TWI794660B - Infrared electrotherapy module - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides an infrared electrotherapy module, which includes a housing, a power supply, and an infrared circuit, an electrotherapy circuit, an infrared light source and a pair of connecting parts. The power supply provides power to the infrared circuit and the electrotherapy circuit. The infrared circuit is arranged in the casing and drives the infrared light source to emit infrared rays. The infrared light source is arranged in the housing. The electrotherapy circuit is arranged in the housing and provides a therapeutic current for applying to the skin. The electrotherapy circuit can be electrically connected to an electrotherapy patch through the pair of connecting parts. Through the above-mentioned infrared electrotherapy module, the problem that the effect of conventional electrotherapy modules to promote wound repair is still not significant enough can be solved.

Description

Infrared electrotherapy module

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

It is known that when an electric 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). A 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 a 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, because the effective area of electrical stimulation therapy may only be limited to the adjacent area of the muscle tissue receiving electrical stimulation, there is no obvious effect on more distant tissues, and when electrical stimulation therapy is performed, electrical stimulation must act on the wound The nearby muscles that can be stimulated by electricity can promote local blood circulation. Based on the above, it can be seen that the range of action of electrical stimulation therapy on wound repair is limited, so that the effect of conventional electrotherapy modules on promoting wound repair is still not significant enough.

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

As described above in the infrared electrotherapy module, the infrared light source provides infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm.

As for the above-mentioned infrared electrotherapy module, 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 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 above-mentioned infrared electrotherapy module, the control unit includes at least one button, a remote controller or a software.

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

According to 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-mentioned infrared electrotherapy module, the electrotherapy patch further includes a heating coil, the heating coil is arranged between the substrate layer and the conductive layer and configured to be electrically connected to the electrotherapy circuit, when the heating 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.

According to the above-mentioned infrared electrotherapy module, the electrotherapy patch further includes an infrared radiation layer, the infrared radiation layer is arranged 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 includes an infrared textile material capable of emitting infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm.

The above-mentioned infrared electrotherapy module can solve the problem that the effect of the conventional electrotherapy module on promoting wound repair is not significant enough.

1: Infrared electrotherapy module

11: shell

12: Power supply

13: Infrared circuit

14: Electrotherapy circuit

15: Infrared light source

16: Connecting part

2: Infrared electrotherapy module

27: Control unit

3: Infrared electrotherapy module

38:Electrotherapy patch

36: Connecting 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 diagram of the appearance of an infrared electrotherapy module according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an infrared electrotherapy module according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the appearance of the infrared electrotherapy module according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the appearance of the infrared electrotherapy module according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrotherapy patch of an infrared electrotherapy module according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrotherapy patch of an infrared electrotherapy module according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a distribution diagram of spectral radiation power density of an ideal blackbody.

In order to fully understand the purpose, characteristics and effects of the present invention, the present invention will be described in detail by the following specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The description is as follows: Embodiment 1 of the present invention provides an infrared ray Electrotherapy module 1, with reference to Figures 1 and 2, the infrared electrotherapy module 1 includes a housing 11, a power supply 12, an infrared circuit 13, an electrotherapy circuit 14, An infrared light source 15 and a pair of connecting parts 16 . The power supply 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 casing 22 and provides infrared rays with a wavelength of 2-25 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 parts 16 .

In the first embodiment, when the infrared electrotherapy module 1 is to be used to treat patients, the infrared electrotherapy module 1 is connected to an electrotherapy patch through the pair of connecting parts 16, so that the electrotherapy circuit 14 can Delivers electrical current to the electrotherapy patch. Next, attach the electrotherapy patch electrically connected to the infrared electrotherapy module 1 on the skin near the patient's wound, and start the infrared electrotherapy module 1, so that the infrared light source 15 emits infrared radiation with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm The wound on the skin and the nearby skin, and the electrotherapy patch also electrically stimulates the skin near the patient's wound. Through the above-mentioned operation process, the phototherapy and electrotherapy courses for promoting wound healing can be performed on patients through the infrared electrotherapy module 1 .

