KR20240105731A - Spa system having electrical muscle stimulation function for strength training, treatment and fatigue improvement of senior and vulnerable people - Google Patents

Abstract

Depending on the purpose of electrical muscle stimulation, such as muscle strengthening, treatment, and fatigue improvement, and the target muscle area and muscle strength status for electrical muscle stimulation, customized electrical muscle stimulation suitable for users in the elderly and health vulnerable groups is applied to provide optimal strength exercise, A spa system equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function that provides therapeutic and fatigue improvement effects is disclosed. A spa system equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body that can be worn in a bathtub by users in the elderly or health-vulnerable group or is provided in the form of a bathtub so that it can come into contact with the user's human body; a plurality of electrode pads provided on the main body and spaced apart from each other at positions corresponding to various body parts; and a control unit that determines a control signal by selecting one or more working electrode pads among a plurality of electrode pads according to the user muscle strength information. User strength information may include target muscle area and strength status for receiving electrical muscle stimulation. The control unit may determine the intensity and frequency of the electrical signal for electrical muscle stimulation according to the user's muscle strength information.

Description

A spa system equipped with electrical muscle stimulation for strength training, treatment, and fatigue improvement in the elderly and health-vulnerable groups

The present invention relates to a spa system equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function. More specifically, the present invention relates to a spa system equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function. More specifically, the present invention relates to a spa system that is optimal for users of the elderly and health vulnerable groups according to the muscle strength status of the elderly and health vulnerable groups and the muscle strength area requiring muscle exercise and treatment. It relates to a spa system that applies customized electrical muscle stimulation that can provide strength training, therapy, and fatigue improvement effects.

Recently, electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) devices have been used to attach to certain areas of the body surface to enhance massage, therapy, and exercise effects. The electrical muscle stimulation device electrically stimulates the muscles adjacent to the attached area and uses muscle contraction to increase the user's strength, promote blood circulation, relieve fatigue, and provide massage without any additional exercise or strain on the joints. It allows you to obtain.

However, the elderly or health-vulnerable groups have limitations in the type and intensity of exercise they can participate in compared to younger or healthy people, and their participation rate in exercise using electrical muscle stimulation is low. In particular, for each user in the elderly or health-vulnerable group, the areas with weakened muscles or muscle areas that require treatment are different, and if the location of the electrode for EMS application does not exactly match the muscle area that requires muscle strengthening and treatment, the muscle area may be affected. Strengthening and treatment/fatigue improvement effects may be reduced.

As such, the conventional EMS training technology is difficult to apply to users in the elderly or health-vulnerable groups who want to strengthen muscle strength in specific parts of the body, receive treatment, and improve fatigue. Depending on the target muscle area for stimulation and muscle strength status, there are limitations in providing optimal exercise, treatment, and fatigue improvement effects suitable for users in the elderly and health vulnerable groups. Accordingly, there is a need to develop customized EMS technology that is safe and accessible for users in the elderly and health-vulnerable groups.

Additionally, conventional electrical muscle stimulation devices have limitations in that it is difficult to focus electrical stimulation on a specific body part desired by the user because control signals are transmitted to a plurality of electrode pads through a single channel. Additionally, since electrical muscle stimulation is limited to the attachment location of the electrode pad, it is difficult to effectively transmit electrical stimulation to other body areas to which the electrode pad is not attached, and there is a problem in that the location of the electrical muscle stimulation cannot be varied.

The present invention provides optimal electrical muscle stimulation for the purpose of electrical muscle stimulation, such as muscle strengthening, treatment, and fatigue improvement, and is suitable for users in the elderly and health vulnerable groups according to the target muscle area and muscle strength status for electrical muscle stimulation. The purpose is to provide a spa system with an electrical muscle stimulation function that provides strength training, treatment, and fatigue improvement effects.

In addition, the present invention is an electrical device for the elderly and health vulnerable that transmits control signals through individual channels to a plurality of electrode channels to apply electrical muscle stimulation to specific body parts needed by users of the elderly and health vulnerable. The purpose is to provide a spa system with a muscle stimulation function.

In addition, the present invention provides a spa system with an electrical muscle stimulation function for the elderly and health vulnerable groups that can effectively deliver electrical stimulation to body areas where electrode pads are not attached and can vary the location of electrical muscle stimulation. It is intended to provide.

The technical problems to be achieved in the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above. Other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

A spa system equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body that can be worn in a bathtub by users in the elderly or health-vulnerable group or is provided in the form of a bathtub so that it can come into contact with the user's human body; a plurality of electrode pads provided on the main body and spaced apart from each other at positions corresponding to various body parts; and a control unit that determines a control signal by selecting one or more working electrode pads among the plurality of electrode pads according to user muscle strength information.

The user muscle strength information may include the purpose of electrical muscle stimulation, the target muscle area for receiving electrical muscle stimulation, and muscle strength status.

The control unit may determine the control signal by determining the strength and frequency of an electrical signal for electrical muscle stimulation according to the user muscle strength information.

The plurality of electrode pads may selectively operate as the working electrode pads according to the control signal.

The working electrode pad may generate an electrical signal for electrical muscle stimulation according to the control signal.

