there is also a high efficiency Peltier element employing a semiconductor such as bismuth (Bi), tellurium (Te), etc., which have different electric conduction methods instead of the two kinds of metal conductors.

The stimulation method using the Peltier element is easy to miniaturize the device, and has the advantage that the device can be manufactured at a relatively low cost, but it is difficult to apply to the stimulation of the large part.

In addition, when a current is applied to the Peltier element, one side is cooled to a temperature below zero, but as one side is lowered in temperature, the other side is raised in temperature, so heat generated here Not only does the performance of the cold and hot stimulation device decrease by increasing the internal temperature, but the extreme temperature difference from both sides of the Peltier element causes condensation of the surrounding air of the Peltier element, resulting in water droplets (corrosion), which may cause corrosion or short circuit in the electronic circuit. Can cause.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a configuration of a compact and lightweight cold and hot stimulation device.

The present invention also provides a configuration of a cold and hot stimulation device capable of preventing the possibility of water droplets of a conventional Peltier element without using a fluid such as a liquid.

In addition, it provides a configuration of a cold and hot stimulation device that can increase the adhesion to the affected skin skin.

In addition, to provide a configuration of a cold and hot stimulation device having a relatively similar appearance to the cold pack having been used conventionally to solve the rejection of wearing.

In order to achieve the above technical problem, the present invention has a constitution of a skin-cold type hot and cold stimulating apparatus, in which a tube which is in close contact with the skin by pneumatic pressure is installed inside a band-shaped outer shell extending in a horizontal direction, and inside the tube. And a heat conduction body configured to transfer a cold air or hot air generated from the cold and hot magnetic poles to the skin in contact with the outer skin, and a heat radiator to discharge the heat generated from the cold and hot magnetic poles to the outside of the tube. do.

Effects of the skin-contact cold and hot stimulation device of the present invention having the configuration as described above are as follows.

First, the body is made of a cold and hot stimulator, a conductor and a radiator formed inside the outer shell and the body is compact and light weight, excellent portability and good wearability to a local or a specific site.

Secondly, by circulating the air inside the tube without using a liquid such as the conventional one, it is possible to easily prevent maintenance of water droplets generated from Peltier elements in the past, thereby making it easy to maintain the cold and hot stimulation apparatus. .

Third, by using the pneumatic pressure to improve the adhesion to the skin provides an excellent fit to the user, and also has the effect of increasing the transmission efficiency of cold or warm air generated in the cold and hot stimulator.

Fourth, because it is used to wrap the band-like outer surface extending in the horizontal direction similar to the conventional cold pack pack attached to the affected part of the user, there is an effect that does not generate a feeling of rejection on the user.

1 is a configuration diagram of the cold and hot stimulation apparatus of the present invention,
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a cold and hot stimulation apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention,
3 is a cross-sectional view of the cold and hot stimulation apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described in detail the configuration of the skin-type cold and hot stimulation apparatus of the present invention.

It is to be noted, however, that the disclosed drawings are provided as examples for allowing a person skilled in the art to sufficiently convey the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the following drawings, but may be embodied in other forms.

In addition, unless otherwise defined, the terms used in the description of the present invention have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. In the following description and the accompanying drawings, A detailed description of known functions and configurations that may be unnecessarily blurred is omitted.

1 is a configuration of the cold and hot stimulation apparatus of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the cold and hot stimulation apparatus 1 of the present invention is woven from natural fibers such as cotton or synthetic fibers such as polyester or a blend of natural fibers and synthetic fibers, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. It has a strip-shaped outer shell 10 extending in the direction.

The outer shell 10 is to be worn by wrapping the outer shell 10 on the skin surface of the affected part such as an arm, a leg, a waist, or a neck portion to be subjected to a cold or hot therapy such as cooling or thermotherapy. One end is formed with a coupling surface 11 for coupling both ends of the outer shell 10 by the coupling member 60.

The coupling member 60 is provided on one coupling member 61 provided on the inner surface of one side end of the outer shell 10 and the outer surface of the other end of the outer shell 10 to one side of the coupling surface 11. It consists of the other coupling member 62 to bind with the coupling member 61 of the.

The coupling member 60 may be a known coupling means that can be coupled to both ends of the outer shell 10, for example, a conventional button, snap button, Velcro member (aka 'sticky') to be used It is preferable that the Velcro member be used for the convenience of detachment.