Regarding the effect of infrared rays on promoting wound healing, it has been mentioned in previous literature that infrared rays can promote wound healing (Hsu, YH, et al., Far infrared promotes wound healing through activation of Notchl signaling. J Mol Med (Berl) , 2017.95(11): p.1203-1213). It is also mentioned in other documents 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., Promotion 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 bum wound healing by suppressing NLRP3 inflammation 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, it also emits infrared rays through the infrared light source 15 to enhance the effect of wound repair. Therefore, compared with conventional electrotherapy modules that only promote wound repair through electrical stimulation, the infrared electrotherapy module 1 further enhances the effect of promoting wound repair by combining electrical stimulation and infrared radiation. In this way, the infrared electrotherapy module 1 solves the problem that the effect of the conventional electrotherapy module on promoting wound repair is still not significant enough.

In addition, the conventional electrotherapy patch is connected to a specific power supply device by wires, and then the electric stimulation is delivered to the patient through the power supply device, and the power supply device is usually an inflexible device. In this way, when a patient receives electrotherapy through the conventional electrotherapy module, the treatment can only be performed in a place with a specific power supply device. At the same time, if the patient wants to move to a distant place during the treatment process, he must The electrotherapy patch is removed from the body to suspend the course of treatment. All of the above situations cause the patient's activities to be limited during the course of electrotherapy. In this embodiment 1, the size of the housing 11 is designed to be a size that can be held by the palm, and the power supply 12 is built in the infrared electrotherapy module 1, and the infrared electrotherapy module 1 does not need to be equipped with an additional power supply. device. Through the above setting, it is convenient for the operator to carry and operate the infrared electrotherapy module 1, and the patient can have a course of treatment in any place without preparing an additional power supply device. 1 is small enough to be worn on the body, so it can minimize the impact on the patient's freedom of movement. The infrared electrotherapy module 1 can further solve the problem that the conventional electrotherapy module causes the patient's activities to be limited during the course of treatment. However, in other embodiments, the infrared electrotherapy module 1 can still be designed with housings of different sizes depending on the requirements of use and the components to be equipped with the infrared electrotherapy module 1 , which is not limited to the first embodiment.

In this embodiment 1, the external device is an electrotherapy patch for attaching to the patient's skin, but in other embodiments, the electrotherapy circuit 14 is connected to different types of external device. In addition, in the present embodiment 1, the electrotherapy circuit 14 is connected to an external device through a pair of connecting parts 16 in the form of button electrodes, but in other embodiments, the electrotherapy circuit 14 can also be designed to have different numbers , different forms of electrodes or electrically connected to external devices by other existing known means, for example, the electrotherapy circuit 14 can be directly connected to external devices by wires. The above configurations are not limited to Embodiment 1.

In the present embodiment 1, the infrared light source 15 is an infrared LED, and the infrared light source 15 provides infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm and continuous light with a radiant illuminance of about 8.2 mW/cm ² or a radiant illuminance of about 8.8 mW/cm ² pulsed light, the infrared light source 15 in this embodiment 1 provides a more excellent effect of promoting wound healing by emitting infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm. 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 irradiance of the light emitted by the infrared light source 15 can refer to the current commercially available phototherapy machines. The irradiance is adjusted, but not limited to Embodiment 1.

In this embodiment 1, the electric field intensity provided by the electrotherapy circuit 14 is 100mV/mm, and the application time is 20 minutes each time, and the frequency is 2Hz (the pulse width is 500 μ s), 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 electrotherapy machines currently available in the market, and are not limited to Embodiment 1.

