JPH0385167A - electronic moxibustion - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the title moxibustion simple in constitution and capable of being lightly used without requiring much labor by providing a heating element composed of a positive temp. characteristic thermistor. CONSTITUTION:A planner heating element comprising a positive temp. characteristic thermistor having a planer shape is used for electronic moxibustion. Herein, as the material of the positive temp. characteristic thermistor constituting the planner heating element, BaTiO3 ceramics is generally used but, for example, V2O3 ceramics or a positive temp. characteristic thermistor made of a resin wherein conductive particles such as carbon black are contained in a polyolefinic resin such as polyethylene is used other than the ceramics. The planner heating element has a size of 3-10mmphi corresponding to standard moxa or a 3-10mm square outer shape, for example, from necessity placed on the light hole region of the body and the thickness thereof is pref. about 1-5mm. The specific resistance of the positive temp. characteristic thermistor is pref. 5-100OMEGAcm.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to electronic moxibustion used for promoting patient health, treating diseases, etc.
ve Temperature Coef'flcie
nt) relates to electronic moxibustion that uses a thermistor to apply thermal stimulation to a specific part of a patient.

[Conventional technology]

Moxibustion is a method of applying thermal stimulation to specific areas of the patient's skin using moxa or similar substances to induce a certain biological reaction, and is applied to improve the patient's health and treat diseases. It is an empirical therapy that has been used for many years.

By the way, when moxibustion is performed at home, one buys commercially available standard cut moxa, shapes it into a predetermined long conical shape, and then places the long conical moxa so that the bottom of the moxa is close to the patient's skin. Place it against the acupuncture point.

Thereafter, the tapered tip of the moxa is lit using, for example, an incense stick, and as the moxa burns, a thermal stimulus that gradually heats up to the patient's skin is applied. After that, when the moxa burns out over time, gently brush away the moxa with a small brush or bottle set, then place the moxa on the next acupuncture point and repeat the same process. To go. The amount of moxa per session and the number of repetitions per acupuncture point will vary depending on age, acupuncture point location, symptoms, etc., but please use the amount of moxa that meets the specifications and apply 3 to 5 times to the same acupuncture point. It is done repeatedly.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, although moxibustion as described above uses the combustion heat of moxa or similar substances to provide thermal stimulation, in reality, the amount of heat given to the patient's acupuncture points and the combustion temperature are based on the moxa. Not only do they change depending on the type and amount, but it is also difficult to adjust the amount of heat and combustion temperature to account for these changes, and it is necessary to rely on the intuition and experience of highly skilled people. Furthermore, moxibustion using moxa or similar substances is complicated and time-consuming, and cannot be easily used anywhere.

Therefore, in recent years, we have investigated the time-temperature characteristic curve of moxa until it burns out, and by utilizing electric heating elements and semiconductor thermomodules (heat-cooling conversion elements) that generate an amount of heat equal to this characteristic curve, thermal stimulation can be freely stimulated. Development of a stimulator that can adjust the amount of stimulator is underway, but a device that can be put to practical use has not yet been realized.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide P electronic moxibustion which has a simple structure and can be easily used without much effort.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive electronic moxibustion device that can be easily used without requiring any experience and can provide appropriate thermal stimulation to acupuncture points of a patient.

[Means to solve the problem]

First, the electronic moxibustion device of the invention according to claim 1 has a heating element made of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor which has a positive temperature coefficient of resistance when energized.

Next, in the electronic moxibustion of the invention corresponding to claim 2, a heating element layer made of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor having a positive temperature coefficient of resistance and a heat transfer layer made of an insulator are attached by applying electricity, and these heating element layers, In order to protect the heat transfer layer, it is covered with an exterior body, and is further provided with a power supply means for supplying electricity to the heat generation layer via a switch.

Furthermore, as a positive temperature characteristic thermistor, 50" or more 15
It is constructed using a material having a switching temperature of 0@ or less.