The control unit may output a plurality of control signals through a plurality of individual channels and individually control the plurality of electrode pads according to the plurality of control signals.

The control unit may select the working electrode pad according to the target location and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation to be caused to the user's human body.

The control unit determines the plurality of control signals differently for each of the plurality of preset setting modes, transmits the control signals to the plurality of electrode pads through a plurality of channels, and each channel corresponding to the plurality of setting modes. By independently generating the control signal, the frequency and intensity of the electrical signal can be adjusted.

The control unit determines the target position and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation according to the user muscle strength information, and the target pulse size or target intensity corresponding to the target intensity according to the distance between the target location of the electrical muscle stimulation and the working electrode pad. At least one of the stimulation intensity and frequency of the control signal to be applied to the working electrode pad can be determined by attenuating the stimulation intensity or frequency from the pulse frequency.

The control unit determines a target location and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation according to the user muscle strength information, and operates a plurality of operation to generate the electrical signal among the plurality of electrode pads according to the target location and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation. An electrode pad may be selected, and the frequency and intensity of the electrical signal may be determined according to the positions of the plurality of working electrode pads, the target position, and the target intensity.

The control unit may set an electrical muscle stimulation area according to the target location and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation, and select electrode pads located within the electrical muscle stimulation area among the plurality of electrode pads as the working electrode pads.

The control unit extracts a plurality of electrode pad combinations for three or more electrode pads located in the electrical muscle stimulation area, analyzes the location and intensity of electrical muscle stimulation for each combination of electrode pads, and Among the electrode pad combinations, the electrode pad combination showing the generation position and generation intensity that best matches the target position and the target intensity can be determined and selected as the working electrode pad.

The control unit transmits an electric pulse to the target position according to the distance between the working electrode pad and the target position and the propagation characteristics of the electric pulse set for each body region according to the characteristics of human tissue between the working electrode pad and the target position. energy can be predicted.

The propagation characteristics of the electrical pulse may be determined in advance by adding the electric pulse propagation characteristics defined for each tissue type including fat, muscle, and bone, reflecting the ratio of fat, muscle, and bone in each body region.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, customized electrical muscle stimulation is suitable for users of the elderly and health vulnerable groups according to the purpose of electrical muscle stimulation such as muscle strengthening, treatment, and fatigue improvement, and the target muscle area and muscle strength status for electrical muscle stimulation. A spa system equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function that provides optimal strength exercise, treatment, and fatigue improvement effects is provided.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a control signal is transmitted through individual channels to a plurality of electrode channels to enable electrical muscle stimulation to be applied to specific body parts required by users in the elderly and health vulnerable groups. A spa system with electrical muscle stimulation is provided for vulnerable groups.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, electrical stimulation can be effectively delivered to body areas where electrode pads are not attached, and an electrical muscle stimulation function for the elderly and health vulnerable groups is provided that can diversify the location of electrical muscle stimulation. A well-equipped spa system is provided.

The effects that can be obtained from the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above. Other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing a spa system equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a usage state of a spa system equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function according to the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a view from above of a bathtub constituting a spa system equipped with the electrical muscle stimulation function of FIG. 1.
Figure 4 is a diagram for explaining a spa system equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a configuration diagram of a spa system equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a flowchart of an electrical muscle stimulation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 7 is a flowchart of an electrical muscle stimulation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 is a flowchart showing step S40 of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is an exemplary diagram for explaining an electrical muscle stimulation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 10 is a flowchart of an electrical muscle stimulation method according to another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 11 is an example diagram for explaining the electrical muscle stimulation method according to the embodiment of Figure 10.

Other advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will become clear by referring to the embodiments described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below and may be implemented in various different forms. The present embodiments are merely provided to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and to provide common knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. It is provided to fully inform those who have the scope of the invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims.

Even if not defined, all terms (including technical or scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as generally accepted by the general art in the prior art to which this invention belongs. Terms defined by general dictionaries may be interpreted as having the same meaning as they have in the related art and/or text of the present application, and will not be conceptualized or interpreted in an overly formal manner even if the expression is not clearly defined. .

Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification. This specification does not describe all elements of the embodiments, and general content or overlapping content between the embodiments in the technical field to which the disclosed invention pertains is omitted. The term '~unit' used in the specification refers to a unit that processes at least one function or operation, and may be implemented, for example, as software, FPGA, or hardware.

The functions provided by '~part' may be performed separately by multiple components or integrated with other additional components, and multiple '~part' may be implemented as one component. The '~ part' in this specification is not necessarily limited to software or hardware, and may be configured to reside in an addressable storage medium, or may be configured to reproduce one or more processors.

Terms such as first and second are used to distinguish one component from another component, and the components are not limited by the above-mentioned terms. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly makes an exception. As used herein, the term 'and/or' refers to each of the listed components or various combinations thereof.

