WO2022054993A1

WO2022054993A1 - Wearable device providing stimuli

Info

Publication number: WO2022054993A1
Application number: PCT/KR2020/012340
Authority: WO
Inventors: 진호
Original assignee: (주)보우메디텍
Priority date: 2020-09-08
Filing date: 2020-09-11
Publication date: 2022-03-17
Also published as: KR20220032729A

Abstract

Disclosed is a wearable device providing stimuli to the parts of the body of a user by means of pulsed electromagnetic field or sound vibration. The disclosed wearable device providing stimuli comprises: at least one stimuli-providing module; a frame to which the stimuli-providing module is fixed; and a band which has a first through-hole for inserting the stimuli-providing module, and which, with the frame coupled thereto, is attached to and detached from the body of a user.

Description

A wearable device that provides stimulation

The present invention relates to a wearable device that provides stimulation, and more particularly, to a wearable device that provides stimulation to a user's body part using a pulsed magnetic field or acoustic vibration.

In order to relieve inflammation and pain of muscles, ligaments, joints, etc., devices for providing stimulation to the corresponding areas are being developed. Representatively, there are devices that directly stimulate body parts using EMS or vertical cam motion that provides stimulation using low frequency.

However, these devices can cause burns and even fractures by providing an excessively strong stimulus to the skin.

Accordingly, wearable devices that use a magnetic field or acoustic vibration to increase inflammation and pain relief while reducing direct stimulation on the skin have been developed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a wearable device that provides stimulation to a specific body part using a pulsed magnetic field or acoustic vibration.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wearable device that supports easy troubleshooting of a stimulus providing module.

According to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object, at least one stimulus providing module; a frame to which the stimulus providing module is fixed; and a band in which a first through hole into which the stimulation providing module is inserted is formed, and a band detachably attached to the user's body in a state in which the frame is coupled is provided.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, by providing stimulation to a joint or muscle using a pulsed magnetic field or acoustic vibration, pain, inflammation, etc. in a joint or muscle may be relieved.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, by providing an independently detachable vibration stimulation module and a failure detection mode, it is possible to easily repair a wearable device failure.

1 is a diagram for explaining a wearable device that provides stimulation, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a view for explaining a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram for explaining a stimulus providing module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a view for explaining a band according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a view for explaining a wearable device that provides stimulation according to another embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view.

6 is a view for explaining a visual data providing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Since the present invention can have various changes and can have various embodiments, specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and it should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention. In describing each figure, like reference numerals have been used for like elements.

The present invention relates to a wearable device that can be worn on a joint such as a knee, shoulder, wrist, or a muscle region such as a thigh and provide stimulation to the relevant region to relieve pain, swelling, and inflammation in the region.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a pulsed electro-magnetic field (PEMF) or acoustic vibration is used as a stimulus provided to a user. The pulsed magnetic field ionizes blood and expands blood vessels, improving blood flow and promoting metabolism, and is known to have the effect of stimulating nerves to regenerate nerves and relieve pain. In addition, acoustic vibration is transmitted into the body using water, which constitutes 60 to 65% of the human body, and is known to exert the effects of cell regeneration, nerve activation, and pain relief induction.

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

Referring to FIG. 1 , a wearable device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least one stimulus providing module 111 to 115 , a frame 120 , and a band 130 . Also, although not shown in the drawings, a controller for controlling the stimulus providing modules 111 to 115 and a battery for providing power to the stimulus providing modules 111 to 115 may be further included.

The stimulus providing modules 111 to 115 are fixed to the frame 120 , and the frame 120 is coupled to the band 130 . First through-holes 131 to 135 into which the stimulus providing modules 111 to 115 are inserted are formed in the band 130 , and the band 130 is detachably attached to the user's body while the frame 120 is coupled thereto. The frame 120 may also be detachably attached to the band 130 .

The user may wear the wearable device according to an embodiment of the present invention so that the stimulation providing modules 111 to 115 inserted into the band 130 and protruding from the band 130 contact the skin.

The stimulation providing module may include an acoustic vibration module 111 that provides acoustic vibration in the direction of the body part on which the band 130 is worn, and according to an embodiment, the direction of the body part on which the band 130 is worn. It may further include at least one pulsed magnetic field module (112 to 115) for irradiating a magnetic field.

Meanwhile, the wearable device according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a piezoelectric element layer disposed on the periphery 121 of the acoustic vibration module 115 . The piezoelectric element layer may be disposed on one surface of the frame 120 or disposed inside the frame.

