JPH08299463A - Low frequency medical treatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To effectively and easily perform medical treatment by providing a control means controlling a pulse output means so that low frequency pulses are continuously outputted for a predetermined time by the operation of a start switch and subsequently outputted cyclically and intermittently. CONSTITUTION: At first, a switch SW2 is closed by the operation of a start switch 5 to operate a buzzer 35 for a predetermined time to emit a sound and pulses of predetermined frequency synchronizing to inhalation are outputted from an output socket 4. An output adjusting dial 3 is appropriately operated to change the resistance value of a variable resistor 2 and output of a degree not contracting a muscle is issued from an electrode pad. When an output changeover button is changed over to intermittently generate pulses according to inhalation, after the sounding of the buzzer 35 is started, predetermined pulses are outputted from the socket 4 and relatively strong output feeling a slight pain contracting a muscle is issued from the electrode pad. Therefore, a muscle can be contracted at a time of inhalation and sympathetic nerve function can be let rise synergistically.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a low frequency treatment device for applying low frequency pulses.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a low-frequency therapeutic device for stimulating a living body by attaching a pointer or a pair of electrodes to the skin of a human body and applying a low-frequency pulse between the pointer or the pair of electrodes.

Further, in recent years, it has been considered that there is a relationship between stimulation and respiration. First, considering the movement of the autonomic nerve as a change in the pulsation of the heart in which the sympathetic nerve and the parasympathetic nerve maintain moderate tension and is constantly moving rhythmically, the heart rate decreases during exhalation and the heart rate decreases during inspiration. Will increase. That is, it means that the parasympathetic nerve is enhanced and the sympathetic nerve is suppressed during exhalation, and conversely, the parasympathetic nerve is suppressed and the sympathetic nerve is enhanced during inspiration,
It can be seen that the directions of changes in the autonomic nerves are opposite between expiration and inspiration.

Next, regarding the autonomic nerve reaction and stimulation, it has been found that stimulation to the skin and subcutaneous tissue enhances the parasympathetic nerve function, and stimulation to the muscle enhances the sympathetic nerve function.

It has also been found that stimulation of sympathetic nerve function inhibits parasympathetic nerve function.

However, in physical therapy in which stimulation is performed by simply energizing a low-frequency pulse, the autonomic nerve as a movement of the living body can be obtained simply by selecting the site of stimulation, the type of stimulation, or the amount of stimulation. There is a problem that it cannot be said to be an effective treatment because it simply stimulates via the structural and functional mechanisms of the living body such as the nervous system or vascular system without considering the reaction.

Therefore, as a low-frequency treatment device for stimulating according to breathing, a structure described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-83671 is known.

The low-frequency treatment device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-83671 is a sensor that directly or indirectly senses a specific timing for at least one of expiration and inspiration, for example, a change in breathing. It is detected and pulses are intermittently generated in the living body in synchronization with this specific time.

[0009]

However, the conventional low-frequency treatment device disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-83671 simply generates a pulse in response to a respiratory change, and therefore the intensity of this pulse is reduced. In order to set the desired intensity, the pulse intensity must be set within a short period of time, and there is a problem that the pulse intensity setting becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a low-frequency treatment device capable of easily performing effective treatment.

[0011]

The low frequency treatment apparatus of the present invention comprises a pair of electrodes, pulse output means for outputting a low frequency pulse to the electrodes, and output of the low frequency pulse from the pulse output means. After the start switch, the output adjusting means for setting the output intensity of the low-frequency pulse from the pulse output means, and the operation of the start switch, the low-frequency pulse is continuously output for a predetermined time from the pulse output means. A control means for periodically and intermittently outputting a low-frequency pulse is provided.

[0012]

In the low frequency treatment apparatus of the present invention, the control means causes the pulse output means to continuously output the low frequency pulse for a predetermined time by operating the start switch, and the output adjusting means sets the output intensity of the low frequency pulse. After this predetermined time has passed,
By intermittently outputting the low-frequency pulse by the pulse output means, it is possible to easily set the output intensity of the low-frequency pulse.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the low frequency treatment apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a rectangular case body, and the low frequency pulse generating circuit 2 shown in FIG. 1 is accommodated in the case body 1.