The identification codes assigned to each step constituting the method according to an embodiment of the present invention are used only for convenience of explanation and do not indicate the order of each step, and unless a specific order is clearly stated in the context, they are not specified. It may be carried out differently from the given order. Hereinafter, the operating principle and embodiments of the disclosed present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing a spa system equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a usage state of a spa system equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function according to the embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a top view of a bathtub constituting a spa system equipped with the electrical muscle stimulation function of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the spa system 100 equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function according to an embodiment of the present invention allows users of the elderly or health-vulnerable groups to receive electrical muscle stimulation in the form of a spa while underwater in a bathtub. It is designed so that it can be delivered. The spa system 100 with an electrical muscle stimulation function includes a main body 110 implemented in the form of a bathtub, a plurality of electrode pads 120 distributed and arranged on the main body 110, a control device 130, and a user terminal. It may include (140).

Bathtubs can be installed in various facilities such as homes, lodging facilities, and businesses, and can be implemented as various types of items that collect water and allow people to enter. The electrode pad 120 may be provided in an area in contact with the human body among the inner area of the bathtub-shaped main body 110. The electrode pad 120 can stimulate the user's motor nerves by applying electrical stimulation to the human body by outputting an electrical pulse according to a control signal in the form of an electrical signal provided by the control device 130. Through this, users can focus on strengthening muscles in specific body parts that need strengthening and treatment/relief from fatigue.

For example, the electrode pad 120 may be provided in an area that is in contact with or adjacent to at least one of the trapezius, back, waist, upper buttocks, lower buttocks, upper thighs, lower thighs, calves, or soles when a person lies in a bathtub. You can. The bathtub may have a built-in battery for operating the electrode pad 120, and may be connected to the control device 130 or an external power source through a wire.

The control unit of the control device 130 may include an oscillator. The oscillator of the control device 130 may generate an electrical pulse through the electrode pad 120 based on control data. The control unit of the control device 130 can generate electrical pulses with various sizes and frequencies depending on the target body part such as muscle strengthening, treatment/fatigue improvement, etc., and the necessary purpose and purpose such as stimulation intensity.

The oscillator may include, for example, a pulse generating unit capable of generating an electrical pulse, a display unit capable of displaying a pulse output mode or pulse output intensity, a control unit capable of adjusting the pulse output mode or pulse output intensity, etc. there is. The control device 130 provides control data for controlling the electrical pulse, for example, data for controlling the level of the pulse, such as the size (pulse size) and/or frequency (pulse frequency) of the current or voltage constituting the pulse. can be created.

The oscillator may generate an electrical pulse whose size and frequency are controlled based on control data generated by the control device 130, and the generated electrical pulse may be output through the electrode pad 120. The control device 130 may receive a control command for controlling the level of the electrical pulse, such as the size or frequency of the electrical pulse, from the user and then generate control data based on this. The control data generated in this way can be used to control the electrical pulse generated in the oscillator.

The user terminal 140 may be provided as a device such as a smartphone, tablet, or PC. An application capable of controlling the spa system 100 equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function may be stored in the storage medium of the user terminal 140. A user of the spa system 100 equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function may execute an application installed on the user terminal 140 and then input a control command. The user terminal 140 may generate control data based on the input control command and transmit it to the control device 130 through wired/wireless communication. The electrical pulse generated through the oscillator of the control device 130 can be controlled based on control data transmitted from the user terminal 140.

The control command may be a command to output electrical pulses with different sizes and frequencies for each electrode pad 120 corresponding to the target positions 12, 14, and 16 of various electrical muscle stimulation. For example, the control command is a command to output a first level electrical pulse from the electrode pad 120 corresponding to the thigh position, and to output a second level electrical pulse from the electrode pad 120 corresponding to the waist position. It can be.

The control data may be data that causes an electrical pulse of the same level as the control command to be generated through the oscillator of the control device 130. More specifically, the first control data, like the control command, outputs a first level electrical pulse from the electrode pad 120 corresponding to the thigh position, and a second level electrical pulse from the electrode pad 120 corresponding to the waist position. This may be data that causes a pulse to be output.

Figure 4 is a diagram for explaining a spa system equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 1 to 3 described above show an embodiment in which the user receives electrical muscle stimulation in a bathtub by the electrode pad 120 provided in the bathtub. However, as shown in FIG. 4, the user does not use the electrode pad 120. By attaching the provided patch to a part of the body or wearing a suit or band equipped with electrode pads, you can receive muscle strengthening, treatment, and fatigue improvement effects based on electrical muscle stimulation in the bathtub. In this case, the electrode pad 120 may be provided in the bathtub, but it is also possible that the electrode pad 120 is not provided in the bathtub.

Describing the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the spa system 100 equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function includes a bathtub and an electrical muscle stimulation device that allows the user to receive electrical muscle stimulation in the bathtub while worn. It can be included. The electrical muscle stimulation device includes a main body 110 provided in a form that can be worn by the user, a plurality of electrode pads 120 provided on the main body 110, and a plurality of electrode pads 120 that are controlled to generate a plurality of electrodes. It may include a control device 130 that generates an electrical signal for electrical muscle stimulation through at least one working electrode pad among the pads 120.

