TW202216241A - Infrared electrotherapy module capable of facilitating wound healing - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides an infrared electrotherapy module comprising a casing, a power source, an infrared loop, an electrotherapy loop, an infrared light source, and a pair of connection portions. The power source supplies the power to the infrared loop and the electrotherapy loop. The infrared loop is disposed in the casing and drives the infrared light source to emit infrared ray. The infrared light source is disposed in the casing. The electrotherapy loop is disposed in the casing and provides a therapeutic electric current imposed to skin. The electrotherapy loop is electrically connected to an electrotherapy patch through the pair of connection portions. The above-mentioned infrared electrotherapy module can solve the problem that the effect of conventional electrotherapy module in promoting wound repair is still insufficient.

Description

Infrared electrotherapy module

The present invention relates to an infrared electrotherapy module, in particular to an infrared electrotherapy module that can promote wound repair.

It is known that when electrical current enters skin tissue, it increases the movement of neutrophils and macrophages and stimulates fibroblast proliferation, a process that promotes wound healing. Based on the above principles, an electrotherapy module has been designed, which can be used to promote wound healing, especially chronic wounds that are difficult to heal due to chronic diseases (such as diabetes). The conventional electrotherapy module includes a power supply device and an electrotherapy patch, and the electrotherapy patch is electrically connected to the power supply device. When using the electrotherapy module to treat the patient's wound, the electrotherapy patch is first attached to the skin near the wound, and then the power supply device supplies power to the electrotherapy patch, and the electrotherapy patch transmits electrical stimulation to the skin, thereby promoting the repair of skin wounds.

However, since the effective area of electrical stimulation therapy may only be limited to the vicinity of the muscle tissue receiving electrical stimulation, there is no significant effect on more distant tissues, and electrical stimulation must be applied to the wound when performing electrical stimulation therapy. The local blood circulation can be promoted only by the nearby muscles that can be electrically stimulated. Based on the above, it can be seen that the effect of electrical stimulation therapy on wound repair is limited, so that the effect of conventional electrical therapy modules in promoting wound repair is still not significant enough.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and provide an infrared electrotherapy module, which includes: a casing; an infrared light source disposed in the casing; an infrared circuit disposed in the casing and driving the infrared light source to emit light the infrared rays; and an electrotherapy circuit, which is arranged in the casing and provides a therapeutic current for applying to the skin, and the electrotherapy circuit can be electrically connected to an external device.

In the above-mentioned infrared electrotherapy module, the infrared light source provides infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm.

In the infrared electrotherapy module described above, the size of the casing is a size that can be held by the palm.

The above-mentioned infrared electrotherapy module further includes a control unit, which is coupled to the infrared circuit and the electrotherapy circuit for controlling the signal output of the infrared circuit and the electrotherapy circuit.

In the above infrared electrotherapy module, the control unit includes at least one button, a remote control or a software.

The above infrared electrotherapy module further includes an electrotherapy patch, the electrotherapy patch includes: a base material layer; and a conductive layer, coated or attached to one side of the base material layer, the conductive layer is Made of a conductive material and configured to be electrically connectable to the electrotherapy circuit.

In the above-mentioned infrared electrotherapy module, the material of the conductive layer is selected from the group consisting of conductive gel, silver, carbon, silver composite material and carbon composite material.

In the above infrared electrotherapy module, the electrotherapy patch further includes a heating coil, the heating coil is disposed between the base material layer and the conductive layer and is configured to be electrically connected to the electrotherapy circuit. When the coil and the conductive layer are electrically connected to the electrotherapy circuit, the electric circuits of the heating coil and the conductive layer are independent of each other.

In the above infrared electrotherapy module, the electrotherapy patch further includes an infrared radiation layer, the infrared radiation layer is disposed between the heating coil and the conductive layer, and the infrared radiation layer can emit infrared rays.

