Low-frequency therapy device

0001The present invention relates to a low frequency treatment device that applies a current pulse to a human body for treatment.

0002As this type of low-frequency treatment device, a treatment device body capable of generating an electric current pulse, a conductor cord having one end connected to the treatment device body, and an adhesive pad detachably attached to the other end of the guide cord are provided. I have something to prepare for. The sticky pad is provided with a conductive sticky sheet on one side thereof, which is attached to a treatment site on the surface of the body.

0003In this low-frequency treatment device, an adhesive pad connected to the guide cord is attached to the treatment site on the body surface, and by operating the treatment device body, a current pulse is supplied to the treatment site of the user to perform treatment. ..

<p num="0004"><patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Patent No. 3757625</text></patcit></p>

<p num="0005"> Here, in Patent Document 1, in the range of the pulse frequency to be used (about several Hz to 1200 Hz), the treatment in the high frequency range is excellent in immediate effect such as pain relief, but the muscle contraction to the electrical stimulation follows. It has been found that the feeling of irritation given to the user is small.</p><p num="0006"> On the other hand, when the voltage of each pulse is the same and the energization time of each pulse (that is, per pulse) is the same, the unit time is larger in the high frequency region than in the low frequency region due to the larger number of pulses. Since the energizing time per hit becomes longer, the current supplied to the user's body becomes larger. For this reason, if the peak value (voltage) of the pulse is raised in the entire frequency range in order to enhance the feeling of stimulation felt by the user, the current becomes excessive in the high frequency range, causing damage to the user's body. There is a risk and it is a safety problem.</p><p num="0007"> Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a safe low-frequency treatment device that can enhance the feeling of irritation felt by the user.</p>

<p num="0008"> The low-frequency treatment device of the present invention is connected to a treatment device main body capable of generating an electric current pulse so that the current pulse is transmitted to the treatment device main body, and is adhered to a treatment site on the surface of the user's body. The treatment device main body includes a pad, a transmission unit that outputs the current pulse, a control unit that controls the transmission unit, and an operation unit in which the strength and weakness of the current pulse are instructed by a user's operation. When the operation unit is strongly operated, the control unit raises the voltage in a high frequency range where the stimulus given to the user is small within the high and low range of the frequency of the current pulse that can be output by the transmission unit. It is characterized in that the output voltage to the transmitting unit is increased so that the rate of increase in voltage in the low frequency region, which gives a feeling of irritation to the user, is larger than the rate.</p><p num="0009"> In the low-frequency treatment device of the present invention having the above configuration, when the control unit controls the transmitter, the voltage in the high frequency range within the high-low range of the frequency of the current pulse that can be output by the transmitter is in the low frequency range. It does not rise compared to the voltage. Therefore, in the high frequency range, it is possible to suppress damage to the user's body due to an excessive current pulse caused by the increased voltage. In addition, in the low frequency range, the stimulation given to the user is strengthened by appropriately strengthening the current pulse, so that the user can realize that the treatment is effective.</p><p num="0010"> In the low-frequency treatment device of the present invention, the control unit keeps the output voltage in the high-frequency region constant and raises the output voltage in the low-frequency region when the operation unit is strongly operated. The configuration can be adopted.</p><p num="0011"> In the low frequency treatment device of the present invention having the above configuration, since the voltage in the high frequency region is constant, the voltage only in the low frequency region is compared with the configuration in which the voltage is fluctuated in both the high frequency region and the low frequency region. Power consumption can be suppressed because the rise is sufficient.</p><p num="0012"> Further, in the low frequency treatment device of the present invention, the low frequency region is a region where the frequency of the current pulse output by the transmitter is less than 100 Hz, and the high frequency region is a region where the frequency is 100 Hz or more. Can be adopted.</p><p num="0013"> In the low frequency treatment device of the present invention having the above configuration, the low frequency range is set to less than 100 Hz, which has a particularly high therapeutic effect on the body surface layer, and the high frequency range is set to 100 Hz or more, which has a particularly high therapeutic effect on the deep body layer. By doing so, it is possible to optimally treat the surface layer of the body in the low frequency range and the deep layer of the body in the high frequency range.</p><p num="0014"> Further, in the low frequency treatment device of the present invention, the output voltage in the low frequency region when the operation unit is strongly operated is equal to or higher than the output voltage in the high frequency region, and the current output by the transmitter unit. Regarding the duty ratio of the pulse, a configuration in which the duty ratio in the low frequency region is smaller than the duty ratio in the high frequency region can be adopted.</p><p num="0015"> In the low frequency treatment device of the present invention having the above configuration, the duty ratio in the low frequency range is smaller than the duty ratio in the high frequency range with respect to the duty ratio of the current pulse output from the transmitting unit. Therefore, in the low frequency region where the duty ratio is relatively small, the current increase when the voltage is increased becomes smaller. Therefore, under this duty ratio setting, the output voltage to the transmitter is increased so that the voltage increase rate in the low frequency range is larger than the voltage increase rate in the high frequency range, thereby increasing the high frequency range. It is possible to effectively make it difficult to generate an excessive current pulse in.</p>

