KR102578230B1 - Portable multi-stimulation device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable combined stimulation device that can provide medical cold stimulation, warm stimulation, and electrical stimulation separately or simultaneously using a thermoelectric element, and can obtain and manage stimulation history information,
The portable complex stimulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention,
Medical electrodes that receive power and generate electrical stimulation; a thermoelectric element formed on the back of the medical electrode and supplying cold or warm heat to the medical electrode depending on the direction of the supplied power; a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the medical electrode and generates an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature; a storage unit that stores a stimulation operation pattern corresponding to stimulation information and a power control pattern corresponding to the stimulation operation pattern, and stores stimulation history information input by the user; a control unit that controls power supplied to the medical electrode according to the power control pattern and power supplied to the thermoelectric element according to the sensed temperature; And, it is controlled by the control unit and includes a wireless communication module that performs wireless communication with an external device.

Description

Portable multi-stimulation device}

The present invention relates to a portable combined stimulation device, and more specifically, a portable device that can provide medical cold/heat stimulation, warm stimulation, and electrical stimulation separately or simultaneously using a thermoelectric element, and can obtain and manage stimulation history information. It relates to a complex stimulation device.

With the transition to an industrial society, the development of advanced mechanical civilization has made human life more convenient, but industrial accidents caused by accidents related to this have become a great threat to the health of humanity.

In industrial society, unexpected accidents such as industrial accidents or traffic accidents frequently result in damage to the hands and feet. In particular, industrial accidents often result in hands or feet being damaged or amputated, resulting in disabled people.

In addition, as interest in health has recently increased, various sports and leisure activities for health management have increased, and related injuries have also increased.

Such damage to the hands or feet can make a person's life difficult in terms of mental health due to despondency and loss of motivation due to physical loss, and the sympathetic behavior of colleagues and relatives around them can further worsen the person's despondency. There are many cases where we are forced to endure patience that is personally difficult to bear.

In addition, social and economic problems such as decreased productivity are significant, and not only do they have psychological conflicts over whether they can return to their pre-injury lifestyle, but they also affect economic issues and family happiness.

As a rehabilitation stimulation device to recover from such physical damage, there is a medical electrical stimulation device that applies electrical stimulation to the human body. Medical electrical stimulation stimulators apply stimulation to the body using medical electrodes (also called 'conductors') that apply electricity to deliver electrical stimulation to living tissue. A medical electrode is a device that relieves pain by stimulating muscles and nerves using medical current, giving physical exercise to the muscles and nerves to gently relax the muscles, and applying high-frequency current to living tissue to generate Joule heat within the cell tissue, thereby damaging microvascular tissue. There is a high-frequency deep diathermator (high-frequency stimulator) that relieves pain through expansion and cell tissue activation.

Additionally, among medical equipment, there are cold stimulators or heat stimulators. In general, heat and inflammation that occur in the lesion (stimulation site) destroy cells and delay the stimulation process, but a cold stimulator stimulates the lesion by applying cold stimulation.

Cold stimulation causes blood vessels to constrict in a limited area, temporarily reducing the size of blood cells. This vasoconstriction action reduces the amount of blood flowing to the injured area. This action temporarily suppresses nerve transmission, relieving pain, and minimizing cell destruction in the wound area, alleviating swelling and inflammation. The fact that cold stimulation is more effective than electrical stimulation to facilitate drug absorption was disclosed in A. Aloisi, M. Matera, and R. Potenza's 2002 paper "FARMACOTERAPIA A LOCALIZZAZIONE MIRATA MEDIANTE "CRIOELETTROFORESI" NELLE PATOLOGIE ARTICOLARI E MUSCOLARI". It is done. According to the above paper, it can be seen that drug absorption is smoothest when the temperature is maintained at -5°C to 0°C using ice, etc.