As shown in FIG. 4, the user can receive electrical muscle stimulation from the spa system 100 in the form of a spa while wearing it in the form of a suit, band, patch, etc., underwater in a bathtub. Users may be elderly or health-vulnerable people with various types of muscle strength, and may wear suits, bands, patches, etc. that constitute the spa system 100 with an electrical muscle stimulation function while submerged in a bathtub. You can wear it or receive stimulation for muscle strengthening, treatment, and fatigue improvement in an electrical manner in the form of a spa equipped with a plurality of electrode pads 120.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4 , the main body 110 is a component that supports the electrode pad 120 and may be provided to be worn by the user or to be in contact with the user's human body. The main body 110 may be provided in the form of a suit, band, patch, etc. that can be worn by the user. Alternatively, the main body 110 may be provided in a bathtub-like shape so that the user can receive electrical muscle stimulation in the form of a spa, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 described above.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the main body 110 includes an upper suit 112 that allows the user to wear it on the upper body, a lower suit 114 that allows the user to wear it on the lower body, and body parts such as arms, legs, and abdomen. It may include one or more bands (126, 128) or a belt that can be worn by wrapping around the area. Alternatively, the main body 110 may be provided in the form of a patch attached to the user's body.

A plurality of electrode pads 120 may be provided on one or more main bodies 110 and spaced apart from each other at positions corresponding to various body parts of the user. As an example, the electrode pad 120 includes one or more electrode pads 122 provided on the upper suit 112, one or more electrode pads 124 provided on the lower suit 114, and one or more bands worn on the arms or legs, etc. It may include one or more electrode pads 126 and 128 provided at (116 and 118).

The electrode pad 120 is made of a conductive material and is placed on the inner surface of the main body 110, which is in contact with the user's body while the user is wearing the main body 110, so as to effectively transmit electrical stimulation to the user's muscles. It can be. Each electrode pad 120 can selectively operate as a working electrode pad according to a control signal transmitted from the control device 130 through an individual channel. The electrode pad 120, which operates as a working electrode pad, can generate an electrical signal to apply electrical stimulation to the user's muscles for muscle strengthening, treatment, and fatigue improvement according to a control signal received from the control device 130.

The control device 130 may be provided in the main body 110 or may be provided outside the main body 110. The control device 130 may be connected to each electrode pad 120 through wired and/or wireless communication. The control device 130 may include a control unit. The control unit may include at least one processor. The control unit may output a plurality of control signals to the plurality of electrode pads 120 through a plurality of individual channels. The controller may individually control a plurality of electrode pads 120 according to a plurality of control signals transmitted through a plurality of individual channels.

As an example, the control signal output from the control unit may be an electrical signal. That is, an electrical signal output unit (not shown) is provided in the control unit, and a control signal can be transmitted in the form of an electrical signal to the electrode pad 120 through an individual channel and output through the electrode pad 120. In this case, the control signal may be transmitted to the electrode pad 120 in the form of an electric pulse having a pulse size and pulse frequency.

As another example, the control signal output from the control unit may be transmitted to the electrode pad 120 as an electrode control signal rather than an electric pulse. In this case, the control signal output from the control unit may include pulse size information and pulse frequency information of the electrical signal to be output through the electrode pad 120, or may include information for identifying the electrical pulse of the electrical signal, and the electrode pad 120 may include an electrical signal output unit that generates and outputs an electric pulse according to a control signal received from the control unit.

The control unit of the control device 130 is for the purpose of electrical muscle stimulation such as strengthening the muscles of the user (elderly people and health vulnerable groups), treatment, and fatigue improvement, and target muscle areas (waist, arms, legs, upper extremities, lower extremities) for electrical muscle stimulation. , etc.) and muscle strength status, the target location and target intensity (multi-channel intensity control, low frequency control, etc.) of the electrical muscle stimulation to be induced in the human body of users in the elderly or health vulnerable groups can be determined.

The control device 130 includes an input interface unit (e.g., allowing the user to select the purpose of electrical muscle stimulation such as muscle strengthening, treatment, and fatigue improvement, target muscle area and muscle strength status (muscle weakness level, etc.) for electrical muscle stimulation, etc. For example, a touchpad that allows selection of one or more of the purposes of electrical muscle stimulation displayed on the display unit, one or more of various body part items and muscle weakness level, or a touchpad that allows selection and input of a human body part from among human body characters. input means such as, etc.) may be provided.

As an example, the control unit of the control device 130 defines a correspondence relationship between the user's purpose of electrical muscle stimulation, user muscle strength information including the target muscle area and muscle strength state for electrical muscle stimulation, and the target location and target intensity of the electrical stimulation. The target location and target intensity of electrical stimulation corresponding to the user muscle strength information can be determined using a preset stimulation decision table.

As another example, the control unit of the control device 130 uses an artificial intelligence model supervised using learning data, and the user includes the purpose of electrical muscle stimulation, target muscle area for electrical muscle stimulation, and muscle strength state in the artificial intelligence model. By inputting muscle strength information, the target location and target intensity of electrical stimulation can be determined from the output of the artificial intelligence model.

Alternatively, the control device 130 may be provided with an input interface unit (not shown) that allows the user to directly input the target location and target intensity of electrical muscle stimulation. When the target location and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation to be caused to the user's body are determined or input by the control unit and/or the input unit of the control device 130, the control unit generates a plurality of electrode pads according to the target location and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation. One or more working electrode pads (120) may be selected and a control signal to be applied to the selected working electrode pad may be determined.