<p num="0016"> According to the low-frequency treatment device of the present invention, damage to the user's body due to an excessive current pulse caused by an increased voltage can be suppressed in a high-frequency region. In addition, in the low frequency range, the stimulation given to the user is strengthened by appropriately strengthening the current pulse, so that the user can realize that the treatment is effective. Therefore, when the operation unit is strongly operated, it is possible to provide a safe low-frequency treatment device while enhancing the stimulating feeling felt by the user.</p>

0017<figref num="1">FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a low-frequency treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state where an adhesive pad is attached to the main body of the treatment device.</figref><figref num="2">It is a perspective view which showed the procedure of attaching the sticky pad to the treatment apparatus main body.</figref><figref num="3">It is a bottom view of the adhesive pad.</figref><figref num="4">It is a block diagram which includes the control part provided in the treatment apparatus main body.</figref><figref num="5">It is explanatory drawing which sticks the low frequency treatment device to an arm and uses.</figref><figref num="6">It is an explanatory view of using the same low frequency treatment device attached to the back of the body, (a) is attached to the neck, (b) is attached to the shoulder, and (c) is attached to the waist. It is a figure.</figref><figref num="7">It is a waveform diagram which shows the waveform of the current reference of the current pulse in 4 modes of "deep acupressure" "acupressure" "fir" "tapping" of the low frequency treatment device.</figref><figref num="8">It is a schematic graph which shows the output voltage of the control part in the "deep acupressure" mode of the low frequency treatment apparatus.</figref>

0018Hereinafter, the low frequency treatment device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the low-frequency treatment device 1 according to the present embodiment has a treatment device main body 2 capable of generating an electric current pulse and a conductive adhesive sheet 6 on one surface side of the pad main body 3 (see FIG. 3). ), The conductive adhesive sheet 6 is provided with the adhesive pad 10 to be attached to the treatment site on the surface of the user's body.

0019As shown in FIG. 2, the main body side first terminal 18 and the main body side second terminal 20 are arranged in pairs on the bottom surface 16 of the main body case 15 in the treatment device main body 2. The main body side first terminal 18 and the main body side second terminal 20 are provided, for example, by embedding a female dot button in the bottom surface 16 of the main body case 15. As shown in FIG. 1, a power supply operating piece 21 is arranged on the upper surface 17 of the main body case 15. Then, as an operation unit in which the strength of the current pulse is instructed by the user, a strong drive operation piece 22 displaying "+" that can perform a strengthening operation and a "-" that can perform a weakening operation. The weak drive operation pieces 23 marked with "" are arranged one by one at a distance.

