JP2004113485A - Biostimulus device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a biostimulus device with which a good treatment effect is obtained in a short time without giving uncomfortable stimulation feeling. <P>SOLUTION: This biostimulus device 1 which stimulates a living body by feeding current to the living body via electrodes 30, 30 is provided with: a stimulation control means 10 which sets voltage to be applied to the electrodes 30, 30 to be the pulse-like voltage and controls the pulse width and pulse interval of pulse-like voltage; and a current detection means 20 for detecting current flowing through the living body. The stimulation control means 10 applies voltage between the electrodes 30, 30 based on a master pattern which varies the pulse interval at every occurrence of the pulse, generates a treatment pattern for generating a treatment pulse based on the pulse interval by extracting the pulse interval corresponding to at least a single pulse in the master pattern based on the detection of reference current flowing through the living body, and applies voltage between the electrodes 30, 30 based on a first treatment pattern. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a living body stimulating device that applies a current to a living body through a conductor to thereby stimulate the living body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art A biological stimulator has been conventionally used for the purpose of treating an affected part, removing pain, and the like, and is known as, for example, a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device. This biological stimulating device can stimulate muscles and nerve fibers by applying an electric current at a predetermined frequency and a predetermined stimulus intensity after attaching an electrode to an affected part of a patient.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the treatment method using the conventional living body stimulating device, in order to obtain a good treatment effect, an electric current flowing through a living body (muscle, nerve fiber, or the like) is increased by increasing an applied voltage. There was a risk of giving the patient an unpleasant stimulus.
[0004]
In addition, since the frequency of the current for performing effective treatment differs depending on the thickness, type, location, etc. of the muscle or nerve fiber to be stimulated, in order to effectively treat the affected area spreading over a certain range, It is necessary to increase the current value flowing through the living body over the entire selected frequency band to excite muscles, nerve fibers, and the like.
[0005]
However, when the range of the frequency band to be energized is narrow, the portion that can be treated becomes local and the entire affected part cannot be effectively treated, while when energized in a wide frequency band, However, there is a problem that treatment requires a long time.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a biological stimulator capable of obtaining a good therapeutic effect in a short time without generating an unpleasant stimulus.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The object of the present invention is a biological stimulator for providing a stimulus to a living body by supplying a current to the living body through a conductor, wherein the voltage applied between the conductors is a pulsed voltage, Stimulation control means for controlling a pulse width and a pulse interval of a voltage, and current detection means for detecting a current flowing in a living body, wherein the stimulus control means changes a pulse interval for each pulse generation based on a master pattern. Applying a voltage between the conductors and extracting a pulse interval corresponding to at least one pulse in the master pattern based on detection of a reference current flowing through the living body, thereby generating a treatment pulse based on the pulse interval; This is achieved by a biological stimulator that generates one treatment pattern and applies a voltage between the conductors based on the first treatment pattern.
[0008]
In this living body stimulating device, the stimulus control means extracts a pulse interval corresponding to at least a pulse having a lowest current value flowing through a living body among pulses included in the master pattern, and determines a pulse width of the pulse in the master pattern. May be increased to be the treatment pulse.
[0009]
A second treatment pattern in which a treatment current flowing through a living body is detected by applying a voltage based on the first treatment pattern, and a pulse width of the treatment pulse is adjusted based on a comparison between the treatment current and the reference current. May be generated, and a voltage may be applied between the conductors based on the second treatment pattern.
[0010]
It is also possible to provide a pulse amplitude adjusting means for adjusting the pulse amplitude of the pulse voltage.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a biological stimulator according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the living body stimulating device 1 includes a stimulating control unit 10 and a current detecting unit 20. The stimulus control unit 10 operates by receiving a DC voltage from the power supply 2, and applies a predetermined pulse-like voltage (ProMix wave) between the pair of connected conductors 30, 30, for example, to supply a current to the living body. Supply and stimulate. Adjustment of the applied voltage between the conductors 30 and switching of the treatment mode and the like can be performed via a switch of the operation unit 4 connected to the stimulus control unit 10. In addition, the current detection unit 20 detects a current flowing through the living body by the action of the stimulation control unit 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 2A, the pair of conductors 30, 30 are a flat conductor in which a pair of plate-like electrodes (not shown) are covered with conductive portions 34, 34 made of sponge or the like. Then, the conductive parts 34, 34 can be attached to the affected part after being moistened with water or the like. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2B, a pair of conductors 30 can be formed from a probe. Further, in FIG. 2B, a switch 36 capable of inputting by rotation and pressing can be attached to one of the guides 30, and part or all of the operation unit 2 can be integrated with the guide 30.
