JPH0657262B2 - Low frequency therapy device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Use] The present invention relates to a portable low-frequency therapeutic device for treating by applying a low-frequency stimulating pulse current to a human body, and in particular, The present invention relates to a control mechanism that controls the frequency and intensity of a stimulation pulse current.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, a battery that is a small power source, an electronic circuit that generates a low-frequency stimulating pulse current, and a positive / negative device that is connected to this electronic circuit and that contacts the skin 2. Description of the Related Art A small portable low frequency treatment device integrally provided with a pair of output electrodes is known. The conventional low-frequency therapeutic device of this type has a structure in which the speed, that is, the frequency and the strength of the stimulation pulse current cannot be adjusted. However, if the frequency and strength cannot be adjusted in this way, it is inconvenient because proper stimulation cannot be obtained.

Therefore, in the low-frequency treatment device as described above, a structure in which a switch such as a tact switch for adjusting the frequency and intensity of the stimulation pulse current is provided in the treatment device main body has been adopted. There is a separate switch for adjusting and a switch for adjusting strength, and there is a switch for increasing and a switch for decreasing for each, and two or more switches are provided. However, if there are two or more adjustment switches as described above, the operation becomes complicated, and there is also a risk of erroneous operation, so when using the treatment device body under clothes,
I couldn't operate the switch from above my clothes.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the conventional portable small low-frequency treatment device in which the frequency and intensity of the stimulation pulse current can be adjusted, the treatment device main body has two adjustment switches. Since it is provided above, there is a problem that the operation of the switch is complicated and the switch cannot be operated from above the clothes.

The present invention is intended to solve such a problem, and the frequency and strength of the stimulation pulse current can be adjusted with one switch, the configuration is simple, and the operability of the switch is good. It is an object of the present invention to provide a low frequency treatment device in which this switch can be operated even from above clothes. Further, it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to clearly know the adjustment state of frequency and strength according to the operation of the switch in this low frequency treatment device.

[Structure of Invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, a low frequency treatment device according to claim 1 of the present invention is a power source such as a battery, an electronic circuit for generating a low frequency stimulating pulse current, and this electronic device A treatment device main body provided with an output electrode connected to a circuit is provided, and one operation switch provided on the treatment device main body for adjusting the frequency and intensity of the stimulation pulse current and the output electrode are provided. A human body detecting means for detecting whether or not the human body is attached to the human body, and when the output electrode is not attached to the human body in accordance with an output signal from the human body detecting means, the operation of the operation switch is adjusted to adjust the frequency. The output electrode is provided with a switching means including a microcomputer for adjusting the strength of the operation of the operation switch when the electrode is attached to the human body.

Further, the low frequency treatment device according to claim 2 is a display device such as a light emitting diode provided in the treatment device main body and the display when the output electrode is not attached to the human body according to the output signal from the human body detection means. A display control unit is added to perform a display operation, for example, blinking at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the stimulating pulse current, and stop or turn off the display when the output electrode is attached to the human body.

(Operation) In the low frequency treatment device according to claim 1 of the present invention, when the output electrode provided in the treatment device main body is not attached to the human body,
The human body detecting means detects that it is not attached, and the switching means causes the operation of the operation switch to adjust the frequency according to the output signal from the human body detecting means. Therefore, if the operation switch of the treatment device main body is operated at this time, the frequency of the stimulation pulse current output from the output electrode is adjusted. On the other hand, when the output electrode is attached to the human body together with the body of the treatment device, the human body detecting means detects that the electrode is attached, and the output signal from the human body detecting means causes the switching means to adjust the strength of the operation switch operation. And Therefore, if the operation switch is operated at this time, the intensity of the stimulation pulse current is adjusted. Then, the low-frequency stimulating pulse current generated by the electronic circuit using the battery as a power source flows to the human body through the output electrode at an appropriate frequency and intensity, and treatment is performed.

Furthermore, in the low-frequency treatment device according to claim 2, when the output electrode is not attached to the human body, the display control means outputs a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the stimulation pulse current output by the output signal from the human body detection means. A display device such as a light emitting diode of the treatment device main body is caused to perform a display operation, for example, blinking. Therefore, the user can know the speed of the stimulating pulse current to be output based on the display on the display, even if the treatment device main body is not attached to the human body, and operates the operation switch at the frequency. It can be adjusted appropriately.
On the other hand, when the output electrode is attached to a human body, the display control means stops, for example, turns off the display by an output signal from the human body detecting means, thereby preventing wasteful power consumption. At this time, since the stimulation pulse current flows through the human body, the user can know the strength of the stimulation pulse current from the feeling of stimulation, and the strength can be appropriately adjusted by operating the operation switch.