The case body 1 has an output adjusting dial 3 as an output adjusting means for adjusting the opening / closing of the power source and the output of the low frequency pulse energization, and the electrode pads serving as a pair of treatment conductors (not shown) for energizing the pulse. Is provided with an output socket 4 as a pulse output means for connecting a plug to which is connected, and a start button 5 which is a start switch for starting pulse energization. The start button 5 has a light emitting diode LED1 for start display. It is provided.

Further, the case body 1 is provided with a breathing cycle adjusting slider 6 for adjusting the time of a breathing cycle having one cycle of exhalation and inspiration, and 5 for displaying time.
A treatment time display section 7 for linearly arranging the two light emitting diodes LED2 to LED6 and displaying the treatment time as a level is provided.

Further, the case body 1 has an output switching button 8 for switching between an exhalation mode in which a low-frequency pulse is energized during exhalation and an inhalation mode in which a low-frequency pulse is energized during inhalation, and the output switching button 8 is switched. Accordingly, a light emitting diode LED7 for exhalation display and a light emitting diode LED8 for inhalation display, which emit light in accordance with the exhalation output, are provided.

Further, a pin jack 11 for connecting an informing means for informing by a speaker, a buzzer, a headphone or an earphone is provided, and a volume adjusting dial 12 for adjusting an informing volume is provided.

Further, the back of the case body 1 is provided with a plurality of round holes (not shown) for a buzzer.

Next, regarding the low frequency pulse generation circuit 2,
This will be described with reference to the circuit diagram shown in FIG.

The low-frequency pulse generation circuit 2 includes a central processing unit (Central Processing Uni) as control means.
t: CPU) 21 is provided. The input terminal of the CPU 21 is connected to the other end of the switch SW1 whose one end for setting the opening and closing of the power supply in conjunction with the output adjustment dial 3 is connected to the other end, and the one end is the power supply. The other end of the pull-up resistor R1 connected to Vcc is connected. Similarly, at the output terminal, a variable resistor R2 having one end connected to the power supply Vcc is amplified.
The output terminals 4a and 4b of the output socket 4 are formed by the sliders of the variable resistor R2 that are connected via 22 and that continuously vary the output in conjunction with the power supply Vcc and the output adjustment dial 3.

The input terminal of the CPU 21 is connected to the other end of the switch SW2 whose one end is operated by the operation of the start button 5 and whose one end is grounded, and one end is connected to the power supply Vcc for pull-up resistor R3. The other end of is connected. Then, the output terminal is connected to a light emitting diode LED1 for start display, and this light emitting diode LED1 is a resistor.
The light emitting diode LED1 is lit by being connected to the power source Vcc via R4 and operating the switch SW2.

Further, similarly, to the input terminal of the CPU 21,
The other end of a switch SW3 whose one end is operated by operating the output switching button 8 is grounded, and the other end of a pull-up resistor R5 whose one end is connected to a power supply Vcc is connected. Further, a light emitting diode LED7 for exhalation display and a light emitting diode LED8 for inhalation display are respectively connected to the two output terminals.
Further, the light emitting diode LED8 is connected to the power source Vcc via the resistor R6, and the switch SW3 is operated, so that either the light emitting diode LED7 or the light emitting diode LED8 is turned on.

A resistor R7 is connected between the power source Vcc and the ground, and a resistor operating according to the breathing cycle adjusting slider 6 connected to the input terminal of the CPU 21 is connected to the resistor R7. It has a / D conversion function.

Furthermore, a light emitting diode LED2 for displaying time
One ends of the LEDs ~ LED6 are connected to the input terminals of the CPU 21, respectively, and the other ends of the light emitting diodes LED2 ~ LED6 are connected to the power supply Vcc via the resistor R8.