A thermal stimulation stimulator is a device that stimulates an abnormal area by applying thermal stimulation. An iontophoresis device is a device that effectively penetrates drugs such as vitamins useful to living tissue into the skin or living tissue using electroiontophoresis.

According to the prior art, most electrical stimulation is accompanied by heat and pain on the skin surface in contact, and electrical convulsions may also occur. Burns may also be caused depending on the level of energy used. This heat and pain reduce the stimulation effect and cause side effects such as burns and skin damage. In particular, in the case of deep diathermy devices, high-frequency current flows to the skin surface rather than to lesions deep within the body, significantly reducing the stimulation effect.

In addition, the electrical stimulation stimulator, cold stimulator, and heat stimulator are separate equipment, so for complex stimulation, all of these equipment must be purchased, which not only increases the cost burden, but also requires electricity even if the hospital is equipped with an electrical stimulation stimulator, a cold stimulator, and a heat stimulator. It is almost impossible to use a stimulation stimulator, a cold stimulator, and a heat stimulator on a patient at the same time. Therefore, there is a problem in that it is difficult for patients receiving stimulation to receive efficient stimulation.

In addition, conventional rehabilitation stimulators are often bulky and heavy, making them less portable. As a result, there is a problem in that rehabilitation stimulation is subject to many temporal and spatial restrictions.

In addition, the stimulation area is often limited for each device, so there is a problem in that it cannot be applied whenever necessary to the area where the user's body needs rehabilitation stimulation.

Additionally, since stimulation history information according to the stimulation process is not separately stored, there is a problem in that suitable stimulation information cannot be provided to the user.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a portable combined stimulation device that can provide medical cold stimulation, warm stimulation, and electrical stimulation separately or simultaneously using a thermoelectric element, and can obtain and manage stimulation history information.

The portable complex stimulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention,

Medical electrodes that receive power and generate electrical stimulation; a thermoelectric element formed on the back of the medical electrode and supplying cold or warm heat to the medical electrode depending on the direction of the supplied power; a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the medical electrode and generates an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature; a storage unit that stores a stimulation operation pattern corresponding to stimulation information and a power control pattern corresponding to the stimulation operation pattern, and stores stimulation history information input by the user; a control unit that controls power supplied to the medical electrode according to the power control pattern and power supplied to the thermoelectric element according to the sensed temperature; And, it is controlled by the control unit and includes a wireless communication module that performs wireless communication with an external device.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the control unit is characterized in that it changes the heat absorbing surface and the heating surface of the thermoelectric element by switching the polarity of the power supplied to the thermoelectric element.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the thermoelectric element is characterized as a Peltier element.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the external device is a remote controller that remotely controls a portable combined stimulation device, or a mobile communication terminal loaded with an application that drives the portable combined stimulation device.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the stimulation history information is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal through the wireless communication module, and the mobile communication terminal receiving the stimulation history information provides rehabilitation information related to the user's rehabilitation stimulation. Do it as

Details of other implementations of various aspects of the present invention are included in the detailed description below.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, medical cold stimulation, warm stimulation, and electrical stimulation can be provided separately or simultaneously using a thermoelectric element.

In addition, it can be manufactured in a small, portable form, eliminating temporal and spatial constraints in rehabilitation stimulation.

Additionally, it can be applied regardless of the stimulation site.

Additionally, since stimulation history information according to the stimulation process can be managed through a portable terminal, etc., suitable stimulation information can be provided to the user.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a portable complex stimulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is an exemplary diagram showing a portable complex stimulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the operation process of the portable combined stimulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a portable complex stimulation device being worn according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Since the present invention can be modified in various ways and can have various embodiments, specific embodiments will be exemplified and explained in detail in the detailed description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include all transformations, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

The terms used in the present invention are only used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the present invention, terms such as 'include' or 'have' are intended to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, but are not intended to indicate the presence of one or more other features. It should be understood that this does not exclude in advance the possibility of the existence or addition of elements, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof. Hereinafter, a portable complex stimulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a portable complex stimulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is an exemplary diagram showing a portable complex stimulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the portable complex stimulation device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a control unit 110, a thermoelectric element 120, a medical electrode 130, and a temperature sensor 140. ), a storage unit 150, and a wireless communication module 160. Additionally, the portable combined stimulation device 100 may include a wearing belt (B, see FIG. 2) to facilitate wearing it on the user's stimulation site.