(Embodiment) The construction of an embodiment of the low-frequency treatment device of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

In FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, 11 is a treatment device main body, and at least the outer shell of the treatment device main body 11 is made of an insulator, and has a flat casing shape. Although not shown, the treatment device main body 11 has a small battery, which is a small power source, and an electronic circuit that generates a low-frequency stimulating pulse current. As shown in FIG. 5, the bottom surface of the treatment device main body 11 has a pair of positive and negative output electrodes 12a, 12a.
b is provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, an open / close button of a tact switch 13, which is an operation switch for adjusting the speed, that is, the frequency and intensity of the stimulation pulse current, is provided on the top surface of the treatment device main body 11. The power switch 14, an opening / closing knob, and a light emitting diode (not shown) as a display are provided.

Next, the configuration of the electronic circuit will be described with reference to FIG.

A central control unit (CPU) is a 4-bit one-chip microcomputer 21 such as NEC μPD755.
It consists of four. This microcomputer 21
It incorporates AM, ROM, PC, ALU, SP, etc., and has a large number of input / output ports. The tact switch 13 is connected to this input port as a switch input.

The oscillating means 22 functions as a generating program in the microcomputer 21 in this embodiment. However, an oscillating means is provided separately from the microcomputer 21,
The microcomputer 21 may turn on / off the oscillation. Then, in the oscillating means 22, a high voltage generating / accumulating means 23 that utilizes the oscillation of the oscillating means 22 to boost the battery voltage to generate a high voltage and accumulate it.
Are connected. Further, the microcomputer 21
The output port and the high voltage generating / accumulating means 23 are in contact with the output means 24 for controlling the discharge of the high voltage generating / accumulating means 23, and the output means 24 outputs the output electrodes 12a, 12
It is connected to the conductor output section 25 consisting of b.

A voltage value setting means 26 is connected to the output port of the microcomputer 21. The voltage value setting means 26 and the connection point of the high voltage generating / accumulating means 23 and the output means 24 are the voltage value at this connection point and the voltage value variably set by the voltage value setting means 26. Is connected to the voltage detecting means 27 for comparing. Further, the voltage detecting means 27 is connected to an input port of the microcomputer 21 having a function of oscillation control means for turning off the oscillation means 22 when the voltage value at the connection point exceeds a predetermined value.

Further, the conductor output section 25 includes the output electrodes 12a, 12
It is connected to a human body detecting means 28 for detecting whether or not b is attached to the human body. And this human body detecting means 28
Is a switching means for adjusting the frequency of the operation of the tact switch 13 when the output electrodes 12a and 12b are not attached to the human body and the strength of the output electrodes 12a and 12b when attached to the human body in accordance with the output signal. It is connected to the input port of the microcomputer 21 having a function.

Next, a specific configuration of the electronic circuit will be described with reference to FIG.

The power switch 14 is connected to the battery 31 having an electromotive force of V _D. The power switch 14 connects or disconnects the positive electrode of the battery 31 and the electronic circuit.

The positive electrode of the electrolytic capacitor 32 connected between both electrodes of the battery 31 is connected to the power supply port of the microcomputer 21, and the port of this microcomputer 21 is connected to the negative electrode of the battery 31. The connection point of the electrolytic capacitor 32 and the resistor 34, which are connected in series between both electrodes of the battery 31, is connected to the reset signal input port of the microcomputer 21. That is, this port is normally LOW, but when the power supply is turned on, the voltage value at the connection point rises, so that the port is temporarily set to HIGH and reset. Further, a resistor 35 for adjusting the oscillation frequency of the oscillator built in the microcomputer 21 is connected between the ports of the microcomputer 21.

The positive electrode of the battery 31 is a normally open tact switch.
It is connected to the input port of the microcomputer 21 via 13, and a resistor 36 and a capacitor 37 are connected between the connection point of the switch 13 and the port and the negative electrode of the battery 31.