[0012]
Next, a detailed configuration of the stimulus control unit 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the stimulus control unit 10 includes an A / D conversion unit 21, a detected current processing unit 22, a pulse current storage unit 23, a master pattern storage unit 24, a treatment pattern generation unit 25, A pattern storage unit 26, a signal generation unit 27, and a voltage driving unit 28 are provided.
[0013]
The A / D converter 21 converts the current detected by the current detector 20 into digital data, and the detected current processor 22 acquires a pulse current value for each pulse from the converted data. The pulse current storage unit 23 stores the extracted pulse current value.
[0014]
Further, the master pattern storage unit 24 stores a master pattern for determining a time-series waveform of a pulse-like voltage applied between the pair of conductors 30, 30. The master pattern is determined so that the pulse interval of the generated pulse wave varies within a predetermined numerical range. FIG. 3 shows an example of the master pattern.
[0015]
The master pattern shown in FIG. 3 is defined so that the pulse interval S in the range of 2.5 sec to 2.86 msec fluctuates in time series, but the pulse interval S may be in another numerical range. Similarly, a master pattern can be determined. In the present embodiment, the first treatment mode has a pulse interval of 2.5 sec to 50 msec, the second treatment mode has a pulse interval of 20 msec to 8 msec, and the third treatment has a pulse interval of 5 msec to 2.86 msec. As a mode, a master pattern is generated for each treatment mode, so that a practitioner can select an arbitrary treatment mode via the operation unit 2. The pulse width of each pulse in the master pattern is the same in the present embodiment, but may be different depending on the pulse interval or the like. Further, the pulse width in the master pattern can be set to a different value for each treatment mode.
[0016]
The treatment pattern generation unit 25 extracts a pulse interval corresponding to one or a plurality of pulses in the master pattern of each treatment mode based on the pulse current value stored in the pulse current storage unit 23, and based on the pulse interval. Generate a treatment pattern. The treatment pattern storage unit 26 stores the generated treatment pattern.
[0017]
The signal generation unit 27 includes a base wave generation unit that generates a base wave composed of a DC rectangular wave, and a pulse wave generation unit that generates a pulse wave based on a master pattern or a treatment pattern. Then, a base signal composed of a base wave or a stimulus signal in which a pulse wave is superimposed on the base wave is generated by operating the operation unit 2 or the like. In the present embodiment, the base wave is a DC rectangular wave, but may be an AC rectangular wave.
[0018]
The voltage driver 28 applies a constant base voltage based on the base signal or a pulsed voltage based on the stimulus signal between the pair of conductors 30. It is preferable that the amplitude of the base wave is constant and the frequency fluctuates within a predetermined numerical range (for example, 1 kHz to 1.5 kHz).
[0019]
Next, the operation of the living body stimulating device will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the pair of guides 30 is mounted on the affected part, and a treatment mode and a treatment time are selected by the operation unit 2. Next, when the base voltage adjustment switch in the operation unit 2 is operated, the signal generation unit 27 generates a base signal, and the voltage driving unit 28 transmits a base voltage composed of a rectangular wave to a pair of conductors as shown in FIG. The voltage is applied between the terminals 30, 30 (step S1). The base voltage adjustment switch is preferably a volume switch or the like that can continuously adjust the voltage so that an appropriate stimulus can be obtained. The base voltage adjustment switch is adjusted to a position of 0 (zero) so that an excessive current does not suddenly flow to the living body. It is preferable that the base voltage is not output unless it is in the state of being turned on. Note that it is also possible to perform treatment by generating only a pulse wave without giving a base wave.
[0020]
After adjusting the base voltage in this way, when the treatment start switch of the operation unit 2 is operated, the signal generation unit 27 generates a stimulus signal in which a pulse wave is superimposed on a base wave based on the master pattern. As shown in FIG. 5B, the voltage driver 28 applies a pulse voltage based on the stimulus signal between the pair of conductors 30, 30 (Step S2). In the pulse voltage based on the master pattern, the pulse width a of each pulse is constant, while the pulse interval b varies within a predetermined numerical range.
[0021]
The pulse amplitude (i.e., the difference between the base voltage and the peak voltage) c of the pulse voltage can be adjusted by a pulse amplitude adjustment switch in the operation unit 2. As the pulse amplitude adjustment switch, a volume switch or the like that can continuously perform voltage adjustment is preferable. In the present embodiment, an additional voltage of 0 to 100% with respect to the base voltage is set by operating the pulse amplitude adjustment switch. It is possible to superimpose. That is, when the pulse amplitude adjustment switch is set to 0%, no additional voltage is applied, while when the pulse amplitude adjustment switch is set to 100%, the additional voltage having the same voltage as the base voltage is pulsed. Superimposed. In this way, an appropriate pulse voltage can be applied to the living body according to the purpose of treatment.