In the above-mentioned infrared electrotherapy module, the infrared radiation layer comprises an infrared textile material capable of emitting infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm.

The infrared electrotherapy module as described above can solve the problem that the conventional electrotherapy module has insufficient effect on promoting wound repair.

In order to fully understand the purpose, features and effects of the present invention, hereby, the present invention is described in detail by the following specific embodiments and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the description is as follows:

Embodiment 1 of the present invention provides an infrared electrotherapy module 1 . Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the infrared electrotherapy module 1 includes a housing 11 , a power source 12 , an infrared circuit 13 , an electrotherapy circuit 14 , and an infrared light source 15 . and a pair of connecting parts 16 . The power source 12 is disposed in the casing 11 and provides power to the infrared circuit 13 and the electrotherapy circuit 14 . The infrared circuit 13 is disposed in the casing 11 and drives the infrared light source 15 to emit infrared rays. The infrared light source 15 is disposed in the housing 22 and provides infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm. The electrotherapy circuit 14 is disposed in the housing 11 and provides a therapeutic current for applying to the skin. The electrotherapy circuit 14 can be electrically connected to an electrotherapy patch (not shown in the figure) through the pair of connecting portions 16 .

In the present embodiment 1, when the infrared electrotherapy module 1 is to be used to treat a patient, the infrared electrotherapy module 1 is connected to an electrotherapy patch through the pair of connecting portions 16, so that the electrotherapy circuit 14 can be The electrical current is delivered to the electrotherapy patch. Next, the electrotherapy patch electrically connected to the infrared electrotherapy module 1 is attached to the skin near the patient's wound, and the infrared electrotherapy module 1 is activated, so that the infrared light source 15 emits infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm It is irradiated on the wound on the skin and the nearby skin, and the electrotherapy patch also electrically stimulates the skin near the wound of the patient. Through the above operation process, phototherapy and electrotherapy courses for promoting wound healing can be performed on the patient through the infrared electrotherapy module 1 .

Regarding the effect of infrared on promoting wound repair, it has been mentioned in the previous literature that infrared has a role in promoting wound repair (Hsu, YH, et al., Far infrared promotes wound healing through activation of Notch1 signaling. J Mol Med (Berl) , 2017. 95(11): p. 1203-1213). It is also mentioned in other literatures that infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm have a more excellent effect of promoting wound repair when irradiating the wound site on the skin (H, TOYOKAWA., et al., Promotive Effects of Far-Infrared Rayon Full-Thickness Skin Wound Healing in Rats. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2003 Jun;228(6):724-9; Hui-Wen Chiu., et al., Far-infrared promotes burn wound healing by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome caused by enhanced autophagy. J Mol Med (Berl). 2016 Jul;94(7):809-19).

The infrared electrotherapy module 1 is based on the above principles, in addition to providing electrical stimulation through the electrotherapy circuit 14 to promote wound repair, the infrared light source 15 emits infrared rays to enhance the effect of wound repair. Therefore, compared with the conventional electrotherapy module that only promotes wound repair through electrical stimulation, the infrared electrotherapy module 1 further enhances the effect of promoting wound repair by combining electrical stimulation and infrared irradiation. Thereby, the infrared electrotherapy module 1 solves the problem that the conventional electrotherapy module still has insufficient effect of promoting wound repair.