As an example, body parts such as shoulders, chest, neck, arms, wrists, waist, thighs, and/or calves are electrically activated depending on the user's muscle strength information (purpose of electrical muscle stimulation, target muscle area for electrical muscle stimulation, muscle strength status, etc.). The target location of muscle stimulation may be determined, and the target intensity of electrical muscle stimulation for the corresponding body part may be determined. As another example, the user may add the target location of the electrical muscle stimulation by receiving electrical muscle stimulation from the human body image displayed on the input unit or inputting the target location by touching the location on which the user wants to focus.

The control unit of the control device 130 may select one or more working electrode pads matching the target position and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation from the plurality of electrode pads 120 . To this end, information on the location of each electrode pad 120 when the user enters the bathtub or when the user wears the main body 110 may be preset in the storage unit of the control device 130.

The electrode pad 120 may generate an electrical signal according to a control signal transmitted from the control unit of the control device 130 to provide electrical stimulation to the user's muscles corresponding to the target location of the electrical muscle stimulation. The current intensity and/or frequency of the electrical signal generated from the electrode pad 120 may be adjusted according to the control signal transmitted from the control unit through an individual channel.

The control device 130 may individually (independently) set the level (current intensity level and/or frequency level) of the electrical signal generated for each part through the electrode pad 120. The control device 130 may further include a notification unit (not shown). The notification unit may perform the function of informing the user of various electrical muscle stimulation information, such as the location and intensity of the electrical stimulation applied to the user. The method by which the notification unit notifies the user of information may be any method, such as displaying information on a display screen or outputting sound through a speaker.

Figure 5 is a configuration diagram of a spa system equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 5, a plurality of electrode pads 120 (120A, 120B, 120C) can selectively operate as working electrode pads according to control signals transmitted through individual channels (channel A, channel B, channel C). . In accordance with control signals provided from the control device 130 through individual channels (channel A, channel B, and channel C), the working electrode pads among the plurality of electrode pads 120 may generate electrical signals for electrical muscle stimulation.

The control device 130 includes a communication unit 132 for communicating with the user terminal 140 and/or the plurality of electrode pads 120, and generates a control signal to be provided to the plurality of electrode pads 120 for applying electrical stimulation. It may include a control unit 134 that outputs output to a plurality of electrode pads 120 through individual channels, and a storage unit 136 that stores data related to electrical muscle stimulation.

The control unit 134 may generate a wired control signal and/or a wireless control signal that controls the operation of the spa system 100 equipped with an electrical muscle stimulation function. The communication unit provided in the control device 130 communicates with the user terminal 140 through a wired/wireless communication network and can transmit a wired/wireless control signal to the electrode pad 120 provided in the bathtub or chute.

Figure 6 is a flowchart of an electrical muscle stimulation method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the control unit 134 controls the target location and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation, which are determined according to user muscle information such as the purpose of electrical muscle stimulation, target muscle area for electrical muscle stimulation, and muscle strength status. Among the plurality of electrode pads 120, a plurality of working electrode pads that will generate an electric signal can be selected (S10).

The control unit 134 is a human body that will cause electrical muscle stimulation according to the type of user (gender, age group, body type, etc.) and/or user muscle information (purpose of electrical muscle stimulation, target muscle area for electrical muscle stimulation, muscle strength status, etc.). A plurality of control signals can be determined differently for each of the plurality of preset setting modes according to the area and the type of electrical muscle stimulation (stimulation level for each muscle strength strengthening stage, etc.) (S20). A plurality of setting modes can be set for various body parts, such as chest, shoulders, back, waist, thighs, and arms.

The control unit 134 may determine a control signal to be applied to a working electrode pad selected from among the plurality of electrode pads 120 and transmit the control signal to the working electrode pad through an individual channel (S30). Accordingly, the frequency and intensity of the electrical signal output through the plurality of operating electrode pads can be adjusted by independently generating control signals for each channel corresponding to the plurality of setting modes.

Figure 7 is a flowchart of an electrical muscle stimulation method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7 , the control unit 134 may select one or more working electrode pads among a plurality of electrode pads according to the target location and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation to be induced in the user's human body (S40). The control unit 134 may determine the frequency and intensity of the electrical signal according to the position, target position, and target intensity of the plurality of operating electrode pads determined according to the user muscle strength information (S50).

Figure 8 is a flowchart showing step S40 of Figure 7. Figure 9 is an exemplary diagram for explaining a method of electrical muscle stimulation using a spa system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7 to 9, the control unit 134 may set an electrical muscle stimulation area within a set distance centered on the target location (PT) according to the target location (PT) and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation. (S42). The electrical muscle stimulation area can be set to, for example, a circle, a sphere, a square, etc. The control unit 134 may select electrode pads located within the electrical muscle stimulation area among the plurality of electrode pads as working electrode pads (S44).

In the example of FIG. 9, the control unit 134 selects two electrode pads located within the electrical muscle stimulation area set according to the target position and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation 20 as the working electrode pads 120A and 120B. You can. The control unit 134 may determine a control signal to be applied to the working electrode pads 120A and 120B in order to apply the electrical muscle stimulation 20 to the target position PT.

