Stimulation device

(42) Date of commencement of the patent: 15. 7.1996 (45) Date of issue: 25. 2.1997

<td>(56) Documents:</td><td>(73) Patent owner:</td>

<td>AT 362408A1 DE 3720742A1</td><td>DAVITASHVILI EVGENIA JUVASHOVNA</td>

<td>EP 116511A1 EP 320080A1 EP 266038A2 FR 969374A US 4825868A</td><td>MOSCOW (RU). KLEIMAN ALEXANDR MORDUKHAEVICH MOSCOW (RU). (72) Inventor: DAVITASHVILI EVGENIA JUVASHOVNA MOSCOW (RU). KLEIMAN ALEXANDR MORDUKHAEVICH MOSCOW (RU).</td>

(54) Stimulation device (57) The stimulation device has radiators (9) and a feed part (6) and a control unit (5) to which the radiators (9) are connected. The emitters (9) are subdivided into groups, each emitting radiation of a specific frequency, in particular visible radiation, infrared radiation and UHF radiation. The radiators (9) are arranged on at least one movable support (1) within at least one contour of a hand and form a radiation surface (8). The control unit (5), which is connected in series with the feed part (6), is designed as a regulator for individually controlling the intensity of the radiations emanating from different groups. With this stimulation device, it is possible to automatically perform the previously performed by therapists non-contact hand stimulation.

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The present invention relates to a stimulation device with radiators and with a feed part and a control unit to which the radiators are connected, wherein the radiators are divided into groups, each emitting radiation of a certain frequency, in particular visible radiation and infrared radiation.

The invention can be used for the prophylaxis and psychological relief of patients as well as for influencing various objects with electromagnetic fields that correspond according to their characteristics of the electromagnetic fields of biological objects.

A method of acting on biological objects by irradiating them with an infrared radiation of 8 to 14 μm, a UHF radiation in the range of 8 to 30 cm and an electromagnetic alternating field with a frequency of 10 Hz (Djuna Davitashvili) I hear my hands, 1988, Fiskultura i Sport / Körperkultur und Sport / Moskau, p. 168).

In this procedure, one uses the hands of a therapist who has the electromagnetic fields mentioned as the source of excitation.

A disadvantage of the known method is the need to select therapists and to train them individually, as well as the lack of mechanization and automated dosage of the electromagnetic effect, which requires the use of highly skilled professionals.

There is known a device for stimulation with infrared radiation (SU-A-1258423), which allows to obtain in each specific case the desired electromagnetic fields. The device includes a radiator section, a current amplifier, a pulse counter, a display unit connected in series with the pulse counter, a generator connected to the inputs of the pulse counter and the current amplifier, a measuring and diagnostic section and biosensors. With the aid of units for stimulation and generation of pulses present in the device, a specific operating mode of the infrared action is selected. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the IR exposure, biosensors are incorporated in the device, which are connected to the measuring and diagnostic part containing a biorhythm indicator indicator and a mode indicator via a controllable switch. However, it is not possible with the known device to regulate the characteristics of the radiators across the surface of the electrodes, whereby there is no possibility to replicate a non-contact hand stimulation, which is performed by the hands of the therapist.

Further, a device for stimulation with a UHF field of the decimeter wave range (SU-A388755) is known, which includes a self-excited oscillator, a feed part, an automatic unit, a dipole radiator with a screen and a power meter. Upon application of the supply voltage to the anode of the tube of the self-excited oscillator arise in this UHF oscillations, which are transmitted via a coupling capacitance to the power meter and then passed through a high-frequency cable to the input of the radiator. This device ensures during the treatment procedure, the constancy of the dose at any orientation of the body parts to be irradiated of the object with respect to the radiator. However, during the course of the treatment there is no possibility to regulate the characteristics of the radiators over the surface (within the boundaries of the contour) of the electrodes, which does not allow to simulate non-contact types of stimulation performed by the hands of the therapist.

Another electromagnetic field stimulation device (SUA-1140797) is known, which emitters are arranged on a movable support, a feed part and a series circuit of a generator, an attenuator, the radiation type indicator and a control unit connected to the Spotlight is connected, contains.

