JPH01166757A - Moxibustion device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To control the temp. of the contact point on the side brought into contact with a human body, in situmilating the effective spot of the human body by heating using a Peltier element, by mounting a heat exchanger to the contact point on the side not brought into contact with the human body of the Peltier element to control the heat exchange capacity of the heat exchanger. CONSTITUTION:The control of the temp. of the contact point on the side brought into contact with a human body is performed by changing the temp. of the contact point not brought into contact with the human body. Since a battery can be used as a power supply and, further, a temp. condition can be changed while treatment is performed, a moxibustion device can be easily carried. An intermittent DC current is coverted to intermittent heat stimulation by a Peltier element and treatment effect is generated by said heat stimulation. This moxibustion device can be used in cooling by reversing the polarity of DC voltage applied to the Peltier element used in heating and the generation of a burn can be prevented and the repetion of heating and cooling can be utilized in the stimulation of an effective spot.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a moxibustion device that utilizes heating and cooling due to the Bertier effect.

The present invention relates to a moxibustion device that controls the temperature of a contact on the side that is in contact with a human body by utilizing the fact that heating and cooling due to the Beltier effect changes depending on the temperature of the contact on the opposite side.

(Example) Conventional technology When a circuit is made by connecting different types of electrical conductors in a ring, and a direct current is passed through the circuit, the temperature of one contact increases and the temperature of the other contact decreases. This is called the Beltier effect.

The Beltier effect is normally extremely small, but it shows a very large value in certain alloy combinations, and has recently attracted attention as a compact, vibration-free heating and cooling element.

The technology that uses Vertier elements to heat and cool the affected area is
It is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-36973. This technology involves repeated heating and cooling by changing the polarity of the power source. However, there is no mention that it can be used for moxibustion.

Utility Model Publication No. 60-19702 and Utility Model Application No. 61-5182
No. 5 discloses a technique for using a Vertier element in a moxibustion device. In these designs, a method is used in which the contact on the side not in contact with the human body is cooled with water, and voltage control is used to control the temperature of the contact on the side in contact with the human body. The temperature of the moxibustion device needs to be varied over a considerable range depending on the person being treated, but since the necessary voltage is direct current, there is a problem in that large-scale equipment is required for control.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-22907 discloses a technique for fitting fins to the contact point on the side that is not in contact with the human body. However, this technology aims to strengthen the heating effect by providing an annular cooling surface on the outside of the heating surface that contacts the pot, surrounding the heating surface and extending from the cooling side terminal. There is not enough information on the significance of the existence of fins, and it is better to think of the fins as a safety device to prevent excessive cooling.

The mechanism of moxibustion is said to be the effect of stimulating places called acupuncture points with heat, rather than infiltrating the affected area with combustion products. Japanese Patent Publication No. 5 Fu-42337 discloses a device capable of producing a temperature change pattern similar to that generated by combustion by electric heating. The problems with this method are that the control system for creating the temperature change pattern is complex and expensive, and that it is difficult to create a temperature change pattern suitable for the characteristics of the patient.

C) Problems to be solved by the invention The present invention solves the problems of conventional electric moxibustion devices, in which the temperature control system is complicated and expensive, and the problem in which it is difficult to modify the heating conditions to suit the characteristics of the patient. The purpose is to resolve the points.

2) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention, when stimulating acupressure points on the human body by heating with a Bertier element, attaches a heat exchange device to the contact point of the Bertier element on the side that is not in contact with the human body, and heats the heat exchanger. This moxibustion device is characterized by controlling the temperature of the contact on the side that is in contact with the human body by controlling the exchange capacity.

Although any type of heat exchange device can be used, one using a metal heat sink such as a fin is preferred because it is easy to handle.

The heat exchange capacity of a heat exchange device can be controlled by sending air toward the heat exchange device and changing its flow rate, or by using a natural convection type heat exchange device and partially disturbs convective heat transfer. Methods such as keeping the heat exchange device warm or changing the thermal resistance between the contact point and the heat exchange device are easy to handle because the person administering the treatment or the person being treated can easily adjust the heating conditions. .

The temperature of the contact on the side that is in contact with the human body changes depending on the voltage applied to the element and the temperature of the contact on the side that is not in contact with the human body. Of these two parameters, controlling the voltage applied to the element in a delicate manner requires a fairly complex device because DC voltage must be applied to control the Beltier element.

Therefore, it is difficult to use a simple device such as a dry battery as a power source.

In the present invention, controlling the temperature of the contact on the side that is in contact with the human body by changing the temperature of the contact on the side that is not in contact with the human body is defined as zero indication.

This method allows for easy changes in temperature conditions during treatment.

Since batteries can be used as a power source and temperature conditions can be changed during treatment, the moxibustion device of the present invention can be easily carried and can be used for light work, riding, etc. while being treated. has advantages.

The purpose of the moxibustion device of the present invention is to convert intermittent direct current into intermittent thermal stimulation using a Bertier element, and to produce a therapeutic effect by the thermal stimulation.

The moxibustion device of the present invention can be used for cooling by reversing the polarity of the DC voltage applied to the Bertier element used for heating. If you cool down immediately after applying a thermal stimulus,
It has the advantage of being able to relieve inflammation in the human body caused by heating, and preventing the occurrence of burns, which is considered a disadvantage of moxibustion. Additionally, the Vertier element has the advantage that it is extremely easy to convert between heating and cooling, and by repeating heating and cooling, cooling can also be used to stimulate acupuncture points.

Example 1 A Vertier element with a rated capacity of 0.3 watts was used, an alumina ceramic contact member with a diameter of 2 mm was attached above the contact on the side in contact with the human body, and a DC voltage of 3.0 volts was applied to the element. was added to heat the human body.

After applying electricity for 90 seconds, electricity was turned off for 4 minutes, and this process was repeated eight times.

At this time, the contact point on the side not in contact with the human body has a total surface 'Mt1.
2 cm" fins were attached to absorb heat by natural convection. At this time, 60 seconds after the start of energization, the fins were covered with a heat insulating bag and the effect was examined. Table 1 shows the results.

Table 1 Test of moxibustion effect using Bertier element Test No.
In the case of , l, some burns remained afterward.

E) Functions and Effects of the Invention The present invention relates to a moxibustion device that controls the temperature of the contact on the side that is in contact with the human body by utilizing the fact that heating and cooling due to the Peltier effect changes depending on the temperature of the contact on the opposite side.

The present invention has the advantage that, unlike conventional heating and cooling devices using Beltier elements, it does not require an expensive DC voltage control device and is inexpensive. Furthermore, since the control position is close to the moxibustion device, the present invention has the advantage that the person undergoing treatment can search for and adjust the appropriate temperature while undergoing treatment.

The moxibustion device of the present invention can be used for cooling by reversing the polarity of the DC voltage applied to the Bertier element. The effect of cooling is to prevent burns in the heat-stimulated area, but it is also possible to use strong cold stimulation. Repeated stimulation of heat and cold is stronger than intermittent heat stimulation and has a greater therapeutic effect, but there is a risk of overstimulation, and as with the moxibustion device of the present invention, it is difficult for the person undergoing treatment to find a suitable temperature. It is desirable to be able to adjust the amount.

that's all

Claims (1)

[Claims] When stimulating acupressure points on the human body by heating with a Peltier element, a heat exchange device is attached to the contact point of the Peltier element on the side that is not in contact with the human body, and the heat exchange capacity of the heat exchange device is controlled. A moxibustion device that is characterized by controlling the temperature of the contact point on the side where the moxibustion occurs.