In addition, the conventional electrotherapy patch is connected to a specific power supply device with a wire, and then the electrical stimulation is delivered to the patient through the power supply device, and the power supply device is usually a device that is not easy to move. In this way, when a patient receives electrotherapy through the conventional electrotherapy module, the treatment can only be carried out in a place equipped with a specific power supply device. The electrotherapy patch is removed from the body and the session is suspended, all of which cause the patient to have limited mobility during the electrotherapy session. In the present embodiment 1, the size of the casing 11 is designed to be a size that can be held by the palm, and the infrared electrotherapy module 1 has the power supply 12 built in, and the infrared electrotherapy module 1 does not need to be equipped with an additional power supply device. Through the above arrangement, it is convenient for the operator to carry and operate the infrared electrotherapy module 1, and the patient can perform treatment at any place without the need to prepare an additional power supply device. 1 is small enough to be worn on the body, thus minimizing the impact on the patient's freedom of movement. With the above arrangement, the infrared electrotherapy module 1 can further solve the problem that the conventional electrotherapy module causes the patient to be restricted in movement during the course of treatment. However, in other embodiments, the infrared electrotherapy module 1 can still be designed with different sizes of casings according to the usage requirements and the needs of the components to be equipped with the infrared electrotherapy module 1 , which is not limited to this embodiment 1.

In the present embodiment 1, the external device is an electrotherapy patch for sticking on the patient's skin, but in other embodiments, the electrotherapy circuit 14 is connected to different types of external devices depending on the usage requirements . In addition, in the present embodiment 1, the electrotherapy circuit 14 is connected to the external device through a pair of connection parts 16 in the form of button electrodes, but in other embodiments, the electrotherapy circuit 14 can also be designed with different numbers , electrodes of different forms or electrically connected to an external device by other known means, for example, the electrotherapy circuit 14 may be directly wired to the external device. The above settings are not limited to Embodiment 1.

In this embodiment 1, the infrared light source 15 is an infrared LED, and the infrared light source 15 provides infrared light with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm and continuous light with a radiance of about 8.2 mW/cm ² or a radiance of about 8.8 mW/ cm ² of pulsed light, the infrared light source 15 in Example 1 transmits infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm to provide a better effect of promoting wound healing. However, in other embodiments, the infrared light source 15 can also be an infrared light bulb or other types of infrared light sources known at present, and the infrared wavelength and the irradiance of the light emitted by the infrared light source 15 can be referred to those provided by the current commercially available phototherapy machines. The irradiance is adjusted, and the present embodiment 1 is not limited.

In this embodiment 1, the electric field strength provided by the electrotherapy circuit 14 is 100 mV/mm, the application time is 20 minutes each time, and the frequency is 2 Hz (pulse width is 500 μs), but in other embodiments, the electrotherapy The working parameters of the circuit 14 can be adjusted with reference to the working parameters provided by the current commercially available electrotherapy machines, and are not limited to this embodiment 1.

In this embodiment 1, the power source 12 is disposed in the casing 11 to directly provide power to the infrared circuit 13 and the electrotherapy circuit 14 . However, in other embodiments, the power source 12 can be optionally disposed outside the casing 11 , and the power source 12 can be electrically connected to the infrared circuit 13 and the electrotherapy circuit 14 only when the infrared electrotherapy module 1 is to be used. In this embodiment 1, the power source 12 is a detachable battery, but in other embodiments, the power source 12 can be a built-in rechargeable mobile power supply, an external power supply device or other known power supply The settings are not limited to Embodiment 1. That is, in other embodiments, the infrared electrotherapy module 1 may optionally not be provided with a power source, and power is supplied to the infrared electrotherapy module 1 only when the infrared electrotherapy module 1 is to be operated.

The second embodiment of the present invention provides an infrared electrotherapy module 2. Referring to FIG. 3, the infrared electrotherapy module 2 of the second embodiment has substantially the same main structure and function as the infrared electrotherapy module 1 of the first embodiment, and the main difference is that The infrared electrotherapy module 1 of the embodiment 1 only provides preset electrical stimulation intensity and infrared radiation illuminance, and the infrared electrotherapy module 2 of the present embodiment 2 is provided with a control unit 27 designed as a button, the control unit 27 and the The infrared circuit and the electrotherapy circuit of the infrared electrotherapy module 2 are coupled to control the signal output of the infrared circuit and the electrotherapy circuit. The user can adjust the intensity of electrical stimulation, the intensity of infrared radiation, the operation time and other operation modes by operating the control unit 27 . In other embodiments, the control unit 27 can be configured as a plurality of physical or virtual buttons, an external remote control, a mobile phone application running in a mobile phone, an operating software running in other electronic devices, or other known existing The wired or wireless control means is coupled with the infrared circuit and the electrotherapy circuit, and is not limited to the second embodiment.