In addition, the other end of the outer shell 10 is formed with a receiving portion 12 that forms a space portion in which the tube 20, the conductor 30 and the cold and hot magnetic pole body 40 and the radiator 50 of the present invention is installed.

The accommodating part 12 is a space surrounded by the accommodating part upper surface 12a and the accommodating lower surface 12b extending the other end of the shell 10 in two.

Inside the receiving portion 12 is a tube 20 made of a material having elasticity, such as rubber material.

In addition, one side of the tube 20 is connected to the air inlet pipe 80 which forms a pipe for introducing air into the tube 20 or out the air to the outside of the tube 20.

Therefore, the inner space of the tube 20 forms a circulation chamber 70 through which air is circulated, and when air is supplied from the air injection pipe 80 to the circulation chamber 70, the volume of the tube 20 is increased. Is expanded so that the upper surface portion 12a and the lower surface portion 12b of the accommodation portion are in close contact with the user's affected part, while the air in the circulation chamber 70 is discharged to the outside through the air injection pipe 80. The volume of 20 is contracted so that the close contact between the upper surface 12a of the accommodating part 12 and the lower surface 12b of the accommodating part is relaxed.

In addition, the upper part of the tube 20 is formed with a ventilation hole 21 having a fine diameter of 0.5 mm to 2 mm.

The vent 21 is perforated to discharge the hot or cold air generated in the cold and hot magnetic body 40 to be described later to the outside of the tube 20, the hot or cold discharged to the outside of the tube 20 The hot or cold air flows into the space through the pores of the weaving body of the receiving portion upper surface 12a and the receiving portion lower surface 12b which flows into the space of the receiving portion 12 and forms the receiving portion 12.

The vent 21 as described above, the hot air or cold air generated from the cold and hot magnetic body 40 together with the conductor 30, the conductor upper channel 31, the conductor lower channel 32 and the radiator 50 will be described later. By effectively discharging from the (20) it serves to prevent the generation of water droplets (droplets) that has been pointed out as a conventional problem.

In addition, at least one cold and hot magnetic pole body 40 is installed in the inner space of the tube 20 of the present invention.

The cold / hot stimulator 40 may employ any known cold / hot stimulator that cools or generates heat in accordance with the application of an electric current. For example, the aforementioned Peltier element may be used.

As described above, the Peltier element is a device in which endotherm occurs at one junction part and heat generation occurs at the other junction part when two different metals are joined together and direct current is applied to the circuit.

At least one conductor 30 is attached to the lower or upper portion of the cold and hot stimulator 40, and at least one radiator 50 is attached to the lower or upper portion of the cold and hot stimulator 40.

The conductor 30 functions to transfer hot or cold air generated from the cold and hot stimulator 40 to the upper surface 12a or the lower surface 12b of the accommodating part, and the radiator 50 is a cold and hot stimulating body 40. The heat generated in the) is discharged to the outside through the vent hole 21 of the tube 20.

In addition, in order to improve the conduction efficiency of the conductor 30, the upper and lower conductors 31 and 32 conducting heat transfer to the conductor 30 are transferred to the upper and lower ends of the conductor 30. It is provided.

As the conductor 30, any thermally conductive material that transmits hot or cold air can be employed. For example, a known copper sponge excellent in conduction efficiency of hot or cold air can be employed.

In addition, the conductor upper channel 31 and the conductor lower channel 32 is preferably made of a flexible material that is excellent in the transfer efficiency of hot or cold air, the shape of which can be changed according to the expansion or contraction of the tube 20. For example, a woven fabric including conductive fibers may be used, and a woven fabric including such conductive fibers is a well-known technique, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The radiator 50 is a conventional cooler made of aluminum or copper, and preferably includes a heat sink.

The heat sink is also called a heat pipe, and is a member that transmits heat between both ends of the pipe through a phase change process between gas and liquid by a fluid responsible for heat transfer inside the sealed container. High efficiency can be obtained by transferring heat by using latent heat generated in the phase change.

On the other hand, reference numeral 13 is a winding portion 13 which is a space portion wrapped around the affected area by the outer shell (10).

Next, an embodiment of the cold and hot stimulation apparatus of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cold and hot stimulation apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cold and hot stimulation apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention.