A choke coil 42 is connected between the positive electrode of the battery 31 and the collector of the NPN transistor 41. The transistor 41 has an emitter connected to the negative electrode of the battery 31 and a base via a resistor 43. It is connected to the output port of the microcomputer 21. And
A diode 44 and a capacitor 45 are connected in series between the collector of the transistor 41 and the negative electrode of the battery 31. Further, the emitter of a PNP transistor 47 is connected to a connection point of the diode 44 and the capacitor 45 via a resistor 46, and the collector of the transistor 47 is connected to one output electrode 12a. The base of the PNP type transistor 47 is connected to the collector of an NPN type transistor 49 via a resistor 48, the emitter of the transistor 49 is connected to the negative electrode of the battery 31, and the base of the transistor 49 is connected to the resistor 50. Microcomputer
It is connected to 21 output ports. Further, between the other output electrode 12b and the negative electrode of the battery 31, a capacitor 51,
The diode 52 and the resistor 53 are connected in parallel.

A resistor 56 is connected to the connection point between the diode 44 and the capacitor 45, and resistors 57 and 5 are connected to the resistor 56, respectively.
The collectors of NPN transistors 60, 61 and 62 are connected via 8 and 59. And these transistors 6
The emitters of 0, 61, and 62 are connected to the negative electrode of the battery 31, and the bases thereof are connected to the output port of the microcomputer 21 via resistors 63, 64, and 65. Also, the resistor 56 and the resistors 57, 58, 59
Is connected to the base of an NPN transistor 67 via a Zener diode 66, and the emitter of this transistor 67 is connected to the negative electrode of the battery 31. The collector of the transistor 67 is connected to the battery 31 via the resistor 68.
Connected to the positive electrode of the microcomputer 21
Is connected to the input port of.

Further, the other output electrode 12b is connected to the NP via the resistor 71.
It is connected to the base of an N-type transistor 72, and the emitter of this transistor 72 is connected to the negative electrode of the battery 31. The collector of the transistor 72 is connected to the positive electrode of the battery 31 via the resistor 73 and the input port of the microcomputer 21.

Further, a resistor 76 and a light emitting diode 77 are connected in series between the positive electrode of the battery 31 and the output port of the microcomputer 21. The microcomputer 21
When the output electrodes 12a, 12b are not attached to the human body according to the output signal from the human body detecting means 28, the light emitting diode 77 is blinked at the same frequency as the frequency of the stimulating pulse current and is attached to the human body. It has a function of display control means for turning off the light when it is on.

The correspondence with the block diagram of FIG. 2 is shown by a chain line in FIG.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

First, the usage method will be described. After the power switch 14 is operated to turn it on, and before the treatment device main body 11 is attached to the human body, the tact switch 13 is pressed to adjust the speed or frequency of the stimulation pulse current. At this time, since the light emitting diode 77 blinks at the same frequency as this frequency, adjustment is performed with reference to this blinking. Next, the output electrode 12a
, 12b are brought into contact with the skin, and the treatment device main body 11 is attached to a desired position such as a pot of a human body. Where the tact switch
Operate 13 to adjust the strength of the stimulation pulse current. Here, adjustment is performed according to the actual feeling of stimulation. Then, a pulse current is applied to the human body through the output electrodes 12a and 12b to give a stimulus, so that the stiff shoulder, myalgia, etc. are treated. After the treatment, the treatment device main body 11 is removed from the human body, and the power switch 14 is turned off.

Next, the details of the operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

When the power switch 14 is turned on, the microcomputer
A reset signal is input to the port 21 to reset the microcomputer 21. As processing on the software of the microcomputer 21, after resetting, initialization is performed and A = 0 is set (step). Here, A indicates the presence / absence of an input from the tact switch 13, and A = 1 when there is a switch input, and A = 0 when there is no switch input. After that, the switch input waiting state (step) is entered, but when the tact switch 13 is pressed and there is an input to the port, a low voltage is applied to the output electrode 12a (step). This voltage is relatively low so that the output electrodes 12a and 12b are not felt by the human body even if they are attached to the human body. The process for producing this weak output is the same as that at the time of treatment described later.

Then, while the weak output is being output, the microcomputer 21 determines the state of the input port and determines whether or not the output electrodes 12a and 12b are attached to the human body based on this state (step). Output electrodes 12a, unless 12b is already mounted in the body, the electrodes 12a, because 12b is non-conductive, transistor 72 is off, the state of the input port is HIGH (P 3 _{= 0).} If P ₃ = 0, the frequency setting can be changed (step). Thus, every time the tact switch 13 is pressed while not being worn on the human body, the frequency setting is, for example, 3 Hz → 7 Hz → 10.
It changes cyclically from Hz to 3 Hz. At this time, there is output from the output port at the same frequency as the set frequency,
The light emitting diode 77 blinks.