The control unit 134 controls a control signal to be applied to the working electrode pads 120A and 120B according to the target position (PT) of the electrical muscle stimulation 20 and the distance (DA and DB) between the working electrode pads 120A and 120B. The stimulation intensity and frequency can be determined. For example, the control unit 134 attenuates the stimulation intensity and/or frequency in proportion to the distance (DA, DB) between the target position (PT) of the electrical muscle stimulation 20 and the working electrode pads 120A and 120B. A control signal to be applied to the working electrode pads 120A and 120B may be determined.

For example, the control unit 134 may set the first distance DA between the target position PT of the electrical muscle stimulation 20 and the first working electrode pad 120A to set the first working electrode pad 120A and the second working electrode pad 120A. By comparing the electrode distance between the electrode pads 120B and reflecting the ratio of the first distance DA to the electrode distance, the size of the electric pulse generated from the first working electrode pad 120A is changed to the target pulse size (target intensity). It may be attenuated to the first pulse size.

In addition, the control unit 134 sets the second distance DB between the target position (PT) of the electrical muscle stimulation 20 and the second working electrode pad 120B to the first working electrode pad 120A and the second working electrode pad 120B. By comparing with the electrode distance between (120B) and reflecting the ratio of the second distance (DB) to the electrode distance, the electric pulse size generated from the second working electrode pad (120B) is changed from the target pulse size (target intensity) to the second distance (DB). It can be attenuated by pulse size.

When an electrical pulse with a first pulse size is output from the first working electrode pad 120A and an electrical pulse with a second pulse size is output from the second working electrode pad 120B, the target position of the electrical muscle stimulation 20 ( PT), an electrical pulse corresponding to the target intensity (target size) is induced, and the user can focus the effect of electrical muscle stimulation on specific body parts that require muscle strengthening, treatment, and fatigue improvement.

As another example, the control unit 134 sets the first distance (DA) between the target position (PT) of the electrical muscle stimulation 20 and the first working electrode pad 120A to the first working electrode pad 120A and the second working electrode. Compared with the electrode distance between the pads 120B, and reflecting the ratio of the first distance DA to the electrode distance, the frequency of the electric pulse generated from the first working electrode pad 120A is defined as the target pulse frequency (target pulse energy). It can be attenuated to the first pulse frequency (first pulse energy).

In addition, the control unit 134 sets the second distance DB between the target position (PT) of the electrical muscle stimulation 20 and the second working electrode pad 120B to the first working electrode pad 120A and the second working electrode pad 120B. By comparing the electrode distance between (120B) and reflecting the ratio of the second distance (DB) to the electrode distance, the frequency of the electric pulse generated from the second working electrode pad (120B) is changed to the target pulse frequency (target pulse energy). It can be attenuated to the second pulse frequency (second pulse energy).

When an electrical pulse with a first pulse frequency is output from the first working electrode pad 120A and an electrical pulse with a second pulse frequency is output from the second working electrode pad 120B, the target position of the electrical muscle stimulation 20 ( PT), an electrical pulse corresponding to the target intensity (target energy) is induced, and the effect of electrical muscle stimulation can be concentrated on the specific body part needed by the user.

In addition, the control unit 134 complexly adjusts the pulse size and pulse frequency according to the positions of the working electrode pads 120A and 120B and the target position (PT) of the electrical muscle stimulation to control the working electrode pads 120A and 120B. A control signal that causes electrical muscle stimulation corresponding to the target intensity at the target position (PT) may be determined by the electrical pulse generated by .

At this time, the control unit 134 attenuates the electrical pulse energy generated from the working electrode pads 120A and 120B in proportion to the working electrode pads 120A and 120B and the target position (PT), and the working electrode pads 120A , 120B), the size and frequency of the electrical pulses generated from the working electrode pads 120A and 120B may be determined so that the sum of the electrical pulse energies generated at the target position PT is equal to the target pulse energy.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 134 determines not only the distance between the working electrode pads 120A and 120B and the target position (PT) for electrical muscle stimulation, but also the distance between the working electrode pads 120A and 120B and the target position (PT) for electrical muscle stimulation. The energy of the electrical pulse transmitted to the target location (PT) can be predicted according to the propagation characteristics of the electrical pulse, taking into account the characteristics of human tissue (fat, muscle ratio, bone, etc.) between the target location (PT).

At this time, the propagation characteristics of human tissue or electrical pulses may be set in advance for each body region. For example, the propagation characteristics of human tissue/electrical pulse by body region are calculated by adding the electric pulse propagation characteristics defined by tissue type such as fat, muscle, and bone by reflecting the ratio of fat, muscle, and bone in each body region. can be decided. The tissue ratio for each body region can be set differently for each type of elderly (elderly) group and health vulnerable group based on statistical data.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the two working electrode pads 120A and 120B are explained as an example. However, a control signal is applied to three or more working electrode pads through individual channels to generate an electrical pulse aimed at the target position (PT). may be triggered. In this case, the propagation of the electrical pulse may be analyzed in each three-dimensional direction to determine control signals applied to three or more working electrode pads to satisfy all target electrical muscle stimulation conditions for each direction.