[Effect]

Therefore, the inventions according to claims 1 and 3 take the above measures, and when energized, a positive temperature characteristic thermistor exhibits a nearly constant resistance value up to a certain switching temperature, but when the temperature exceeds the switching temperature, The resistance value increases rapidly, and the current decreases accordingly, becoming constant, and a temperature corresponding to the temperature of the moxa can be obtained. Moreover, by varying the material of the positive temperature characteristic thermistor, electronic moxibustion having various different switching temperatures can be obtained.

Next, in the invention corresponding to claims 2 and 3, since the heat transfer layer of the insulating material is attached to the heat generating element layer made of the positive temperature coefficient thermistor, when the heat generating element layer is energized by the power supply means,
By varying the thickness of the heat transfer layer, or by keeping the thickness of the heat transfer layer constant and changing the material of the positive temperature coefficient thermistor to vary the switching temperature, the thickness of the heat transfer layer or the positive temperature coefficient thermistor can be changed. If you prepare electronic moxibustion that matches the patient's condition in advance, you can obtain time-temperature characteristics depending on the material.
Desired thermal stimulation can be applied to the patient's acupoint sites.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below. That is,
In the electronic moxibustion of the present invention, a planar heating element formed by forming a positive temperature coefficient thermistor having a positive temperature coefficient of resistance into a planar shape is used. Here, B a T L O l ceramics are generally used as the material for the positive temperature coefficient thermistor that constitutes the planar heating element, but other materials such as V2O ceramics, polyolefin resins such as polyethylene, and carbon A resin positive temperature characteristic thermistor containing conductive particles such as black is used, but the material is not particularly limited to these materials. In addition, since the sheet heating element needs to be placed at the patient's acupuncture points, it is necessary to use a size corresponding to the standard moxa, for example, 3 to 10 pieces φ or 3 to 10 +
u+ has a rectangular outer shape and has a thickness of 1 to 5II
The specific resistance of the positive temperature coefficient thermistor material is preferably 5 to 100 ΩCrA. Note that the term "planar shape" means a shape that easily conforms to the patient's skin.

Furthermore, electrodes are attached to both surfaces of the planar heating element, and a predetermined voltage is supplied to these electrodes via a switch. To supply power to this planar heating element, use a DC3-9V battery or a commercial AC power supply (ACLO).
A voltage of about 3 to 12 VDC obtained by A/D conversion of the heating element is used, and the optimal indoor resistance value of the heating element can be determined according to the power supply voltage.

In order to protect the patient's skin and the sheet heating element itself, the sheet heating element is covered entirely or only with a necessary portion, including the electrodes, by an exterior body.

Incidentally, the time-temperature characteristics during the combustion of conventionally used moxa show characteristics as shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), as described in the Heibonsha World Encyclopedia. Figure (a) shows the characteristics of medium-cut moxa, hard, soft, and slightly moist, and figure (b) shows the characteristics of the production areas, i.e., Ibuki moxa, Kamaya moxa, and Yatsuo moxa. be. According to these moxa, the combustion temperature reaches its maximum approximately 7 to 20 seconds after ignition, and the measured temperature is approximately 90 to 120".
It is about c.

On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 2, the positive temperature characteristic thermistor with the above configuration has a resistance ratio that is approximately constant below a certain temperature, that is, the switching temperature Ts, but its resistance value decreases when the temperature exceeds the switching temperature Ts. The resistance changes rapidly and the width of the resistance change ranges from about 104 to 107, and the current decreases and becomes constant, resulting in a constant heat generation temperature.Using this property, a constant temperature heating element is constructed. can do. At this time, the switching temperature of the positive temperature characteristic thermistor used is, for example, about 50'' to 150''c, but if you want to easily realize such a switching temperature, BaTi0. This can be fully realized by using ceramic materials of this type. The reason why the switching temperature range of the positive temperature coefficient thermistor of the present invention is expanded compared to the moxa temperature of 90 to 120 @c shown in Fig. 1 is to realize a wider maximum temperature range and to take heat loss into consideration. This is because.