The accuracy with which the exposure is metered is achieved by automatically counting the pulses reflected from the biological object and maintaining a proportional relationship between the distance of the bio-object from the electrode and the radiation level. The generator keeps the radiation level at the electrodes within the desired limits via the control unit, a switch and the attenuator. However, in the known device it is not possible to carry out a program-controlled (correction) control of the radiation intensity.

From DE-OS 37 20 742 a therapeutic laser device is known in which a plurality of flexible tubes are mounted on a movable probe support plate, at the free end of each a laser probe is attached. Furthermore, a control unit for individually controlling the various laser probes is provided. In this way it is possible to treat several affected areas of a patient at the same time. An imitation of the hand stimulation described above is not possible because no radiation surface is formed. The emitters in the known device are for the action on concrete, biologically active points (eg the human hand - see Fig. 3) to which the radiators are directed by means of the respective movable supports.

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In DE-OS 36 42 408 a light irradiation mat is described which emits almost uniform visible light; US Pat. No. 4,825,868 describes a type of heating mat. Both mats are provided with a food and control part.

From FR-A-969 374 and EP-A-114 511 an electrically insulating glove is known which has on some or all fingers an electrode for performing electrotherapy. Also from AT-PS 120 095 a device is known, can be attached to the electrodes on the human hand. However, none of the three propositions deals with radiating electromagnetic radiation to the sites of the human body to be treated.

From EP-A-266 038 a device is known which has two different types of radiators, eg one for radiation of 635 nm and one for radiation of 690 nm. These two types of radiation stimulate a photosensitive substance, which was previously injected into the tissue to be irradiated; the photosensitive material should have an affinity for cancer cells, so that the latter are destroyed by the highly sensitive photosensitive material due to the two types of radiation. An imitation of the hand stimulation described above but is impossible with this device, if only because it emits only visible light.

A stimulation device of the type mentioned is known from EP-A-320 080. In contrast to this publication, it is an object of the invention to provide a stimulation device which enables automatic metering of the radiation intensity from a surface which mimics the shape and characteristics of the radiation of the hand of a trained therapist, thereby acting on the object with different electromagnetic fields becomes, with which healing effects are made, which are analogous to a non-contact massage.

The stated object is achieved by a stimulation device of the type mentioned in the present invention, that the radiators are arranged on at least one movable support within at least one contour of a hand and form a radiation surface, that a group of emitters emits UHF radiation and that the control unit, which is connected in series to the feed part, is designed as a controller for the individual control of the intensity of the radiation emanating from different groups.

It is expedient that a stabilized supply source of the radiator and - connected to this - a distributor and a switch are used as a regulator for the radiation intensity, wherein the radiator are connected to the switch and the control input of the switch is connected to the distributor.

It is possible that the radiation intensity regulator comprises groups each of a series connection of an emitter follower, a variable resistor and a multi-pole switch connected to the radiators.

The invention makes it possible to increase the effectiveness of the action of electromagnetic fields on the object thanks to the automation of the dosage of the radiation. By the following measures, the equivalence with the above-described non-contact hand stimulation is effected: arrangement of the radiator on the support within at least one contour of the hand of an arm; Execution of the control unit as a regulator for the radiation intensity; and using several different radiation sources as radiators, eg a source of visible radiation, an IR radiation source, a UHF radiation source and a heat source. It is also useful if the movable support consists of two parts, wherein at each part within the contour of the right or the left hand the spotlights are attached.

The invention makes it possible to provide means of psychological relief for individual and joint use and to eliminate by known methods of non-contact massage, the fatigue, fatigue and stress in large groups of people (workers on the tape, vehicle drivers, air traffic controllers) at least mitigate.

Furthermore, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a concrete embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

FIG. 1 a constructive embodiment of the stimulation device according to the invention in isometric view; FIG. 2 a functional diagram of the stimulation device according to the invention with a regulator for the radiation intensity, which has a stabilized voltage source; FIG. 3 a functional diagram of the stimulation device according to the invention with a regulator for the radiation intensity, the variable resistors and multi-pole switch comprises; FIG. 4 a constructive embodiment of the mechanical part of the device, wherein the movable support consists of two parts, the radiator on these two parts in the contours of the right or the left hand are arranged.