The control unit 110 controls each component and the overall system of the portable complex stimulation device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the control unit 100 controls the power supplied to the medical electrode 130 and the power supplied to the thermoelectric element 120 according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 140.

The thermoelectric element 120 is in contact with the back of the medical electrode 130 and supplies cold or warm heat to the medical electrode 130.

The thermoelectric device 120 includes a device using the Seebeck effect, a phenomenon in which electromotive force is generated by a temperature difference, and a Peltier device, a device using the Peltier effect, a phenomenon in which heat is absorbed (or generated) by current.

A thermistor is a type of semiconductor device whose electrical resistance changes significantly depending on temperature. A thermistor is a negative temperature coefficient thermistor (NTC) whose electrical resistance decreases as the temperature increases, and a positive temperature coefficient thermistor (PTC) whose resistance increases as the temperature increases. positive temperature coefficient thermistor), etc. are used. Thermistors are made by mixing multiple oxides such as molybdenum, nickel, cobalt, and iron and sintering them, and are used for stabilizing circuits and detecting heat, power, and light.

The Seebeck effect is a phenomenon in which electromotive force is generated when both ends of two types of metal are connected and the temperatures at both ends are different. It is applied to temperature measurement using a thermoelectric pair.

The Peltier effect is a phenomenon in which when two types of metal ends are connected and a current is passed through them, one terminal absorbs heat and the other terminal generates heat depending on the direction of the current. By using semiconductors such as bismuth (Bi) and tellurium (Te), which have different electrical conduction methods, instead of two types of metals, a Peltier element with highly efficient endothermic/heating functions can be obtained. Peltier elements can switch between heat absorption and heat generation depending on the direction of current, and the amount of heat absorption and heat generation is adjusted according to the amount of current, making it advantageous for miniaturization. Therefore, in the portable complex stimulation device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the thermoelectric element 120 is preferably a Peltier element.

The control unit 110 switches the polarity of the power supplied to the thermoelectric element 120 composed of a Peltier element to appropriately supply cold stimulation by heat and warm stimulation by warm heat. That is, the heat absorbing surface and the heating surface of the thermoelectric element 120 can be changed by changing the (+) pole and the (-) pole of the thermoelectric element 120. Therefore, the thermoelectric element 120 can alternately provide cold stimulation and warm stimulation according to the user's control.

The temperature sensor 140 detects the temperature of the medical electrode 130, generates an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature, and then transmits this electrical signal to the control unit 110. The control unit 110 that receives this controls the current supplied to the thermoelectric element 120 according to the temperature of the medical electrode 130.

The storage unit 150 stores various data necessary for operating the portable combined stimulation device 100. The storage unit 150 stores stimulation action patterns (e.g., acupressure, tapping, kneading, etc.) corresponding to stimulation areas (e.g., pain, joints, digestive organs, etc.) input by the user, and stores the stimulation action patterns. Save the corresponding power control pattern.

Additionally, the storage unit 150 stores stimulation history information input by the user regarding stimulation, such as stimulation site and stimulation time.

The control unit 110 retrieves the power control pattern corresponding to the stimulation site input by the user from the storage unit 150 and controls the power supply to match the power control pattern.

The wireless communication module 160 allows the portable complex stimulation device 100 of the present invention to perform short-range wireless communication with an external device. The wireless communication module 160 may be a communication chip that uses short-range communication technologies such as Wi-Fi, Zigbee, UWB, Bluetooth, and ultrasonic. The external device 200 may be a remote controller that remotely controls the portable combined stimulation device 100. Additionally, the external device 200 may be, for example, a mobile communication terminal such as a smartphone, PDA terminal, or tablet.