Then, by using the positive temperature characteristic heating element configured as described above and measuring the current l while varying the power supply voltage V applied to this heating element, a V-1 characteristic as shown in Figure 3 is obtained. . In this figure, the resistance is constant between point a and point b, which corresponds to the V-1 characteristic of the resistance value up to the switching temperature Ts in FIG. On the other hand, from point b to 0
This is a region where the current is constant up to this point, and this is a region where the resistance value rapidly increases and the current decreases from the switching temperature Ts in FIG. 2, and is a so-called constant temperature heat generation region. Therefore, in the present invention, the desired maximum temperature can be obtained by determining an appropriate point in the b-c region as the voltage applied to the positive temperature characteristic heating element and energizing it.

The time it takes for the planar heating element using the positive temperature coefficient thermistor to reach its maximum temperature as described above varies depending on the ambient temperature, but it is usually about several seconds at room temperature, as shown in Figures 1(a) and (b). This is a considerably shorter time than the time-temperature characteristics of moxa shown in . Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, Al2O3, Zr and
A heat transfer layer 2 made of insulating ceramics such as O2 is attached, and these planar heating element layer 1 and heat transfer layer 2
The structure is such that it is covered with an exterior body 3 having an appropriate thickness from the viewpoint of protecting the body. In this way, the side that comes into contact with the acupuncture points on the patient's skin is the heat transfer layer 2 made of insulating ceramics, and the material, thickness, etc. of the heat transfer layer 2 are changed as appropriate to design the heat transfer rate while taking into account the heat transfer rate. This allows you to freely adjust the time it takes to reach the maximum temperature. Reference numeral 4 denotes an electronic moxibustion housing housing a battery for supplying a predetermined DC voltage to the planar heating element layer 1 and other necessary components.

Note that after the electronic moxibustion reaches the maximum temperature, it may be removed artificially from the acupuncture point site. The energization time is clocked, and the energization is canceled when a predetermined time has elapsed, or a relay is inserted in the energized line, and when the heating element layer 1 or the heat transfer layer 2 reaches the maximum temperature, the relay turns off the energized line. Furthermore, when the heating element layer 1 or the heat transfer layer 2 reaches the maximum temperature, a timer is started to cut off the power supply after a predetermined time, or the power supply is controlled intermittently at predetermined time intervals. Good too.

Next, two more specific examples regarding the electronic moxibustion of the present invention will be described. One of them is as shown in Figure 5 (B a
Diameter 10φ, thickness 2 made of TiOs ceramics
mtis room temperature resistance approximately 2.5Ω, switching temperature 9
After attaching electrodes 12.12 to both sides of the four positive temperature characteristic thermistors 11 of 0''C, a diameter of 10φ and a thickness of O
1■", "Diameter 10φ, thickness 0.5mm""Diameter 10
φ, 1.0■", "Diameter 10φ, 2.A of Oa+mJ
The heat transfer layers 13 of I, O, and (alumina) plates are individually pasted. Then, each positive temperature characteristic thermistor 1
1 and a silicone resin exterior body 1 on the outside of the heat transfer layer 13.
4 to make 4 electronic moxibustion heads. Furthermore, the electrode 12.1 of each of these positive temperature characteristic thermistors 11
A DC power supply 16 is connected to 2 via a switch 15.

Therefore, in order to measure the time-temperature characteristics of electronic moxibustion as described above, after a thermocouple 17 (JIS abbreviation C steel - constantan) was brought into close contact with the surface of the exterior body 14 located on the heat transfer layer 13 side. A recorder 18 for recording the measured temperature signal is connected to this thermocouple 17, and then, after setting the electronic moxibustion head at the patient's acupuncture point site, the switch 15 is artificially turned on.
Alternatively, after turning on the switch 15 artificially, the electronic moxibustion head is set at the acupuncture point site of the patient. Then, due to this energization operation, the positive temperature characteristic thermistor 11 generates heat, and the temperature of the heat transfer layer 13 rises over time. After the heat transfer layer 13 reaches approximately the maximum temperature, an artificial switch is activated after an arbitrary period of time. 15 is turned off. Note that the applied voltage is DCI
It is OV.