Further, one input terminal of an AND gate 31 is connected to the output terminal of the CPU 21, and an oscillator (OSC) 32 for outputting a frequency of several kHz is connected to the other input terminal of the AND gate 31. Has been done. Further, the output terminal of the AND gate 31 is connected to a changeover switch SW4 via an amplifier 33, and a buzzer (BZ) as a notification means is provided on the pin jack 11 so as to face a round hole for a buzzer (not shown). ) 35 is connected. The buzzer 35 sounds according to the output of the CPU 21 and the oscillation of the oscillator 32. An informing means such as an earphone (not shown) can insert the pin jack 11, and when the earphone is inserted into the pin jack 11, the buzzer 35 is turned off and output to the earphone.

A crystal oscillator 27 is also connected to the CPU 21.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the plug to which the electrode pad is connected is connected to the output socket 4. And output adjustment dial 3
Operate to close switch SW1 and put it in standby mode. In this state, the output pulse is set to be generated upon expiration, and the light emitting diode LED7 is in a light emitting state. In addition, when setting to generate an output pulse at the time of inspiration, by operating the output switching button 8, the switch SW3 is closed, the timing at which the output pulse is generated is changed, and the light emitting diode LED7 is turned off. Let
The light emitting diode LED8 is caused to emit light.

Then, when the output pulse is generated in the exhalation, the start button 5 is operated to switch SW.
Closing 2 starts treatment.

First, by closing the switch SW2 by operating the start button 5, the buzzer 35 sounds for a predetermined time, and the output adjustment mode is set, for example, for 5 seconds.
A pulse having a frequency with a pulse width of about 0.2 μsec for about 10 seconds is output from the output socket 4. Then, the user appropriately operates the output adjusting dial 3 to change the resistance value of the variable resistor R2 to adjust the output.

When the output of the buzzer 35 is to be changed, for example, to increase or decrease the sound of the buzzer 35, the sound adjustment dial 12 is rotated to change the gain of the amplifier 33 to adjust the output from the buzzer 35. . On the other hand, when the earphone is connected to the pin jack 11, the changeover switch SW4 is switched, the output to the buzzer 35 is stopped, and it is output to the earphone and the earphone rings and the surroundings are annoying. Can be prevented.

Then, the output is adjusted and after a predetermined time in the output adjustment mode elapses, or after the output adjustment is performed, the switch SW2 is closed again by operating the start button 5, and the buzzer 35 is intermittently turned on and off at a constant cycle. Sound. If you want to make this cycle longer or shorter, slide the breathing cycle adjustment slider 6 to change the resistance value of the resistor R7, read the voltage from this resistor R7 into the CPU 21, and A / D convert it. Adjust to any cycle.

In this case, since pulses are intermittently generated in accordance with expiration, after the buzzer 35 stops ringing,
After 0.3 seconds, a pulse having a frequency of 3 Hz to 10 Hz and a pulse width of about 0.2 μsec is output from the output socket 4, and is output from the electrode pad to the extent that muscle contraction does not occur. As described above, the reason for setting the pulse frequency to 3 Hz to 10 Hz is to enhance the accessory sympathetic nerve function, and it is effective to stimulate the skin and subcutaneous tissues during exhalation, and the skin and subcutaneous tissues are appropriately stimulated. This is because the muscles can be given, and the muscles are not stimulated or electromyographically contracted. Therefore, the skin during exhalation,
Since the subcutaneous tissue can be appropriately stimulated, the accessory sympathetic nerve function can be synergistically enhanced. For this reason, it is particularly effective in the case of fatigue, a state where the physical strength is lowered, a state where the autonomic nerve function is unstable, and the like. Note that 0.3
The reason why the pulse is output after a second is because the user adjusts the breath in accordance with the ringing cycle of the buzzer 35, and thus the pulse output matches the actual breath.