[0022]
The current (reference current) flowing through the living body due to the application of the pulse voltage based on the master pattern is detected by the current detection unit 20. FIG. 6A shows the waveform of the detected reference current. The detection current processing unit 22 extracts a pulse current value of each pulse based on the detection result shown in FIG. Although the extraction of the pulse current value can be performed based on the peak current value, in the present embodiment, the extraction is performed by obtaining the current change amount per unit time.
[0023]
That is, each of the current pulses P1, P2,... Shown in FIG. 6A is composed of a plurality of waves W. When the schematic shape of each wave W is enlarged, it is shown in FIG. Thus, the rising portion is inclined. Therefore, the current change amount ΔI1 per unit time of each wave W can be obtained from the difference I1-I2 between the current values between the times t1 and t2 in the rising portion, and the peak current value of each wave W can be obtained from the current change amount. Is estimated, and the average value of each is obtained, so that the pulse current value of each pulse P can be obtained. According to this method, the pulse current value can be obtained earlier than in the case where the peak current value of each wave W is actually detected, so that the energized state of the living body can be grasped in real time. In FIG. 6B, a current change amount ΔI2 is further obtained from a current value difference I3-I4 between time points t3 and t4, and a pulse current value is obtained based on an average current change amount between ΔI1 and ΔI2. Is also good. As described above, by measuring the current change amount at the two rising portions, the pulse current value can be obtained with high accuracy even when the rising portion does not change linearly.
[0024]
The extracted pulse current values are sequentially stored in the pulse current storage unit 23. After a lapse of a predetermined time, the treatment pattern generation unit 25 generates a treatment pattern (first treatment pattern) based on the pulse current value of each pulse stored in the pulse current storage unit 23 (Step S3). Specifically, a pulse having the lowest pulse current value among the pulses stored in the pulse current storage unit 23 is selected, and a pulse interval corresponding to the pulse in the master pattern is extracted. For example, when the pulse current value of the pulse P2 is the lowest among all the pulses included in the conduction current shown in FIG. 6A, the pulse interval between the pulse P2 and the pulse P3 generated thereafter is extracted. Then, the pulse width of the pulse in the master pattern is increased (for example, 5 ms → 7 ms) to generate a treatment pulse, and the treatment pattern is generated so that the treatment pulse is repeatedly generated at the extracted pulse interval.
[0025]
The signal generator 27 generates a stimulus signal in which a pulse wave based on the obtained treatment pattern is superimposed on the base wave, and the voltage driver 28 generates a pulse-like voltage based on the stimulus signal using a pair of conductors 30, 30. A voltage is applied in between (step S4). FIG. 7 shows the pulse voltage based on the treatment pattern. In this pulse-like voltage, a treatment pulse whose pulse width is larger than that of the pulse of the pulse-like voltage based on the master pattern (see FIG. 5B) is generated at a frequency corresponding to the extracted pulse interval. It is preferable that the application time of the pulse voltage based on the treatment pattern be longer as the pulse current value is lower, and that the number of cycles be increased as the frequency is higher. A specific example of the application time can be about 2 to 25 seconds.
[0026]
The current detecting unit 20 also detects a current (treatment current) flowing through the living body due to the application of the pulse voltage based on the treatment pattern. The detected current processing unit 22 calculates the average value of the pulse current values of the respective pulses, stores the average value in the pulse current storage unit 23, and compares the average value with the pulse current value of the pulse in the master pattern. As a result, if the pulse current value shows a predetermined increase (for example, 5% or more), it is determined that a therapeutic effect has been obtained, and the voltage application is terminated. Otherwise, the process returns to step S1 to repeat the treatment. Continue (step S5). Incidentally, the configuration may be such that the treatment can be terminated at the discretion of the practitioner without comparing the pulse current values.
[0027]
As described above, according to the living body stimulating device of the present embodiment, the pulse current based on the master pattern is applied to the living body to detect the reference current, and the pulse interval corresponding to the pulse having the lowest pulse current value is determined from the master pattern. A treatment pattern is generated by extraction, and a pulse-like voltage based on this treatment pattern is applied to the living body, so that the frequency at which current does not easily flow to the living body is clarified, and only the treatment current of the selected frequency is used. It is possible to energize intensively (SCAN (scan) function). As a result, the frequency band in which current flows easily to the living body can be effectively expanded in a short time, and the therapeutic effect can be enhanced.