On the other hand, if the output electrodes 12a and 12b are attached to the human body, both electrodes 12a and 12b become conductive through the human body,
Since the voltage of the base of the transistor 72 rises and this transistor 72 turns on, the state of the input port is LOW.
(P ₃ ≠ 0). If P ₃ ≠ 0, the port is always HIGH, the light emitting diode 77 is turned off, and the intensity of the stimulation pulse current, that is, the setting of the output voltage value to the human body is changed (step). The setting of the output voltage value is made by a combination of LOW and HIHG of the output port, and 2 ³ = 8 ways of setting the voltage value are possible.

After that, the timer is turned on (step). This timer inserts an interrupt after the reciprocal of the set frequency, that is, 100 to 300 msec, for example, after turning on. Then, at the same time when the timer is turned on, a rectangular wave oscillation signal of about 10 kHz is output from the output port by the oscillation means 22 in the microcomputer 21 (step). Although the transistor 41 is turned on / off by this oscillation signal, a high voltage is generated by the counter electromotive force on the collector side of the transistor 41 immediately after the transistor 41 is turned off by the coil 42. In this way, the low battery voltage V _D is boosted to generate a high voltage as a boosting pulse, but the generated high voltage is gradually accumulated in the capacitor 45.

Then, the charging voltage value of the capacitor 45 is compared with the set voltage value set by the combination of HIGH and LOW of the three output ports (step). That is, the combination of the output ports determines the combination of ON / OFF of the transistors 60, 61, 62, and the voltage division ratio of the resistor 56 and the resistors 57, 58, 59. While the voltage at the connection point a with 59 is lower than the Zener voltage of the Zener diode 66, the transistor 67 is off and the input port is HIGH, so the microcomputer 21 determines that the voltage is equal to or lower than the set voltage value. In this case, it is determined whether the tact switch 13 has been operated (step), and if there is a switch input, A = 1.
After (step), the process returns to the step and the capacitor 45 is further charged.

On the other hand, when charging of the capacitor 45 progresses and the voltage at the point a becomes higher than the Zener voltage, the Zener diode 66 becomes conductive, the transistor 67 is turned on, and the input port becomes LO.
Since it becomes W, the microcomputer 21 determines that it is equal to or higher than the set voltage value. In this case, the oscillation signal is no longer output from the port, and the charge accumulation in the capacitor 45 does not proceed any further, and the switch input waiting state (step) is set. If there is a switch input, A = 1 is set (step).

In this way, a high voltage is stored in the capacitor 45 corresponding to the combination of HIGH and LOW of the ports.

Then, when the time for one cycle of the pulse current for stimulation has passed after the timer was turned on, a timer interrupt is entered,
The output port that was LOW until then becomes HIGH (step). Then, the transistor 49 is turned on, the transistor 47 is turned on, and the charge accumulated in the capacitor 45 releases energy to the human body as a resistor connected to the output electrodes 12a and 12b. At this time, it feels as a stimulus to the human body. The time when the output port becomes HIGH, that is, the pulse width of the stimulation pulse is about 0.1 msec. At that time, the strength of the stimulation changes depending on the charging voltage of the capacitor 45. In addition, the charging voltage of the capacitor 45 depends on whether the port is HIGH or LOW.
Even when the voltage value does not reach the predetermined voltage value determined by the combination, the output port becomes HIGH if the timer that determines the period of the stimulation pulse current is interrupted.

Also, when the stimulation pulse current is output to the human body,
Whether or not the output electrodes 12a and 12b are attached to the human body is determined according to the state of the input port (step).
When it is worn on the human body, it is determined whether or not a switch input has been made within the time of one cycle so far (step). If A = 0, the process directly returns to the step. If A ≠ 0, A = When it is set to 0 (step), the process returns to the step and the setting of the output voltage value is changed. On the other hand, if it is not attached to the human body, that is, the treatment device main body 11
The computer has been removed from the human body,
21 becomes STOP mode (step).

Although not shown in the flowchart, a timer other than the above-mentioned timer is used to
Even if the treatment device main body 11 is attached to the human body, it is forced to enter the STOP mode. When the tact switch 13 is pushed in this state, the input port becomes HIGH, thereby returning from the STOP mode.

According to the above configuration, since both the frequency and the strength of the stimulation pulse current can be adjusted by one tact switch 13, the configuration is simple and the tact switch is simple.
The operability of 13 is good, and moreover, this switch 13 can be operated even from above clothes.

Further, since the tact switch 12 is provided on the surface of the treatment device main body 11 opposite to the output electrodes 12a and 12b that come into contact with the skin, it is easier to operate.