The third embodiment of the present invention provides an infrared electrotherapy module 3. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the infrared electrotherapy module 3 of the third embodiment has substantially the same main structure and function as the infrared electrotherapy module 1 of the first embodiment. The difference is that the infrared electrotherapy module 3 further includes an electrotherapy patch 38 , and the electrotherapy patch 38 includes a substrate layer 381 , a conductive layer 382 and a pair of electrode terminals 383 . The conductive layer 382 is attached to (or coated on) one side of the base material layer 381. The conductive layer 382 is made of conductive material and can be electrically connected to the electrotherapy circuit of the infrared electrotherapy module 3 (not shown in the figure). shown), the pair of electrode terminals 383 are disposed on the other side of the base material layer 381 and connected to the conductive layer 382 .

The operation of the infrared electrotherapy module 3 is the same as that of the infrared electrotherapy module 1 in the first embodiment. When the infrared electrotherapy module 3 is used to treat a patient, the pair of connecting parts 36 and the electrotherapy patch 38 are connected. The electrode terminals 383 are connected so that the electrotherapy circuit (not shown in the figure) can transmit current to the electrotherapy patch 38 . Next, the electrotherapy patch 38 is attached to the skin near the patient's wound, and the infrared electrotherapy module 3 is activated to perform a course of treatment.

In this embodiment 3, the base material layer 381 is made of non-woven material, but in other embodiments, the base material layer 381 can be selected from other synthetic fiber materials, other known base materials for electrotherapy patches The material of the layer, or the material used for the infrared radiation layer in the following Example 4, is not limited to this Example 3.

In this embodiment 3, the means for electrically connecting the electrotherapy patch 38 to the electrotherapy circuit can refer to the connection methods of the other electrotherapy circuits 14 and the external electrotherapy patch listed in the embodiment 1, instead of taking this embodiment 3 as the limit. In this embodiment 3, the material of the conductive layer 382 is polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fiber, but in other embodiments, the material of the conductive layer 382 can be selected from conductive gel, silver, carbon, silver composite material and carbon composite material The group of materials, specific examples are such as silver fiber, nanosilver, dendritic silver, thermal transfer conductive adhesive, conductive printing paste, conductive polymer fiber, graphene, organic carbon compounds and other materials, or can be selected Other known conductive materials suitable for the conductive layer of the electrotherapy patch are not limited to the third embodiment.

The fourth embodiment of the present invention provides an infrared electrotherapy module 4. The infrared electrotherapy module 4 of the fourth embodiment has substantially the same main structure and function as the infrared electrotherapy module 3 of the third embodiment. The material and structure of the electrotherapy patch 48 of the module 4 are different from those of the electrotherapy patch 38 of the infrared electrotherapy module 3 .

Since the main structure of the infrared electrotherapy module 4 is the same as that of the infrared electrotherapy module 3 in the third embodiment, only the cross-sectional structure of the electrotherapy patch 48 is shown in FIG. 6 here. The electrotherapy patch 48 includes a base material layer 481 , an infrared radiation layer 482 , a heating coil 483 , a conductive layer 484 , an electrode terminal 485 and a pair of electrode terminals 486 . The infrared radiation layer 482 is attached to the base material layer 481, and the infrared radiation layer 482 can emit infrared rays. The heating coil 483 is sandwiched between the infrared radiation layer 482 and the base material layer 481 . The conductive layer 484 is attached to the infrared radiation layer 482 . The electrode terminal 485 and the pair of electrode terminals 486 are attached to the other side of the base material layer 481 , the electrode terminal 485 is electrically connected to the conductive layer 484 , and the pair of electrode terminals 486 is electrically connected to the heating coil 483 . When the conductive layer 484 and the heating coil 483 are electrically connected to the electrotherapy circuit (not shown) of the infrared electrotherapy module 4 through the electrode terminal 485 and the electrode terminal 486 , the electrical connection between the heating coil 483 and the conductive layer 484 is The circuits are independent of each other.