Working electrode pads selected from among the electrode pads 120 may be adjusted according to the electrical muscle stimulation area that changes according to the user's muscle strength information. For example, depending on the state of muscle weakness (muscle weakness level) for a specific body part, the number of operating electrode pads increases or decreases proportionally so that the area of stimulation received by the user increases or decreases in consideration of the state of muscle weakness. It can be reduced in inverse proportion.

Whether the area of stimulation increases or decreases depending on the user's muscle strength information can be preset for various user types, such as the elderly or health-vulnerable groups. Depending on the user's muscle strength information, the control unit 134 may increase the stimulation area to increase the effect of muscle strengthening, treatment, and fatigue improvement by electrical muscle stimulation as the state of muscle weakness becomes more severe. Conversely, the greater the state of muscle weakness, the more specific the body is. To reduce damage and resistance due to stimulation applied to the area, the stimulation area may be reduced or low-frequency stimulation (e.g., 1500 Hz or less or 400 Hz or less) may be applied.

Meanwhile, the control unit 134 receives user muscle strength information such as the purpose of electrical muscle stimulation, target muscle area for electrical muscle stimulation, and muscle strength status based on an artificial intelligence model learned based on learning data and positions the user's specific body. In order to apply electrical muscle stimulation, a control signal (pulse size of the electrical signal, pulse frequency, etc.) to be generated from the electrode pads 120 may be determined.

Embodiments of the present invention can be used to provide electrical muscle stimulation to a user for the purpose of concentrating muscle strengthening, treatment, and fatigue improvement effects on body parts where electrode pads are not located. In other words, the control unit determines the operating electrode pad and control signal according to the user's muscle strength information, so that appropriate electrical muscle stimulation is applied to a random input or determined target area (body part), and through this, muscle strength strengthening, treatment and You can maximize the effect of electrical muscle stimulation on the body part that needs to improve fatigue.

As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the location of electrical stimulation is not limited to the location of the electrode pads, and an electrical pulse of appropriate size and/or frequency is applied to various body positions between the electrode pads. This allows customized electrical muscle stimulation to be applied to the user, thereby maximizing the effects of strength training, treatment, and fatigue improvement for the elderly and health-vulnerable groups.

Figure 10 is a flowchart of an electrical muscle stimulation method according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 is an example diagram for explaining the electrical muscle stimulation method according to the embodiment of Figure 10. Referring to FIGS. 5, 10, and 11, the controller 134 may extract a plurality of electrode pad combinations for three or more electrode pads located in the electrical muscle stimulation area (S60).

At this time, the control unit 134 uses the same electrode pads located in areas symmetrical to each other on both sides based on the target position (PT) of the electrical muscle stimulation 20 among three or more electrode pads located in the electrical muscle stimulation area. It can be determined by electrode pad combination. Alternatively, the controller 134 may determine an electrode pad combination of three or more electrode pads, which are a portion of all electrode pads located in the electrical muscle stimulation area. In this case, at least two electrode pads among the electrode pads included in the same electrode pad combination are located in areas that are symmetrical to each other on both sides based on the target position PT.

For example in FIG. 11, the control unit 134 controls four electrode pads 120A, 120B, and 120C located within an electrical muscle stimulation area set according to the target position (PT) and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation 20. 120D), two electrode pad combinations (G1, G2) can be extracted. The control unit 134 may analyze the location and intensity of electrical muscle stimulation for each combination of a plurality of electrode pads (S70). The control unit 134 determines the electrode pad combination showing the generation position and generation intensity that best matches the target position and target intensity among the plurality of electrode pad combinations (G1, G2) and finally selects it as the working electrode pad to which the electrical pulse will be applied. (S80).

For example, the control unit 134 analyzes the electrical pulse induced at the target position (PT) for each electrode pad combination (G1, G2) according to the embodiment of FIG. 9, and then operates each electrode pad combination (G1, For G2), the electrical pulse similarity can be determined by comparing the electrical pulse analyzed to be triggered at the target position (PT) with the target electrical pulse. As described above, the control unit 134 operates according to the distance (DA, DB, DC, DD) between the target position (PT) of the electrical muscle stimulation 20 and the operating electrode pads 120A, 120B, 120C, and 120D. The stimulation intensity and frequency of the control signal to be applied to the electrode pads 120A, 120B, 120C, and 120D are determined, and the location and intensity of electrical stimulation induced at the target location PT are determined accordingly. It can be compared to the target stimulus intensity.

The control unit 134 analyzes the location and intensity of electrical muscle stimulation for each combination of electrode pads (G1, G2) and determines the location and intensity that best matches the target location and intensity among the combinations of electrode pads. By determining one electrode pad combination (an electrode pad combination that results in the highest similarity to the target pulse), the electrode pads of that electrode pad combination can be selected as working electrode pads.

The controller 134 may select two or more electrode pads located within an electrical muscle stimulation area set according to the target position and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation 20 as working electrode pads. The control unit 134 may determine a control signal to be applied to the working electrode pads in order to apply the electrical muscle stimulation 20 to the target position PT.