0020The power operation piece 21 is an operation piece for inputting a power source so as to drive the treatment device main body 2 and generate a current pulse. In this case, the power operation piece 21 is operated by pressing. The strong drive operation piece 22 and the weak drive operation piece 23 are operation pieces for adjusting the strength of the current pulse generated from the treatment device main body 2 (specifically, the strength of the peak value in the current pulse), and in this case, pressing. It is operated by doing. Specifically, the strong drive operation piece 22 is pressed when the current pulse from the treatment device main body 2 is strengthened. The weak drive operation piece 23 is pressed when weakening the current pulse from the treatment device main body 2. With the strong drive operation piece 22 and the weak drive operation piece 23 as the operation unit, in the low frequency treatment device 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to instruct 10 levels of strength between the output voltage of the control unit 30 of 5V to 40V. ..

0021The power supply operation piece 21, the strong drive operation piece 22, and the weak drive operation piece 23 are respectively urged by a spring (not shown) in a direction protruding from the upper surface 17 of the main body case 15, and each operation piece is on the upper surface. It protrudes from 17.

0022A USB port 27 is embedded in the side surface 26 of the main body case 15. Inside the main body case 15, a storage battery (not shown), a control unit 30 (see FIG. 4), and the like are incorporated. The function of the control unit 30 will be described later. Although not shown, the treatment device main body 2 is configured to be rechargeable by a USB plug that is detachably connected to the USB port 27.

0023The configuration of the adhesive pad 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. The sticky pad 10 includes a pad body 3, a pair of conductive sticky sheets 6, and a pair of electrode sheets (not shown). The pad body 3 is made of resin and is formed in a highly flexible sheet shape. The conductive adhesive sheet 6 is formed of a conductive material and is attached to one side of the pad body 3. The electrode sheet is a sheet formed of a conductive material, which is applied to one side surface of the pad body 3 to electrically connect the conductive adhesive sheet 6 and the first terminal 33 on the pad side, which will be described later, and also to the pad. It is applied to one side surface of the main body 3 to electrically connect the conductive adhesive sheet 6 and the second terminal 34 on the pad side, which will be described later. The conductive pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet 6 is formed of a general conductive material.

0024As shown in FIG. 3, the conductive adhesive sheets 6 are provided in pairs separated in the longitudinal direction so as to correspond to the pad-side first terminal 33 and the pad-side second terminal 34, respectively, and each of them is provided as a pad main body 3. It is affixed to one side. The conductive adhesive sheets 6 are separated from each other by being provided so as to be non-conducting. Each conductive adhesive sheet 6 is provided so as not to protrude in the surface direction of the pad body 3.

0025The adhesive pad 10 includes the pad-side first terminal 33 and the pad-side second terminal 34. As the pad-side first terminal 33 and the pad-side second terminal 34, for example, a male dot button is used. The bases of the pad-side first terminal 33 and the pad-side second terminal 34 are on one surface side of the pad body 3, and the protrusion 40 is provided so as to project toward the other surface side of the pad body 3. The electrode sheets are laminated on the bases of the pad-side first terminal 33 and the pad-side second terminal 34, respectively, and the conductive adhesive sheet 6 is laminated on each electrode sheet.

0026By attaching the conductive adhesive sheet 6 so as to cover the bases of the pad-side first terminal 33 and the pad-side second terminal 34, the pad-side first terminal 33 and the pad-side second terminal 34 are attached to the pad body 3 It is fixed to. Therefore, the pad-side first terminal 33 and the pad-side second terminal 34 are in a state of being conductive to the adhesive pad 10.

0027The pad-side first terminal 33 and the pad-side second terminal 34 (protrusions 40) are arranged apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the pad main body 3, and the distance between them is the main body-side first terminal 18 and the main body. It is set to be equal to the separation distance of the second side terminal 20. The distance from the first terminal 33 on the pad side to one end in the longitudinal direction of the pad body 3 and the distance from the second terminal 34 on the pad side to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the pad body 3 are set to be equal. The pad-side first terminal 33 and the pad-side second terminal 34 are arranged at the center of the pad body 3 in the lateral direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.