In the fourth embodiment, the infrared radiation layer 482 is made of tea carbon fiber. But in other embodiments, other textile materials known to scatter infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm can also be used to replace the tea carbon fiber, for example, a kind of 95% graphene-containing rayon and 5% spandex. Infrared textile material, its article number is FY-K0300001, and its test report (test report number: TFF9H251) in the Textile Industry Comprehensive Research Institute of the consortium has confirmed that the infrared radiation rate of this material reaches 0.8; Infrared textile material composed of nylon and 15% spandex, its number is FY-K0402001, and its test report (test report number: TFF8L070) in the textile industry comprehensive research institute of the consortium has confirmed that the infrared radiation rate of this material reaches 0.82. In addition, in other embodiments, the infrared radiation layer 482 can also be selected from other existing known textile materials that can emit infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm or customized by the functional and technical textile certification and verification committee. The textile material of FTTS-FA-010 4.1 is not limited to this example 4.

The wavelength of infrared light emitted by the tea carbon fiber material selected in Example 4 has been confirmed in the test report of the Ziqiang Industrial Science Foundation (Test Report No.: 108RJ27G051), and the infrared radiation rate of this material is 0.9. Referring to Figure 7 at the same time, the figure shows the ideal black body spectral radiation power density distribution position. It can be seen from Figure 7 that most of the infrared rays emitted by the object have a wavelength between 2 and 25 μm. The infrared emissivity of the material is as high as 0.9, that is, the total infrared emissivity (W/m ² ) of the tea carbon fiber is 90% of that of an ideal black body, and the emitted infrared rays must also contain infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm. From this, it can be proved that the tea carbon fiber material selected in Example 4 can emit infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm. In addition, the above-mentioned infrared textile material composed of 95% graphene-containing rayon and 5% spandex has an infrared emissivity of 0.8, indicating that the emitted infrared rays are 80% of the ideal value, and the above-mentioned example consists of 85% The infrared textile material composed of nylon and 15% spandex has an infrared emissivity of 0.82, indicating that the emitted infrared is 80% of the ideal value. The infrared emitted by the above example materials must also contain wavelengths ranging from 2 to 25 μm. of infrared rays.

The infrared radiation layer 482 of the infrared electrotherapy module 4 can not only transmit the infrared light source, but also provide infrared rays to the patient's skin through the electrotherapy patch 48 to further promote wound healing. However, in other embodiments, the infrared radiation layer 482 can also be chosen not to be provided, and the infrared light can be provided only through the infrared light source, which is not limited to the fourth embodiment.

The heating coil 483 is heated by being energized. Through the heating effect of the heating coil 483, when the infrared electrotherapy module 4 is used to treat a patient, in addition to providing the therapeutic effect of infrared rays and electrical stimulation, it can also transmit The electrotherapy patch 48 further provides the effect of heating the skin. When the skin temperature rises, it will help to increase the blood flow of the skin tissue, promote vasodilation and blood circulation, thereby further promoting the wound healing effect.

In Embodiment 4, the material of the conductive layer 484 may refer to the material used for the conductive layer 382 in Embodiment 3.

In this embodiment 4, the electrode terminal 485 and the electrode terminal 486 are designed in the form of buttons, but in other embodiments, the electrode terminal 485 and the electrode terminal 486 can be designed as pressing sheets, wires or other known electrical connection elements , and the number of terminals can also be modified according to requirements, and is not limited to Embodiment 4.