Further, the frequency adjustment can be performed only when the output electrodes 12a and 12b are not attached to the human body. At this time, the light emitting diode 77 has the same cycle as the set frequency.
Blinks, so that the user can know the frequency of the stimulating pulse current based on the blinking even if the human body is not actually energized, and can adjust this frequency appropriately. On the other hand, adjustment of the strength of the stimulation pulse current is
The output electrodes 12a and 12b are attached to the human body. At this time, since the human body is actually energized, the user can know the strength by the feeling of stimulation, Can be adjusted to. Then, the output electrode 12
After mounting a and 12b on the human body, the unnecessary light emitting diode 77 is turned off, so that the current consumption can be reduced and unnecessary power consumption can be prevented.

After the treatment time, for example, after removing the treatment device main body 11 from the human body or 30 minutes after the power is turned on, the light emitting diode 77 blinks for a certain period of time to notify the user of the treatment end. Good.

Further, in the above embodiment, the display device is the light emitting diode 77, but the display device may be a piezoelectric buzzer or the like.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, the touch switch 81 is an operation switch for adjusting the frequency and intensity of the stimulation pulse current. One of the pair of contacts of the touch switch 81 is connected to the positive electrode of the battery 31 via the resistor 82, and the other is connected to the base of the NPN transistor 83.
The transistor 83 has a collector connected to the positive electrode of the battery 31 via a resistor 84 and an emitter connected to the negative electrode of the battery 31. Also, the collector is
It is connected to the input port of the microcomputer 21 and is also connected to the negative electrode of the battery 31 via the capacitor 85.

Then, if the touch switch 81 is open, the port is HIGH, but if you touch both contacts of the touch switch 81 to bring these contacts into conduction, the transistor 83 turns on and the port is used as a switch input. Becomes LOW.

According to the above configuration, even if something is accidentally hit on the switch 81, the switch 81 will not be turned on, so that the setting of the frequency or strength of the stimulation pulse current may be changed carelessly. Can be prevented.

〔The invention's effect〕

 According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

In the low frequency treatment device according to claim 1, one treatment switch is provided in the treatment device main body having an output electrode, and an operation switch when the output electrode is not attached to a human body is provided according to the output signal of the human body detecting means. Since the switching means for adjusting the strength at the time of wearing is provided for adjusting the frequency of the stimulation pulse current,
Both the frequency and strength of the stimulating pulse current can be adjusted with one operation switch, the operation part configuration is simple, and the operability of the switch is improved. It becomes possible to operate without.

Further, in the low frequency treatment device according to claim 2, the display device when the output electrode is not attached to the human body is operated to display at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the stimulating pulse current according to the output signal from the human body detection means. When the frequency is adjusted, it is possible to clearly know the adjustment state of the frequency according to the operation of the switch even when the human body is not actually energized, because the display control to stop at the time is provided. Therefore, the frequency is appropriately adjusted. In addition, it is possible to prevent unnecessary power consumption by stopping the display when the strength is adjusted so that the adjustment state according to the operation of the switch can be clearly known by the actual stimulus feeling. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of a low-frequency therapeutic device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the same as above, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the same as above, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main body of the therapeutic device above. Is a bottom view of the treatment device main body, and FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an operation switch portion showing another embodiment of the present invention. 11 …… Treatment device body, 12a, 12b …… Output electrode, 13 ……
Tactile switch as operation switch, 21 ... Microcomputer having functions as switching means and display control means, 28 ... Human body detecting means, 31 ... Battery as power source, 77 ... Light emitting diode as indicator, 81 …… A touch switch as an operation switch.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A treatment device body provided with a power supply, an electronic circuit for generating a low-frequency stimulation pulse current, and an output electrode connected to the electronic circuit, and the stimulation pulse current provided in the treatment device body. Operation switch for adjusting the frequency and strength of the human body, human body detecting means for detecting whether or not the output electrode is attached to the human body, and the output switch for outputting the human body according to an output signal from the human body detecting means. Switching means for adjusting the frequency of the operation of the operation switch when the electrode is not attached to the human body and adjusting the strength of the operation of the operation switch when the output electrode is attached to the human body. Low-frequency treatment device characterized by. 2. A display provided on the main body of the therapeutic device, and the display corresponding to the frequency of the stimulation pulse current when the output electrode is not attached to the human body according to the output signal from the human body detecting means. 2. The low frequency treatment device according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for performing a display operation at a frequency and stopping the display device when the output electrode is attached to a human body.