The piezoelectric element layer vibrates by acoustic vibration provided from the acoustic vibration module 115 and converts this vibration energy into electrical energy. The converted electrical energy may be stored in a battery.

2 is a diagram for explaining a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a stimulus providing module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the frame 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention may have various shapes such as a cross shape as well as a rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 1 . The frame 120 includes at least one second through hole 122 to which a cylindrical-shaped stimulus providing module is attached and detached, and power to the stimulus providing module, so as to support easy troubleshooting of the wearable device. A first connector 123 may be included.

And, as shown in FIG. 3 , the stimulus providing module 111 is also formed on the outer peripheral surface of the stimulus providing module 111 so as to support the user's easy troubleshooting, and is coupled to the second through hole 122 of the frame. It may include a ring-shaped groove 311 and a second connector 312 coupled to the first connector 123 .

When the frame and the stimulus providing module are integrated, it is difficult for a user who does not have professional knowledge on troubleshooting to replace the defective stimulus providing module by themselves. However, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the user separates the faulty stimulus providing module coupled to the second through hole 122 of the frame from the frame 120 and separates the first and

second connectors

123 and 312 by , it is possible to easily remove the defective stimulus providing module from the frame 120 . The user can complete the replacement of the stimulus providing module by connecting the second connector 312 of the new stimulus providing module with the first connector 123 and coupling the new stimulus providing module to the second through hole 122. there is.

The diameter of the second through hole 122 is smaller than the diameter of the groove 311 , and the frame 120 may be made of an elastic material. Accordingly, the user can easily remove the stimulus providing module 111 from the second through hole 122 or couple the stimulus providing module 111 to the second through hole 122 .

Referring to FIG. 4 , the band 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a contact part 136 .

A contact area with the protrusion of the user's joint is displayed on the contact portion 136 . 4 , the contact area may be displayed as concentric circles as an embodiment, and the user may wear the wearable device so that the contact area of the band 130 is in contact with the protrusion of the joint. In addition, the first through-holes 131 to 134 of the band may be disposed to be spaced apart from the contact portion 136 by a preset distance. Through the first through-holes 131 to 134 , the stimulation providing module may provide stimulation by contacting the vicinity of the user's joint protrusion.

In joints such as knees and elbows, there are protrusions due to protruding bones, and even if stimulation is provided to these protrusions, it is difficult to expect effects such as pain relief. Since effects such as pain relief can be maximized when stimulation is provided to the region around the protrusion of the joint, in the band according to an embodiment of the present invention, the contact portion 136 of the band can be in contact with the protrusion of the user's joint. and by arranging the first through-holes 131 to 134 around the contact portion 136 to induce stimulation to be provided to the area around the protrusion of the joint.

Referring to FIG. 5 , the wearable device according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a pad 540 and a shield 550 , and may further include a housing 560 according to an embodiment. In addition, although not shown in the drawings, the frame may fix the pad 540 , the shield 560 , etc. as well as the stimulus providing module.

The pad 540 is attached to a body part, and may be made of an elastic material that can be deformed according to the surface shape of the body part to which the pad 540 is attached.

The pulsed

magnetic field modules

111 and 112 are disposed on the pad 540 , and the shielding unit 550 shields the magnetic field of the pulsed

magnetic field modules

111 and 112 irradiated in a direction opposite to the direction of the body part. The shielding part 550 is disposed between the acoustic vibration module 115 and the pulsed

magnetic field modules

111 and 112 , and thus the effect of the magnetic field on the acoustic vibration module 115 may be reduced. According to an embodiment, in order to reduce the effect of the magnetic field on the control unit and the battery, the control unit and the battery may be disposed between the shielding unit 550 and the acoustic vibration module 115 .

The housing 560 covers the

stimulus providing modules

111 , 112 , 115 , the frame and the shield 550 to protect the

stimulus providing modules

111 , 112 , 115 , the frame and the shield 550 from external shocks or foreign substances. protect At this time, as shown in FIG. 5 , the acoustic vibration module 115 may be disposed on the inner wall surface of the housing 560 . The frame may be coupled to the inner wall surface of the housing 560 to fix the acoustic vibration module 115 to be spaced apart from the shield 550 .

Meanwhile, the housing according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include visual

data providing units

611 , 613 , and 615 disposed on an external wall, and the visual

data providing units

611 , 613 and 615 are shown in FIG. 6 . described in detail.

6 is a view for explaining the visual data providing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows the visual data providing unit disposed on the outer wall of the housing.