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

Embodiment 2 of the present invention provides an infrared electrotherapy module 2, referring to Fig. 3, the main structure and function of the infrared electrotherapy module 2 in this embodiment 2 and the infrared electrotherapy module 1 in embodiment 1 are roughly the same, the main difference is , the infrared electrotherapy module 1 of embodiment 1 only provides preset electric stimulation intensity and infrared irradiance, and the infrared electrotherapy module 2 of the present embodiment 2 is provided with a control unit 27 designed in the form of a button, and the control unit 27 and The infrared circuit of the infrared electrotherapy module 2 is coupled to the electrotherapy circuit for controlling the signal output of the infrared circuit and the electrotherapy circuit. The user can adjust the electric stimulation intensity, infrared radiation intensity, 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 controller, a mobile phone application program running in a mobile phone, operating software running in other electronic devices, or other existing known Wired or wireless control means, and coupled with the infrared circuit and the electrotherapy circuit, not limited to Embodiment 2.

Embodiment 3 of the present invention provides an infrared electrotherapy module 3. Referring to FIGS. The difference is that the infrared electrotherapy module 3 further includes an electrotherapy patch 38 , and the electrotherapy patch 38 includes a base material layer 381 , a conductive layer 382 and a pair of electrode terminals 383 . The conductive layer 382 is attached (or coated) on one side of the substrate 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). As shown), the pair of electrode terminals 383 is disposed on the other side of the substrate layer 381 and connected to the conductive layer 382 .

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

In this embodiment 3, the substrate layer 381 is made of non-woven material, but in other embodiments, the substrate layer 381 can be made of other synthetic fiber materials, other known substrates for electrotherapy patch Layer material, or as the material used in the infrared radiation layer in the following embodiment 4, but not limited to the present embodiment 3.

In this embodiment 3, the means for electrically connecting the electrotherapy patch 38 to the electrotherapy circuit can refer to the connection method between other electrotherapy circuits 14 and the external electrotherapy patch listed in embodiment 1, instead of taking this embodiment 3 as a 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 A group of materials, specific examples are materials such as silver fiber, nano silver, dendritic silver, thermal transfer conductive adhesive, conductive printing paste, conductive polymer fiber, graphene, organic carbon compound, etc., or optional Other existing known conductive materials suitable for the conductive layer of the electrotherapy patch are not limited to Example 3.

Embodiment 4 of the present invention provides an infrared electrotherapy module 4. The main structure and function of the infrared electrotherapy module 4 in this embodiment 4 are substantially the same as the infrared electrotherapy module 3 in Embodiment 3. The main difference is that the infrared electrotherapy module 4 The material and structure of the electrotherapy patch 48 of the module 4 are different from 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 Embodiment 3, only the cross-sectional structure of the electrotherapy patch 48 is shown in FIG. 6 . The electrotherapy patch 48 includes a substrate 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 on the substrate 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 on the infrared emitting layer 482 . The electrode terminal 485 and the pair of electrode terminals 486 are attached to the other side of the substrate 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 in the figure) 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 The circuits are independent.

In the fourth embodiment, the infrared radiation layer 482 is made of tea carbon fiber. However, in other embodiments, other textile materials that are known to scatter infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm can also be used to replace tea carbon fibers, for example, an infrared ray composed of 95% graphene-containing rayon and 5% spandex Textile material, its article number is FY-K0300001, its test report (test report number: TFF9H251) in the Textile Industry Research Institute of the Foundation has confirmed that the infrared radiation rate of this material reaches 0.8; another example, a kind of 85% nylon The infrared textile material composed of 15% spandex is numbered FY-K0402001, and its test report (test report number: TFF8L070) at the Textile Industry Research Institute of the Foundation 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 FTTS customized by the Functional and Industrial Textile Certification and Verification Review Committee. - The textile material of FA-010 4.1, but not limited to Example 4.