The cold and hot stimulation apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is an embodiment in which the cold and hot stimulation apparatus 1 of the present invention described with reference to FIG. 1 is more specified. The Peltier element 140 is employed as the cold and hot stimulator 40. A copper sponge 130 for transferring hot or cold air generated from the element 140 and a heat sink 150 and a heat sink 151 for dissipating the heat generated from the Peltier element 140 are provided.

Referring to the configuration and operation of the cold and hot stimulation apparatus 100 of the embodiment of the present invention as described above in more detail.

The cold and hot stimulation apparatus 100 of the embodiment of the present invention is woven in a natural fiber or synthetic fiber or a blend of these natural fibers and synthetic fibers, as shown in Figure 2, forming a band-like outer shell 10 extending in the horizontal direction have.

Velcro members 161 and 162 are formed at both ends of the outer shell 10 to couple the two ends, and the tube 120 is embedded in the outer shell 10, and the inside of the tube 120 is a cold and hot magnetic body. The Peltier element 140 is installed, and the heat dissipation plate 150 for dissipating the heat of the Peltier element 140 to the outside of the tube 120 is provided.

In addition, an air injection pipe 180 is connected to one side of the tube 120 to inject or discharge air into the tube 120, and the air injection pipe 180 is connected to the pneumatic generator 190.

The pneumatic generator 190 injects or discharges air into the tube 120 by generating a positive air pressure or a negative air pressure.

In addition, the power supply unit 200 is provided outside the outer shell 110 to apply a current to the Peltier device 140, the current generated in the power supply unit 200 through the wire 210, the Peltier device 140 Is applied.

Preferably, in order to reduce the size and weight of the cold and hot stimulation apparatus 100 of the present invention, the power supply unit 200 and the pneumatic generator 190 may be integrally formed, and the power supply unit 200 and the pneumatic generator ( When the 190 is integrally formed, the electric wire 210 of the power supply unit 200 is preferably installed inside the air injection pipe 180 connected to the pneumatic generator 190.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG. 2, and as shown, the shell 110 may be applied to the skin surface of an affected part such as an arm, a leg, a waist, or a neck portion to be subjected to a cold or hot therapy such as cooling or thermotherapy. As the outer shell 110 is wound and worn, one end of the outer shell 110 forms a coupling surface 111 coupled to each other by the Velcro members 161 and 162.

At the other end of the outer shell 110, there is formed a receiving space 120 that forms a space portion in which the tube 120, the copper sponge 130, and the Peltier element 140 and the heat sink 150 of the present invention are installed.

The accommodation space 120 is a space surrounded by the accommodation space upper surface 112a and the accommodation space lower surface 112b extending the other end of the shell 110 in two.

As described above, the inner space of the tube 120 forms a circulation chamber 170 through which air is circulated.

In addition, a plurality of ventilation holes 121 having a fine diameter of 0.5 mm to 2 mm is formed on the upper part of the tube 120.

The vent 121 is perforated to discharge hot or cold air generated from the Peltier element 140 to the outside of the tube 20.

In addition, at least one Peltier element 140 is installed in the circulation chamber 170 of the tube 20.

The Peltier element 140 is an element that receives direct current from the power supply unit 200 to endothermic or generate heat.

The heat sink 150 is attached to the upper and lower portions of the Peltier element 140 to release heat.

Further, a copper sponge 130 for transferring heat or cold air generated from the Peltier element 140 to the affected part is attached to one side surface of the heat sink 150 that does not face the contact surface with the Peltier element 140.

In addition, in order to further improve the conduction efficiency of the copper sponge 130, the upper fabric plate 131 and the lower fabric plate 132 is provided to be in contact with the copper sponge 130.

The material of the upper fabric plate 131 and the lower fabric plate 132 is a woven fabric of a flexible nature including conductive fibers.

In addition, the heat sink 150 is further provided with a heat sink 151 is configured to increase the heat dissipation efficiency.

The operation of the cold and hot stimulation apparatus 100 of the embodiment of the present invention made as described above will be described.

First, the outer shell 110 is wrapped around the affected part of the user who wants to perform cold and warm therapy, and then the velcro members 161 and 162 formed on the coupling surface 111 of the outer cover 110 are mutually coupled to the cold and warm stimulation device 100 to the affected part. To bind.

In addition, the pneumatic generator 190 is generated to inflate air into the tube 120 through the air injection tube 180 to expand the tube 120. The injection of air through the air injection pipe 180 is continuously performed during the cold and hot therapy, thereby preventing the occurrence of water droplets (drops) by the Peltier element 140.