The spa system having an electrical muscle stimulation function and the electrical muscle stimulation method thereof according to the described embodiment of the present invention may be implemented in the form of a program that can be driven by a processor. Here, the program may include program instructions, data files, and data structures, etc., singly or in combination. Programs may be designed and produced using machine code or high-level language code.

The program may be specially designed to implement the above-described method, or may be implemented using various functions or definitions that are known and available to those skilled in the art in the computer software field. A program for implementing the above-described method may be recorded on a recording medium readable by a processor. At this time, the recording medium may be memory.

The memory can store programs that perform the operations described above and the operations described later, and the memory can execute the stored programs. In the case where there are multiple processors and memories, it is possible for them to be integrated into one chip or to be provided in physically separate locations. The memory may include volatile memory such as SRAM (Static Random Access Memory, S-RAM) and D-Lab (Dynamic Random Access Memory) for temporarily storing data.

In addition, memory is non-volatile memory such as Read Only Memory (ROM), Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), and Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) for long-term storage of control programs and control data. may include. The processor may include various logic circuits and operation circuits, process data according to a program provided from memory, and generate control signals according to the processing results.

At least one component may be added or deleted in response to the performance of the components described above. Additionally, it will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that the mutual positions of the components may be changed in response to the performance or structure of the system.

As described above, the disclosed embodiments have been described with reference to the attached drawings. A person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that the present invention can be practiced in forms different from the disclosed embodiments without changing the technical idea or essential features of the present invention. The disclosed embodiments are illustrative and should not be construed as limiting.

100: Spa system with electrical muscle stimulation function
110: main body
120: electrode pad
130: control device
132: Department of Communications
134: control unit
136: storage unit
140: user terminal

Claims (8)

A body provided so that users in the elderly or health-vulnerable groups can wear it in the bathtub, or in the form of a bathtub so that it can come into contact with the user's body;
a plurality of electrode pads provided on the main body and spaced apart from each other at positions corresponding to various body parts; and
A control unit that determines a control signal by selecting one or more working electrode pads among the plurality of electrode pads according to user muscle strength information,
The user muscle strength information includes the purpose of electrical muscle stimulation, the target muscle area for receiving electrical muscle stimulation, and muscle strength status,
The control unit determines the control signal by determining the strength and frequency of an electrical signal for electrical muscle stimulation according to the user muscle strength information,
The plurality of electrode pads selectively operate as the working electrode pads according to the control signal,
A spa system having an electrical muscle stimulation function, wherein the working electrode pad generates an electrical signal for the electrical muscle stimulation according to the control signal. In claim 1,
The control unit outputs a plurality of control signals through a plurality of individual channels and individually controls the plurality of electrode pads according to the plurality of control signals,
A spa system with an electrical muscle stimulation function, wherein the control unit selects the working electrode pad according to the target position and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation to be caused to the user's human body. In claim 2,
The control unit determines the plurality of control signals differently for each of the plurality of preset setting modes, transmits the control signals to the plurality of electrode pads through a plurality of channels, and each channel corresponding to the plurality of setting modes. A spa system having an electrical muscle stimulation function that independently generates the control signal to adjust the frequency and intensity of the electrical signal. In claim 1,
The control unit determines the target position and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation according to the user muscle strength information, and the target pulse size or target intensity corresponding to the target intensity according to the distance between the target location of the electrical muscle stimulation and the working electrode pad. A spa system with an electrical muscle stimulation function, wherein at least one of the stimulation intensity and frequency of the control signal to be applied to the working electrode pad is determined by attenuating the stimulation intensity or frequency from a pulse frequency. In claim 1,
The control unit determines a target location and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation according to the user muscle strength information, and operates a plurality of operation to generate the electrical signal among the plurality of electrode pads according to the target location and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation. A spa system with an electrical muscle stimulation function, wherein an electrode pad is selected and the frequency and intensity of the electrical signal are determined according to the positions of the plurality of working electrode pads, the target position, and the target intensity. In claim 5,
The control unit sets an electrical muscle stimulation area according to the target position and target intensity of the electrical muscle stimulation, and selects electrode pads located within the electrical muscle stimulation area among the plurality of electrode pads as the working electrode pads. A spa system with a stimulation function. In claim 6,
The control unit extracts a plurality of electrode pad combinations for three or more electrode pads located in the electrical muscle stimulation area, analyzes the location and intensity of electrical muscle stimulation for each combination of electrode pads, and A spa system having an electrical muscle stimulation function, wherein among the electrode pad combinations, the electrode pad combination showing the generation position and generation intensity that best matches the target position and the target intensity is determined and selected as the working electrode pad. In claim 5,
The control unit transmits an electric pulse to the target position according to the distance between the working electrode pad and the target position and the propagation characteristics of the electric pulse set for each body region according to the characteristics of human tissue between the working electrode pad and the target position. predict the energy of
The propagation characteristics of the electrical pulse are predetermined by adding the electric pulse propagation characteristics defined for each tissue type including fat, muscle, and bone, reflecting the ratio of fat, muscle, and bone in each body region, and an electrical muscle stimulation function. A spa system comprising:

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