The portable complex stimulation device 100 of the present invention is equipped with a separate input module (not shown), and the user can perform stimulation by inputting stimulation-related information such as stimulation site and stimulation time through the input module. Additionally, the user can perform stimulation by inputting information related to stimulation using a remote controller that is connected to the wireless communication module 160 of the portable complex stimulation device 100.

Meanwhile, external devices such as smartphones can download the application required to operate the portable complex stimulation device 100 through the website, App Store, or Play Store, and external devices equipped with the application can be downloaded from the portable complex stimulation device (100). 100), it can operate as a remote controller, and can receive stimulation history information transmitted through the wireless communication module 160.

The application can provide rehabilitation information related to the user's rehabilitation stimulation, such as the user's current health status, degree of recovery, time required for complete recovery, and recommended stimulation actions, from the received stimulation history information.

The operation process of the portable combined stimulation device according to the embodiment of the present invention as described above will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the operation process of the portable combined stimulation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the user wears the portable complex stimulation device 100 on the area to be stimulated.

The user inputs information about stimulation, such as stimulation area and stimulation time, through an input module (not shown) of a portable complex stimulation device or an external device connected to communication.

Upon receiving this, the control unit 110 receives a power control pattern corresponding to the stimulation information from the storage unit 150 and controls the power supplied to the medical electrode and the power supplied to the thermoelectric element according to the received power control pattern.

The power control pattern performed by the control unit 110 is stored in the storage unit 150. At this time, if there is an external device communication-connected to the portable complex stimulation device 100, stimulation history information, which is information about stimulation input by the user, is transmitted to the external device 200 through the wireless communication module 160. Meanwhile, even if there is no external device connected to communication at the time of stimulation, if communication is connected to an external device later, stimulation history information is transmitted to the external device 200 through the wireless communication module 160.

The transmitted stimulation history information is managed through an application mounted on the external device 200, and the application determines the user's rehabilitation stimulation and Provide relevant rehabilitation information.

Above, an embodiment of the present invention has been described, but those skilled in the art can add, change, delete or add components without departing from the spirit of the present invention as set forth in the patent claims. The present invention may be modified and changed in various ways, and this will also be included within the scope of rights of the present invention.

100: Portable complex stimulation device 110: Control unit
120: thermoelectric element 130: medical electrode
140: temperature detection sensor 150: storage unit
160: wireless communication module

Claims (5)

In electronic devices,
a wireless communication module configured to receive stimulation information from an external device through wireless communication;
a storage unit configured to store a stimulation operation pattern corresponding to the received stimulation information and a power control pattern corresponding to the stimulation operation pattern;
medical electrodes;
A thermoelectric element formed on the back of the medical electrode;
a temperature detection sensor that detects the temperature of the medical electrode and transmits an electrical signal corresponding to the temperature to a control unit; and
A control unit that controls first power supplied to the medical electrode according to the power control pattern and controls second power supplied to the thermoelectric element according to the sensed temperature,
The medical electrode generates electrical stimulation based on the first power source,
The thermoelectric element generates thermal stimulation based on the second power source,
The wireless communication module is configured to transmit stimulation history information about the electrical stimulation and the thermal stimulation to the external device,
The stimulation information includes information about the stimulation site and information about the stimulation time,
The stimulation motion pattern includes at least one of acupressure, tapping, or kneading,
Electronic devices.
In claim 1,
The control unit changes the heat absorbing surface and the heating surface of the thermoelectric element by switching the polarity of the power supplied to the thermoelectric element,
An electronic device in which the thermoelectric element is a Peltier element.
In claim 1,
An electronic device, wherein the thermoelectric element is a Peltier element.
In claim 1,
The external device is connected to the electronic device through Wi-Fi technology or Bluetooth technology,
Electronic devices.
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