0028The pad body 3 integrally includes a cutting piece 41 that can be gripped by the user. The adhesive pad 10 is protected by attaching a film-shaped sealing member 42 to the conductive adhesive sheet 6 when not in use (see FIG. 2).

0029In the treatment device main body 2 of the present embodiment, the pad side first terminal 33 or the pad side second terminal 34 is detachably attached to the main body side first terminal 18, and the pad side second terminal 34 is attached to the main body side second terminal 20. Alternatively, the first terminal 33 on the pad side is detachable, and the adhesive pad 10 is detachable on the treatment device main body 2. When the treatment device main body 2 is used, the treatment device main body 2 and the adhesive pad 10 are used in a state of being overlapped with each other. The main body side first terminal 18 and the main body side second terminal 20 can be connected to any terminal without selecting whether it is the pad side first terminal 33 or the pad side second terminal 34. Can be used.

0030As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 30 has a power switch 43, a strong drive switch 44, and a weak drive switch linked to the power operation piece 21, the strong drive operation piece 22, and the weak drive operation piece 23, respectively, on the input side. 45, USB port 27 is connected. A transmitter 46 that outputs a current pulse to the outside of the treatment device main body 2 is connected to the output side. The transmitting unit 46 is controlled by the control unit 30. The control unit 30 includes, for example, an MCU (a controller unit formed on an integrated circuit). The transmitter 46 includes, for example, an oscillator circuit and a waveform generator. The output channel of the transmitting unit 46 may be singular or plural.

0031The control unit 30 has a function of outputting a drive signal to the transmission unit 46 by the ON signal of the power switch 43, and a peak value increase signal to increase the peak value of the current pulse to the transmission unit 46 by the ON signal of the strong drive switch 44. It has a function to output and a function to output a peak value drop signal to the transmitter 46 to lower the peak value of the current pulse by the ON signal of the weak drive switch 45.

0032When the control unit 30 detects the ON signal of the strong drive switch 44, it outputs a peak value rise signal to gradually raise the peak value of the current pulse, and when it detects the ON signal of the weak drive switch 45, the control unit 30 outputs the peak value of the current pulse. It also has a function of outputting a peak price drop signal to the transmitting unit 46 in order to gradually lower the peak value.

0033Each time the power switch 43 outputs an ON signal during driving, the control unit 30 transmits a signal for changing to a plurality of different treatment modes by changing the waveform of the current pulse output from the transmitting unit 46. It also has a function of controlling the drive of the transmitting unit 46 so as to output to the unit 46. As shown in FIG. 7, the treatment modes of the present embodiment include four modes of "deep acupressure", "acupressure", "fir", and "tapping", which have different current pulse waveforms (current-based waveforms), and the above four modes. A total of 5 modes of "Random" that repeat while changing are preset.

0034The functions of these control units 30 are that the pad-side first terminal 33 is fitted to the main body-side first terminal 18, the pad-side second terminal 34 is fitted to the main body-side second terminal 20, and the terminals are connected to each other. When the conductive adhesive sheets 6 are attached to the surface of the body and the conductive adhesive sheets 6 are electrically connected to each other, the power supplied from the USB port 27 is exerted by using the power of the charged storage battery.

0035Next, the control of the control unit 30 in the "deep acupressure" mode will be described. Here, the "deep acupressure" mode is a mode in which, for example, the current pulse of the waveform shown in the uppermost stage of FIG. 7 is output from the transmitting unit 46. In the "deep finger pressure" mode, the current pulse in the high frequency range within the high and low range of the frequency of the current pulse that can be output by the transmitter 46 (about 5 to about 550 Hz in this embodiment) and the low frequency range in the high and low range. Current pulses are alternately output for an appropriate duration as shown in the waveform diagram of FIG. 7, for example.