The visual data providing unit may display the activated stimulus providing module in the failure detection mode, and may display information on the activated stimulus providing module using a light emitting device such as an LED. According to an embodiment, the visual data providing unit may be disposed on a band or a frame, and may be disposed at various locations that can be visually confirmed by a user.

As an embodiment, the visual data providing unit may display the activated stimulus providing module by using as many light emitting elements as the number of stimulus providing modules used in the wearable device. In FIG. 6 , as in FIG. 1 , when the stimulus providing module is disposed, a visual data providing unit disposed on the outer wall of the housing is illustrated as an embodiment. The first to fourth light emitting devices 611 to 614 correspond to the pulsed magnetic field modules 111 to 114 , and the fifth light emitting device 615 corresponds to the acoustic vibration module 115 .

The stimulus providing module is activated in different time windows in the failure detection mode, and may be sequentially turned on/off according to a preset order. For example, the first pulsed magnetic field module 111 is turned on for a preset stimulus providing time and is turned off after providing the stimulus, and then the second pulsed magnetic field module 112 is turned on for a preset stimulus providing time to provide the stimulus and then turned off can be Accordingly, the first light emitting element 611 is turned on during the stimulus providing time of the first pulsed magnetic field module 111 and is turned off after emitting light, and the second light emitting element 612 provides the stimulus of the second pulsed magnetic field module 112 . It can be turned on for a period of time and turned off after emitting light.

When a plurality of stimulus providing modules are used, even if some stimulus providing modules fail, the remaining stimulus providing modules provide the stimulus, so it is difficult for the user to easily identify the failure of the stimulus providing module.

Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a failure detection mode, in the failure detection mode, a plurality of stimulation providing modules provide stimulation at different times, and the visual data providing unit provides information on the stimulation providing module that provides the stimulation. visually presented to the user. Accordingly, the user can easily identify the stimulus providing module in which a failure has occurred among the stimulus providing modules.

For example, in the example described above, if the user does not feel any stimulation while the second light emitting device 612 emits light, the user may determine that a failure has occurred in the second pulsed magnetic field module 112 .

As described above, in the present invention, specific matters such as specific components, etc., and limited embodiments and drawings have been described, but these are only provided to help a more general understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. , various modifications and variations are possible from these descriptions by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. Therefore, the spirit of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, and not only the claims to be described later, but also all those with equivalent or equivalent modifications to the claims will be said to belong to the scope of the spirit of the present invention. .

Claims

at least one stimulus providing module;

a frame to which the stimulus providing module is fixed; and

A band in which a first through hole into which the stimulation providing module is inserted is formed, and which is detachably attached to the user's body in a state in which the frame is coupled

A wearable device that provides stimulation comprising a.
The method of claim 1,

The stimulus providing module is

An acoustic vibration module that provides acoustic vibration in the direction of the body part on which the band is worn

A wearable device that provides stimulation comprising a.
3. The method of claim 2,

The stimulus providing module is

at least one pulsed magnetic field module irradiating a magnetic field in the direction of the body part

A wearable device that provides stimulation further comprising a.
4. The method of claim 3,

a pad attached to the body part; and

Further comprising a shield for shielding the magnetic field of the pulsed magnetic field module irradiated in a direction opposite to the direction of the body part,

The pulsed magnetic field module is disposed on the pad,

The shielding unit is disposed between the acoustic vibration module and the pulsed magnetic field module.

A wearable device that provides stimulation.
5. The method of claim 4,

Further comprising a housing covering the stimulus providing module, the frame, and the shield,

the frame is

coupled to the inner wall surface of the housing to fix the acoustic vibration module in a state spaced apart from the shielding part

A wearable device that provides stimulation.
3. The method of claim 2,

the frame is

A piezoelectric element layer disposed around the acoustic vibration module

A wearable device that provides stimulation further comprising a.
The method of claim 1,

the frame is

at least one second through-hole through which the cylindrical-shaped magnetic pole providing module is detachably attached; and

and a first connector providing power to the stimulus providing module,

The stimulus providing module,

a ring-shaped groove formed on an outer peripheral surface of the magnetic pole providing module and coupled to the second through hole; and

a second connector coupled to the first connector

A wearable device that provides stimulation comprising a.
The method of claim 1,

the band is

It further comprises a contact portion marked with a contact area with the protrusion of the user's joint,

The first through hole is

spaced apart from the contact part by a preset distance

A wearable device that provides stimulation.
The method of claim 1,

In the failure detection mode, further comprising a visual data providing unit for displaying the activated stimulus providing module,

The stimulus providing module is

In the failure detection mode, activated in different time windows

A wearable device that provides stimulation.