As a result, the time-temperature characteristics shown in FIG. 6 were obtained from the four electronic moxibustion devices described above. In other words, if there is no heat transfer layer 13 made of an insulator, the maximum temperature will be reached in only about 2 seconds, but by varying the thickness of the heat transfer layer 13, the maximum temperature will be reached as shown in FIG. From this, Figure 1 (a) and (b)
It is possible to realize a method that can be fully applied to the characteristics of various types of moxa shown in the following.

Next, another embodiment will be described.

In this embodiment, four positive temperature coefficient thermistors 11 made of BaTiO3 ceramics with a diameter of 10φ, a thickness of 2ts, a room temperature resistance of 2.5Ω, and a switching temperature of 50, 90, 120° and 150'C are in contact at acupuncture points. An electronic moxibustion head was created by attaching a heat transfer layer 13 made of an Al2O (alumina) plate with a diameter of 10φ and a thickness of 1.0 mm to the side, and the time-temperature characteristics were measured by applying electricity in the same manner as described above. Characteristic results as shown in FIG. 7 were obtained. As shown in this figure 7, 50
If a positive temperature characteristic thermistor with a switching temperature of ~150''c is constructed, the maximum temperature will be approximately 70~160@, and a moxa temperature characteristic similar to that shown in FIGS. 1(a) and (b) can be obtained.

Although the recorder 18 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 records the measured temperature signal in an analog manner, the measured temperature signal may be digitally converted and displayed digitally, or it may be combined with analog recording or digital display. A predetermined reference temperature (maximum temperature) is set in advance, and when the measured temperature signal reaches the reference temperature, the switch 15 is shut off after a predetermined time has elapsed with a timer, or the energized line is shut off with a relay. It may also be a configuration. Moreover, the exterior body 14 is formed like a box, and the positive temperature characteristic thermistor 11 or the heat transfer layer 1
If one or both of 3 is made removable, the maximum temperature and the time taken to reach the maximum temperature can be varied as appropriate, making it even easier to use.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention provides the following various effects.

First, the invention of claim 1 is a handy type electronic thermometer that can be realized with a simple configuration and can be used to easily perform moxibustion with one hand, regardless of time or place, such as a commercially available electronic thermometer. Moxibustion can be achieved.

Next, in the invention of claim 2, in addition to the same effect as the invention of claim 1, various moxa times can be obtained according to positive temperature characteristic thermistors with different switching temperatures or different thicknesses of heat transfer layers. - It is possible to realize a device that matches the temperature characteristics, and it is possible to select the optimal one according to the patient's situation and provide the desired thermal stimulation.

Furthermore, according to the third aspect of the invention, a wider maximum temperature range can be realized.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a time-temperature characteristic diagram of moxa commonly used in the past, Figs. 2 to 4 are shown to explain an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 shows a positive temperature characteristic thermistor. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the voltage and current applied to the positive temperature characteristic thermistor, FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electronic moxibustion according to the present invention, and FIG. Figures 6 and 7 are block diagrams showing moxibustion more specifically, and show the time-temperature characteristics when varying the thickness of the heat transfer layer and the switching temperature of the positive temperature characteristic thermistor of the electronic moxibustion shown in Figure 5. It is a diagram. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Planar heating element layer, 2... Heat transfer layer, 3... Exterior body, 4... Electronic moxibustion housing, 11... Positive temperature characteristic thermistor, 13... Heat transfer layer , 15... switch, 16
...DC power supply, 17...thermocouple, 18...recorder.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) Electronic moxibustion characterized by comprising a heating element made of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor which has a positive temperature coefficient of resistance when energized. (2) A heating element layer made of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor that has a positive temperature coefficient of resistance when energized; a heat transfer layer made of an insulator attached to the contact surface side of this heating element layer; 1. An electronic moxibustion device comprising: an exterior body that covers and protects the outside of the heating layer; and a power supply means that supplies electricity to the heating layer via a switch. (3) The electronic moxibustion device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the positive temperature characteristic thermistor has a switching temperature of 50° or more and 150° or less.