0036The low frequency region is a region where the frequency of the current pulse output by the transmitting unit 46 is less than 100 Hz, and the high frequency region is a region where the frequency is 100 Hz or more. Here, the current pulse in the high frequency region has a feature that the stimulus given to the user is small and works on deep tissues (for example, nerves) of the body to relieve pain. On the other hand, the current pulse in the low frequency region has a characteristic that it gives a great stimulus to the user and acts on the surface tissue of the body. This "deep acupressure" mode is a mode for causing the deep tissue of the body to act mainly by the current pulse in the high frequency region.

0037The control unit 30 of the present embodiment raises the output voltage from the control unit 30 to the transmission unit 46 when the user operates the strong drive operation piece 22 to perform a strong operation in the "deep acupressure" mode. This increase in output voltage is such that the rate of increase in voltage in the low frequency range where the feeling of stimulation given to the user is large is larger than the rate of increase in voltage in the high frequency range where the feeling of stimulation given to the user is small as described above. Will be done.

0038In particular, the control unit 30 of the present embodiment is set to keep the output voltage in the high frequency range constant and increase the output voltage in the low frequency range in the case of the strengthening operation (the broken line display in FIG. 8 is shown. reference).

0039Here, if the peak value (voltage) of the pulse is raised in the entire low frequency range in order to enhance the feeling of stimulation felt by the user, the current becomes excessive in the high frequency range, causing damage to the user's body. There is a risk of giving it, which is a safety issue.

0040On the other hand, in the configuration of the present embodiment, the voltage in the high frequency region is not increased as compared with the low frequency region. Therefore, in the high frequency region, which is characterized by acting on the deep tissues of the body, damage to the user's body due to an excessive current pulse can be suppressed. In addition, in the low frequency range, which is characterized by a large stimulus given to the user, the stimulus given to the user is strengthened by appropriately strengthening the current pulse in response to the strengthening operation by the user, which is effective. The user can feel that the treatment is being performed. Further, in the configuration of the present embodiment, by keeping the output voltage in the high frequency region constant, the voltage rise only in the low frequency region is sufficient as compared with the configuration in which the voltage is fluctuated in both the high frequency region and the low frequency region. Power consumption can be suppressed.

0041Further, the output voltage of the control unit 30 in the low frequency region can be set to an arbitrary value from the minimum value to the maximum value of the adjustment range. The minimum value is set to be equal to or higher than the output voltage in the high frequency range.

0042Further, regarding the duty ratio of the current pulse output by the transmitter, specifically, the ratio of the energization time to one cycle time of the current pulse, the duty ratio in the low frequency region is smaller than the duty ratio in the high frequency region. .. For example, the duty ratio in the low frequency range is set to 10 to 30%, and the duty ratio in the high frequency range is set to 50%.

0043By setting the duty ratio in this way, the current increase when the voltage is increased becomes smaller in the low frequency region where the duty ratio is relatively small. Therefore, under the setting of this duty ratio, the output voltage to the transmitter 46 of the control unit 30 is increased so that the voltage increase rate in the low frequency region is larger than the voltage increase rate in the high frequency region. Therefore, it is possible to effectively make it difficult to generate an excessive current pulse in a high frequency region.

0044Next, an example of how to use the low frequency treatment device 1 will be described. In FIG. 5, the sticky pad 10 is attached to the arm of user H, in FIG. 6 (a), on the neck, in FIG. 6 (b), on the shoulder, and in FIG. 6 (c), on the waist. It is described. Regardless of which treatment site is used, the pad-side first terminal 33 is fitted to the main body-side first terminal 18, and the pad-side second terminal 34 is fitted to the main body-side second terminal 20, and the terminals are connected to each other. When the power supply operation piece 21 is pressed while the conductive adhesive sheets 6 are connected and the pair of conductive adhesive sheets 6 are attached to the body surface and the conductive adhesive sheets 6 are conducting each other, a current pulse is output from the transmitter 46, which is It is transmitted to the conductive adhesive sheet 6 and supplied to the body surface, and the treatment site is treated based on the control of the control unit 30 described above.

0045In particular, on the adhesive pad 10, if the conductive adhesive sheet 6 is attached so as to extend from the center of the body to both sides thereof, the treatment site can be treated in a well-balanced manner.