Since the outer shell 110 is more closely attached to the affected part of the user due to the expanded tube 120, the Peltier device (not shown) more firmly binds the cold and hot stimulation device 100 to the affected part of the user, and also has a strong adhesion to the affected part. The hot or cold air generated in 140 may be more directly transmitted to the affected area, thereby doubling the effect of cold and cold therapy.

In this state, the power supply unit 200 is activated to set the stimulation time of the cold and hot stimulation apparatus, and select one of the cooling therapy mode and the thermal therapy mode.

Then, according to the selected therapy mode, the appropriate current of the Peltier element 140 is applied to generate heat or cold as the Peltier element 140 generates heat or cools, and the heat or cold generated is a heat sink attached to the Peltier element 140. It is delivered to the copper sponge 130 and the upper fabric plate 131 and the lower fabric plate 132 through the 150 to be delivered to the affected part of the user through the receiving space upper surface (112a) and the receiving space (112b) cold and cold therapy This is done.

At this time, the heat discharged by the heat sink 150 and the heat sink 151 is discharged to the outside of the tube 120 through the minute vent hole 121 formed in the tube 120, the receiving space upper surface 112a and the receiving space Cold and temperature therapy is assisted while being delivered to the affected part of the user through the lower surface 112b.

On the other hand, when the stimulation time elapses while the cold and hot therapy is performed, the application of the current to the Peltier element 140 through the power supply unit 200 is stopped, and the pneumatic generator 190 supplies air in the tube 120. Exhaust to the outside to relax the tube (120). When the tube 120 is relaxed in this way, the user releases the Velcro member 161.162 of the coupling surface 111 to loosen the binding state with the skin (S) surface of the affected part and detach the cold / warm stimulating apparatus 100.

In the above description, the structure of the skin-type cold and hot stimulation apparatus of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention can be variously modified, changed and replaced by those skilled in the art. It should be interpreted as falling within the protection scope of the invention.

Description of the Related Art [0002]
One; Hot and cold stimulation apparatus of the present invention
10; coat
11; Mating surface
12; Receiving portion
12a; Receptacle top surface 12b; Receptacle
13; Winder
20; tube
21; Vent
30; conductor
31; Conductor upper channel
32; Conductor subchannel
40; Cold and hot stimulator
50; Radiator
60; [0034]
61; One-way coupling member 62; Other coupling member
70; Circulation
80; Air injection pipe
100; Cold and hot stimulation device of the embodiment of the present invention
110; coat
111; Mating surface
112; Accommodation space
112a; A receiving space upper surface 112b; If space
120; tube
121; Vent
130; Copper sponge
131; Upper fabric board
132; Lower fabric board
140; Peltier Element
150; Heat sink
151; Heat sink
161; One-sided velcro member 162; Other velcro member
170; Circulation
180; Air injection pipe
190; Pneumatic generator
200; Power supply
210; wire

Claims

In the cold and hot stimulation apparatus,
Both ends are coupled to each other by a coupling member (60) formed at one side end, the outer shell having a band shape, having a winding portion 13 wrapped around the affected part;
A receiving part 12 surrounded by the upper part 12a and the lower part 12b of the receiving part of the shell 10;
A tube 20 formed in the receiving part 12 and having an air injection pipe 80 and a vent hole 21 for letting in and out of air;
A cold / hot stimulator (40) installed in the inner space of the tube (20) to cool or generate heat according to the application of current;
A conductor (30) attached to the lower or upper portion of the cold / hot stimulator (40) to transfer hot or cold air generated from the cold / hot stimulator (40) to the outside of the receiving portion (12);
A radiator (50) attached to the lower or upper portion of the cold / hot stimulator (40) to discharge heat generated from the cold / hot stimulator (40) to the outside through the vent (21) of the tube (20);
Cold and hot stimulation apparatus comprising a.

According to claim 1, wherein the upper or lower conductors of the conductor 30 is characterized in that the conductor upper channel 31 and the conductor lower channel 32 for transferring hot or cold air delivered to the conductor 30 is provided. Cold and hot stimulation device.

The cold and hot stimulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cold and hot stimulating body (40) is a Peltier element (140).

The cold and hot stimulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conductor (30) is a copper sponge (130).

The cold and hot stimulation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the radiator (50) comprises a heat sink.