The stimulation device according to the invention comprises a movable support 1 (FIG. 1) which is fastened to a rod 2 by means of a fastening element 3, the rod 2 being set up on a base plate 4.

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The stimulation device also contains a control unit 5 and a feed part 6, which are accommodated in a housing fastened to the rod 2 with the aid of a fastening element 7. On the movable support 1 at least one outline 8 of the hand of an arm is applied, are disposed within the radiator 9, which form a radiation surface. The radiators 9 are connected in parallel groups 9i (FIG. 2), 9₂, 93, ... 9_n summarized.

The control unit 5 (FIG. 1) and the feed part 6, which are housed in the housing, communicate with the radiators 9 by means of a flexible conductor 10.

The control unit 5 is intended for the specification of the desired characteristic values ​​of electromagnetic fields of the radiators and is designed as a regulator for the intensity of the radiation coming from different sections of the radiation surface; he is connected to the aforementioned radiators 9.

The radiation intensity controller contains a stabilized voltage source. This includes a series connection of zener diodes 11 (FIG. 2) and two transistors 13, 15. The anode of one of the Zener diodes 11 is connected to ground 12. The base of the transistor 13 is connected via a resistor 14 to the supply part 6 and to the cathode of one of the Zener diodes 11. The base of the transistor 15 is connected to the emitter of the transistor 13, wherein the collectors of the transistors 13, 15 are connected to each other and connected to the feed part 6. The emitter of the transistor 15 is connected to the radiators 9 in connection. The radiators 9 in each group 9i, 9₂, ... 9_n are connected in series, with the anode of the radiator 9 at the input of each group connected to the emitter of the transistor 15 and the cathode of the radiator at the output of each group to the ground 12.

The radiation intensity regulator includes a distributor 16, which is designed as a three-pole switch. Its movable terminal 17 is connected to the feed part 6.

The radiation intensity regulator also has a change-over switch which has a relay whose windings 18, 19, 20 are connected to the fixed connections 21, 22 or 23 placed the distributor 16 and connected to the ground 12. A contact group 24 of the coil-wound relay 18 is connected to the anode of the zener diode 11, whose cathode is connected to the base of the transistor 13, and to the ground 12. Another contact group 25 of the relay with the same winding 18 is connected to the cathodes of the radiator whose anodes are connected to the emitter of the transistor 15, and to the ground 12 in connection. Another contact group 26 of the relay with winding 19 is connected to the anode of the Zener diode 11, whose cathode is connected to the contact group 24, and is connected to the ground 12 in connection. A contact group 27 of the relay with the same winding 19 is connected to the cathodes of the radiators 9, whose anodes are connected to the contact group 25, and to the ground 12. A contact group 28 of the coil-wound relay 20 is connected to the anode of the zener diode whose cathode is connected to the contact group 26 and to the ground 12. A contact group 29 of the relay with the same winding 20 is connected to the cathode of the radiator 9, whose anodes are connected to the contact group 27, and to the ground 12.

The radiators 9 are to act on the object to be irradiated with electromagnetic fields. In the present exemplary embodiment of the stimulation device, semiconductor emitters are used as emitters 9, which ensure radiative effects on the object in the visible and in the IR range. Furthermore, diodes are provided which oscillate in the UHF range and thereby generate UHF radiation.

By using semiconductor emitters in different groups, which operate in different radiation ranges, a complex effect on the object, which results from the visible, the UHF, the IR and the heat radiation, can be achieved.

In another embodiment of the device according to the invention, the radiation intensity regulator comprises n groups of a series connection of an emitter follower 30 (FIG. 3), a variable resistor 31 and a multi-pole switch 32. The switch 32i of the first group is connected to the radiators 9 of the group 9i, the switch 32nd_n of the nth group but with the spotlights 9 of group 9_n connected.