0046In addition, when user H wants to adjust the driving strength of the low frequency treatment device 1 during treatment, he / she presses the strong driving operation piece 22 or the weak driving operation piece 23 to perform a strengthening operation and a weakening operation, and the treatment mode is performed. You can adjust the strength of.

0047In particular, in the "deep acupressure" mode, in the case of a strong operation, the rate of increase of the voltage in the low frequency range is larger than the rate of increase of the voltage in the high frequency range with respect to the output voltage of the control unit 30. More specifically, the output voltage in the high frequency range is kept constant, while the output voltage in the low frequency range is increased.

0048When stopping the drive of the low frequency treatment device 1 to end the treatment, as described above, when the user H presses the power operation piece 21, an ON signal is output from the power switch 43, and the low frequency is generated. The drive of the treatment device 1 is stopped.

0049In order to remove the low frequency treatment device 1 from the treatment site, the user H grasps the excision 41 and peels off the conductive adhesive sheet 6 from the treatment site, so that the low frequency treatment device 1 can be removed from the treatment site. It can be easily removed.

0050Although one embodiment of the low frequency treatment device of the present invention has been described above, the low frequency treatment device of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the low-frequency treatment device of the above embodiment, the treatment device main body 2 and the adhesive pad 10 are configured to be directly electrically connected to each other without a conductive wire. However, although not shown, the low-frequency treatment device of the present invention is connected to, for example, a treatment device main body capable of generating a current pulse, a conductor cord having one end connected to the treatment device main body, and the other end of the guide cord. It can also be applied to a configuration including a provided lead plug and an adhesive pad that can be detachably attached to the lead plug.

0051In the above embodiment, each operation unit is illustrated as an operation piece to be pressed. However, each operation unit is not limited to the case of pressing operation, and may be configured to perform, for example, slide or rotate operation. In this case, each operating unit is urged by the elasticity of the spring in one direction, and one or more operating units are moved in the other direction against the elasticity of the spring to hold the position for a predetermined time. Therefore, it can be configured to stop the driving of the treatment device main body. In addition, each operation unit can also be configured with a touch panel. Further, the operation for stopping the driving of the main body of the treatment device is not limited to the operation for a predetermined time or more, and may be configured to, for example, perform an operation for a predetermined number of times or more within a predetermined time.

0052In the above embodiment, a case where the power supply operation piece, the strong drive operation piece, and the weak drive operation piece are on the upper surface of the main body case as a plurality of operation units and are independent operation pieces is illustrated. In short, in the above embodiment, a case where a plurality of operation units are separated from each other and provided independently is illustrated. However, for example, if the strong drive operation unit and the weak drive operation unit are specified as one end of one operation piece and the other end, and the user desires strong drive, one end of the operation piece If a weak drive is desired, the other end of the operation piece may be pressed. Alternatively, the power supply operation unit, the strong drive operation unit, and the weak drive operation unit can be distributed as the apex portion of one operation piece having a triangular shape, for example.

0053In the above embodiment, the case where the treatment mode is changed each time the power switch is turned on while the main body of the treatment device is being driven has been illustrated. That is, the power switch is configured to also have the function of the treatment mode change switch. However, the treatment mode change switch (or the operation unit thereof) may be provided separately from the power switch.

00541 ... Low frequency treatment device, 2 ... Treatment device body, 3 ... Pad body, 6 ... Conductive adhesive sheet, 10 ... Adhesive pad, 15 ... Body case, 18. .Main unit side first terminal, 20 ... Main unit side second terminal, 21 ... Power supply operation piece, 22 ... Operation unit (strong drive operation piece), 23 ... Operation unit (weak drive operation piece) , 27 ... USB port, 30 ... control unit, 33 ... pad side first terminal, 34 ... pad side second terminal, 40 ... protrusion, 42 ... seal member, 43 ... power switch, 44 ... strong drive switch, 45 ... weak drive switch, 46 ... transmitter