The infrared wavelength emitted by the tea carbon fiber material used in Example 4 has been confirmed in the test report (test report number: 108RJ27G051) of the Ziqiang Industrial Science Foundation, and the infrared emission rate of this material reaches 0.9. See Figure 7 at the same time, which shows the distribution position of the spectral radiation power density of an ideal black body. It can be seen from Figure 7 that the wavelength of infrared rays emitted by most of the objects is between 2 and 25 μm. As mentioned above, due to the carbon fiber material of tea leaves The infrared emissivity of tea carbon fiber is as high as 0.9, that is, the total infrared irradiance (W/m ^-2 ) of tea carbon fiber is 90% of that of an ideal black body, and the infrared rays emitted by it must also contain infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm. It can thus 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, which means that the emitted infrared rays are 80% of the ideal value. The infrared textile material composed of high-quality nylon and 15% spandex has an infrared emissivity of 0.82, which means that the emitted infrared is 82% of the ideal value. infrared.

In addition to passing through the infrared light source, the infrared electrotherapy module 4 can also provide infrared rays through the electrotherapy patch 48 to apply to the patient's skin through the above-mentioned infrared radiation layer 482, and further promote wound healing. However, in other embodiments, the infrared emitting layer 482 may also be selected to provide infrared rays only through the infrared light source, which is not limited to the fourth embodiment.

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

In the fourth embodiment, the material of the conductive layer 484 can refer to the material used in the conductive layer 382 in the third embodiment.

In this embodiment 4, the electrode terminal 485 and the electrode terminal 486 are designed as 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 mentioned above, through the setting of the infrared light source of the infrared electrotherapy module, the problem that the effect of the conventional electrotherapy module on promoting wound repair is still not significant enough can be solved, and the infrared light source can transmit infrared light with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm. Provide more excellent effect of promoting wound healing. At the same time, by designing the size of the shell to be graspable by the palm, it can further solve the problem of the conventional electrotherapy module that restricts the movement of the patient during the course of treatment. 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 wound healing. 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 the embodiment should be included in the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be defined by the scope of the patent application.

1: Infrared electrotherapy module

11: Housing

12: Power supply

13: Infrared circuit

14: Electrotherapy circuit

15: Infrared light source

16: Connecting part

Claims (8)

An infrared electrotherapy module, comprising: a casing; an infrared light source arranged in the casing; an infrared circuit arranged in the casing and driving the infrared light source to emit the infrared rays; an electrotherapy circuit arranged in the casing body and provide a treatment current for application to the skin, the electrotherapy circuit is electrically connected to an external device; an electrotherapy patch includes: a substrate layer; a conductive layer attached to one side of the substrate layer On, the conductive layer is made of conductive material and configured to be electrically connected to the electrotherapy circuit; and a pair of electrode terminals are arranged on the other side of the base layer and connected to the conductive layer; an infrared radiation layer, the infrared radiation layer is used to emit infrared rays; a heating coil, the heating coil is arranged between the substrate layer and the conductive layer, and the infrared radiation layer is arranged between the heating coil and the conductive layer and a pair of connecting parts, the electrotherapy circuit is electrically connected to the pair of electrode terminals on the electrotherapy patch through the pair of connecting parts in the form of button electrodes; wherein, the base material layer, the heating coil, the infrared ray The radiation layer and the conductive layer are stacked in sequence, and the pair of electrode terminals is attached to the other side of the base material layer. The infrared electrotherapy module according to claim 1, wherein the infrared light source provides infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm. The infrared electrotherapy module as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the size of the casing is configured to be held by a palm. The infrared electrotherapy module as described in claim 1 further includes 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 described in claim 4, the control unit includes at least one button, a remote controller or a software. The infrared electrotherapy module as claimed in claim 1, 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 as claimed in item 1, wherein the electrotherapy patch is configured to be electrically connected to the electrotherapy circuit, and when the heating coil and the conductive layer are electrically connected to the electrotherapy circuit, the heating coil and the conductive layer The electrical circuit systems are independent. The infrared electrotherapy module as claimed in item 7, wherein the infrared radiation layer comprises an infrared textile material that emits infrared rays with a wavelength of 2 to 25 μm.

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