[0028]
In addition, by increasing the pulse width of the pulse-like voltage, it is possible to excite muscles and nerve fibers without increasing the applied voltage, so that a good therapeutic effect can be obtained without generating an unpleasant stimulus such as pain. Obtainable.
[0029]
As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described in full detail, the specific aspect of this invention is not limited to the said Embodiment. For example, in the present embodiment, the treatment pattern is generated by extracting the pulse interval corresponding to the pulse having the lowest pulse current value based on the detection of the reference current flowing through the living body. It is not necessary that the number be one. For example, a master pattern is configured by a plurality of blocks in which the range of the pulse interval in each treatment mode is further subdivided, and a pulse current average value of a pulse included in each block is obtained. By extracting pulse intervals corresponding to a plurality of pulses to be processed, it is also possible to generate a treatment pattern. More specifically, for all the pulses included in the corresponding block, a treatment pattern is generated by repeating a waveform with an increased pulse width while keeping the pulse interval. In this case, it is preferable that the application of the treatment current is repeated until the pulse current value flowing through the living body by application of the pulse voltage based on the treatment pattern increases for all the pulses included in the block. As a result, the current can be applied to the living body based on not only the pulse interval corresponding to the pulse having the lowest pulse current value but also the pulse interval corresponding to another pulse having a relatively low pulse current value. , Can enhance the therapeutic effect.
[0030]
Further, in the present embodiment, the treatment is performed with the same treatment pattern (first treatment pattern) until the pulse current value shows a predetermined rise, but a new treatment is performed based on the change in the pulse current value. A pattern (second treatment pattern) may be generated, and after the voltage application based on the first treatment pattern, the voltage application based on the second treatment pattern may be performed. That is, the reference current flowing through the living body by applying the voltage based on the master pattern is compared with the treatment current flowing through the living body by applying the voltage based on the first treatment pattern, and the first treatment pattern is determined based on the current change ratio. And a second treatment pattern in which the pulse width of the treatment pulse is the same and the pulse width is changed. The pulse width of the treatment pulse is preferably increased, for example, as the treatment current value or the rate of current rise is smaller, and is decreased as the treatment current value or the rate of current rise is larger, based on a table in which these relationships are stored in advance. Can be determined.
[0031]
As described above, since the treatment effect after energization based on the second treatment pattern is predicted and the pulse width of the treatment pulse in the second treatment pattern is determined, the treatment based on the treatment pattern is not repeated for a long time, A good therapeutic effect can be reliably obtained.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a living body stimulating device that can obtain a good therapeutic effect in a short time without causing an unpleasant stimulus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a biological stimulator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a pair of conductors.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a master pattern.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the living body stimulating device.
5A is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a base voltage, and FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a pulse-like voltage based on a master pattern.
6A is a diagram illustrating a waveform of a current flowing through a living body, and FIG. 6B is a diagram schematically illustrating a part of the waveform illustrated in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a waveform of a pulse-like voltage based on a treatment pattern.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Biological stimulator 10 Stimulation controller 20 Current detector 30 Leader

Claims (4)

A living body stimulating device that applies a current to the living body through a conductor to apply stimulation to the living body,
Stimulation control means for controlling a pulse width and a pulse interval of the pulsed voltage, as a voltage applied between the conductors as a pulsed voltage,
Current detection means for detecting a current flowing through the living body,
The stimulus control means,
Applying a voltage between the conductors based on a master pattern that changes the pulse interval every pulse generation,
By extracting a pulse interval corresponding to at least one pulse in the master pattern based on detection of a reference current flowing through a living body, generating a first treatment pattern for generating a treatment pulse based on the pulse interval,
A biological stimulator for applying a voltage between the conductors based on the first treatment pattern. The stimulus control means, among the pulses included in the master pattern, at least a pulse value corresponding to the pulse having the lowest current value flowing through the living body,
The biostimulation device according to claim 1, wherein the pulse width of the pulse in the master pattern is increased to be the treatment pulse. Detecting a treatment current flowing through the living body by applying a voltage based on the first treatment pattern;
Generating a second treatment pattern in which a pulse width of the treatment pulse is adjusted based on a comparison between the treatment current and the reference current;
The biostimulation device according to claim 2, wherein a voltage is applied between the conductors based on the second treatment pattern. The biostimulation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a pulse amplitude adjusting means for adjusting a pulse amplitude of the pulse voltage.

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