The movable support 1 can be constructed of two parts 33 (Fig. 4), 34, each of which is fastened to a separate rod 2 by means of its own fastening element 3. On a foot part 4, which is designed as a stand, a socket 35 is mounted, in which the rod 2 by means of a stepping motor 36 can be moved vertically. Such a constructive design allows a simulation of the movement of both hands of the therapist in the vertical direction.

The stimulation device works as follows:

To the feed part 6 (Fig. 1) is applied mains voltage (the power grid is not shown in the drawings). With the aid of the regulator 5 for the radiation intensity, the radiators 9 are preset in such a way that their desired radiation intensity results. The radiation level on different sections of the surface 8 may be different. For example, the radiation intensity in the middle of the palm is higher

AT 402 155 Β than on the other sections of the area 8. The level of the required radiations and the distribution pattern of the intensity of the radiations across the surface 8 are set for the object to be irradiated according to the prescribed treatment procedure. When working out the treatment procedures, the physician uses charts for the intensity of the fields, which were measured with a therapist specially trained in non-contact hand massage. The object is placed in the immediate vicinity of the radiation surface 8 and subjected to radiation for a period prescribed by the treatment procedure. The required radiation levels at the radiators 9 are set as follows.

In one of the positions of the distributor 16 (FIG. 2), eg when closing the contacts 17 and 22, the relay, which belongs to the switch, with winding 19 speaks. The contact group 26 of this relay closes the circuit of two Zener diodes 11 with the ground 12, whereby a voltage level at the base of the transistor 13 and thus at the emitter of the transistor 15 is secured, which corresponds to the two other series-connected Zener diodes 11 reference voltage. The voltage from the emitter of the transistor 15 is the groups 9i, 92, ... , 9 "of the radiator 9 supplied. The contact group 27 of the relay with winding 19 of the switch also connects a part of radiators 9 in the groups 9i, 92, ... 9_n with the mass 12.

At the remaining radiators 9 in these groups, the current from the stabilized voltage source is kept constant, with the radiation intensity of each of the remaining radiators 9 being maximum.

In other positions of the manifold 16, the number of radiators 9 in the groups 9i, 92, ... 9 changes_n, which are not connected to the ground 12, proportional to the number of not connected to the ground 12 Zener diodes 11. Thus, with the aid of the distributor 16, the intensity of the radiation of a portion of the radiation surface 8 is gradually changed, on which the groups 9i,₂, ... 9_n the spotlights are located. As distributor 16, an electronic selector can be used, which is controlled by an electronic computer. In this case, the prescribed treatment procedure stored as a program is program-controlled, whereby the required intensities of the radiations are automatically maintained.

The groups 9i, 9₂, 93, - 9_n the radiator on the radiation surface 8 can be arranged with maximum density.

Thus, the magnitude of the radiation intensity can be varied over the entire radiation area 8. Thus, the radiation intensity in the middle of the palm is higher than at the finger ends.

In order to ensure stepless regulation of the radiation levels from the radiation surface 8 (FIG. 1), the voltage from the supply part 6 (FIG. 3) impinges on the radiators 9 via the emitter followers 30, the variable resistors 31 and the multipolar switches 32.

When using emitters 9 of different types, for example emitters of the visible and the IR range, the intensities for each type of emitter 9 are adjusted by means of the variable resistors 31.

If the position of the radiating surfaces 8 (Fig. 4) with respect to the object has to be changed in accordance with the prescribed treatment procedure, the rod 2 is displaced vertically by means of the stepping motors 36, the two parts 33 and 34 of the movable support also being vertical Plane with respect to the object and irradiate it from both sides.

Thus, the stimulation device according to the invention makes it possible to act on the object with different electromagnetic fields, including their superimpositions, resulting in a healing effect which is analogous to non-contact massage. This is achieved by automated metering of the radiation intensity from area 8, which simulates the shape and characteristics of the radiation of the hand of the trained therapist.

The stimulation time is not limited, so that the device according to the invention can be operated for a long time, which offers the opportunity to use it in cosmonautics and in medicine.