As described above, the problem that the conventional electrotherapy module can promote wound repair can be solved by the arrangement of the infrared light source of the infrared electrotherapy module, and the infrared light source can transmit infrared rays with an emission wavelength of 2 to 25 μm. to provide better wound healing effect. At the same time, by designing the size of the casing to be a size that can be held by the palm, the problem that the conventional electrotherapy module causes the patient to be restricted in movement during treatment can be further solved. Furthermore, through the setting of the control unit, the operation mode of the infrared electrotherapy module can be adjusted. In addition, through the heating effect of the heating coil of the electrotherapy patch, the effect of heating the skin can be further provided; through the infrared radiation layer of the electrotherapy patch, additional infrared rays can be applied to the patient's skin, which further promotes the wound. healing effect.

The present invention has been disclosed above with preferred embodiments, but those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments are only used to describe the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that all changes and substitutions equivalent to this embodiment should be considered to be included within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be defined by the scope of the patent application.

1: Infrared electrotherapy module 11: Shell 12: Power 13: Infrared loop 14: Electrotherapy circuit 15: Infrared light source 16: Connection part 2: Infrared electrotherapy module 27: Control unit 3: Infrared electrotherapy module 38: Electrotherapy Patch 36: Connection part 381: substrate layer 382: Conductive layer 383: electrode terminal 4: Infrared electrotherapy module 48: Electrotherapy Patch 481: substrate layer 482: Infrared radiation layer 483: Heating Coil 484: Conductive layer 485: Electrode terminal 486: electrode terminal

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the appearance of an infrared electrotherapy module according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the infrared electrotherapy module according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the appearance of the infrared electrotherapy module according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the appearance of the infrared electrotherapy module according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electrotherapy patch of the infrared electrotherapy module according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electrotherapy patch of the infrared electrotherapy module according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. Fig. 7 is the spectral radiation power density distribution diagram of an ideal black body.

none

1: Infrared electrotherapy module

11: Shell

12: Power

13: Infrared loop

14: Electrotherapy circuit

15: Infrared light source

16: Connection part

Claims (10)

An infrared electrotherapy module, comprising: a shell; an infrared light source, disposed in the casing; an infrared circuit disposed in the casing and driving the infrared light source to emit the infrared; and An electrotherapy circuit is disposed in the housing and provides a therapeutic current for application to the skin, the electrotherapy circuit being electrically connectable to an external device. The infrared electrotherapy module of claim 1, wherein the infrared light source provides infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm. The infrared electrotherapy module according to claim 1, wherein the size of the casing is a size that can be held by a palm. The infrared electrotherapy module of claim 1, further comprising a control unit coupled to the infrared circuit and the electrotherapy circuit for controlling the signal output of the infrared circuit and the electrotherapy circuit. According to the infrared electrotherapy module of claim 4, the control unit includes at least one button, a remote control or a software. The infrared electrotherapy module according to claim 1, further comprising an electrotherapy patch, the electrotherapy patch comprising: a substrate layer; and A conductive layer is attached to one side of the base material layer, the conductive layer is made of conductive material and is configured to be electrically connected to the electrotherapy circuit. The infrared electrotherapy module according to claim 6, wherein the material of the conductive layer is selected from the group consisting of conductive gel, silver, carbon, silver composite material and carbon composite material. The infrared electrotherapy module of claim 6, wherein the electrotherapy patch further comprises a heating coil, the heating coil is disposed between the base material layer and the conductive layer and is configured to be electrically connected to the electrotherapy circuit , when the heating coil and the conductive layer are electrically connected to the electrotherapy circuit, the heating coil and the electrical circuit of the conductive layer are independent of each other. The infrared electrotherapy module of claim 8, wherein the electrotherapy patch further comprises an infrared radiation layer, the infrared radiation layer is disposed between the heating coil and the conductive layer, and the infrared radiation layer can emit infrared rays. The infrared electrotherapy module according to claim 9, wherein the infrared radiation layer comprises an infrared textile material capable of emitting infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm.

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