On the other hand, when the output switching button 8 is switched to intermittently generate a pulse in accordance with the intake air, 10 seconds to 50 Hz and a pulse width of 0.2 μ 0.3 seconds after the start of ringing of the buzzer 35.
Output a pulse with a frequency of about 2 seconds from the output socket 4,
Use a relatively strong output that causes a slight pain by causing electromyography from the electrode pad. As described above, the reason for setting the pulse frequency to 10 Hz to 50 Hz is to enhance the sympathetic nerve function, the stimulation to the muscle during inspiration is effective, and the muscle electrocontraction can be given, and the skin, This is because the subcutaneous tissue is not stimulated. Therefore, since myoelectric contraction can be performed during inspiration, the sympathetic nerve function can be synergistically enhanced. For this reason, especially during attacks of bronchial asthma,
Effective for orthostatic disorders.

In addition, the time display light emitting diode LED2 ~
For example, when the treatment time is set to 10 minutes, the LEDs 6 emit light from the light emitting diodes LED2 to LED6 corresponding to the remaining time or the elapsed time corresponding to every 2 minutes, and 10 minutes after the treatment is started. After a lapse of minutes, the buzzer 35 is sounded for a predetermined length and all the lights are turned off.

If it is desired to change the output of the low-frequency pulse again during the treatment, the start button 5 is operated again to close the switch SW2, which causes the buzzer 35 to ring and the buzzer 35 to ring for a fixed period. The output of the synchronized intermittent low frequency pulse is stopped, and the output adjustment mode is resumed. In this state, similarly, the output adjustment dial 3 is appropriately operated to change the resistance value of the variable resistor R2 to adjust the pulse output, and the treatment is continued after a predetermined time has elapsed or the start button 5 is operated.

Then, when the treatment time ends, it returns to the standby state.

In the above embodiment, the light emitting diode LED2
~ Elapsed time is indicated by turning on LED6. For example, by using a separately provided voice synthesis IC or the like, "every minute is left." The same effect can be obtained by voice display or by using an LCD bar graph. Further, instead of the notification by the buzzer 35, a notification such as "breath" or "wear" can be given from the speaker of the voice output means in the language. As a result, the user can be surely informed of the respiratory phase without confusing whether the user is exhaling or inhaling, and efficient and reliable treatment can be performed.

On the other hand, the same effect can be obtained by using a needle instead of the electrode pad.

The time period T for outputting the sound from the buzzer 35 may be gradually increased to a predetermined length as the treatment progresses. This is because as the treatment progresses, the mental state of the user calms down and the time of the breathing phase becomes longer. By gradually lengthening the time period T for notifying the rhythm of the breathing phase, more effective treatment can be achieved. You can do it.

Further, although it has been described that the switch SW2 is closed by operating the start switch 5 to enter the output adjustment mode for a predetermined time, for example, the output adjustment mode is entered by closing the switch SW1 and the start switch is adjusted after the output adjustment. The treatment is started by closing the switch SW2 by the operation of 5, and the output adjustment mode is switched again by closing the output adjustment switch provided separately during the treatment, and after the output adjustment, the start switch 5 is operated again to continue the treatment. You can also do it.

Further, the configuration has been described in which the user adjusts the respiratory phase according to the ringing cycle of the buzzer 35. However, even if the respiratory phase is detected using a sensor that detects a change in breathing and a low frequency pulse is output. it can.

[0044]

According to the low frequency treatment apparatus of the present invention, the low frequency pulse is continuously output for a predetermined time by the control means by operating the start switch, and after the predetermined time has elapsed, the low frequency pulse is intermittently output. Is output, the output intensity of the low frequency pulse can be easily set.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of a low frequency treatment device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing the same low-frequency treatment device.

FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram showing the same operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Output adjusting dial as output adjusting means 4 Output socket as pulse outputting means 5 Start button which is a start switch 21 Central processing unit (CPU) as controlling means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pair of electrodes, a pulse output means for outputting a low-frequency pulse to the electrodes, a start switch for starting the output of the low-frequency pulse from the pulse output means, and a low-frequency output from the pulse output means. Output adjusting means for setting the output intensity of the pulse, by operating the start switch, after continuously outputting a low frequency pulse from the pulse output means for a predetermined time,
A low-frequency treatment device comprising: a control unit that intermittently and periodically outputs a low-frequency pulse.