JP3663154B2 - Electric therapy massager - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrotherapy massager that applies an output pulse that periodically varies the level at a low frequency to electrically stimulate the human body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An example of a conventional electrotherapy massager will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram showing output pulses applied to a human body as an example of a conventional electrotherapy massager. FIG. 9 shows the sensation of the human body pressed by the hand with the output pulse of the waveform of FIG. 8, (a) is the sensation of the ON time of FIG. 8, and (b) is the sensation of the OFF time of FIG.
[0003]
In the conventional electrotherapy massager, as shown in FIG. 8, an ON time in which a pulse of 50 to 100 Hz having a pulse width of about 200 μS is applied to a human body and an OFF time in which no pulse is applied are 0.5 Repeated periodically at a low frequency of ~ 0.05 Hz. Then, during the ON time during which the output pulse is applied, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), a feeling as if the skin surface is appropriately pressed by hand is obtained, and during the OFF time during which no pulse is applied. As shown in FIG. 9B, an interval in which the hand is separated from the skin is obtained. Thus, by alternately repeating the ON time and the OFF time, a massage effect can be obtained on the human skin.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described prior art, since no output pulse is applied to the human body at the OFF time, it feels like a hand is released from the skin surface. However, when a massage is actually performed by a human hand, the hand does not move away from the skin surface, and the pressing force increases or decreases, or simply touches. It is repeated alternately. For this reason, there is a slight difference in the sense that the human body receives between the massage by a human hand and the conventional electrotherapy massager as described above, and this difference has caused a great sense of discomfort for some people.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to improve the prior art as described above, and an object thereof is to provide an electrotherapy massager that does not feel uncomfortable with human hands.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, the electrotherapy massager of the present invention comprises a periodic fluctuation waveform generating means for generating a periodic fluctuation waveform whose level periodically fluctuates at a low frequency, and a section lower than a certain level of the periodic fluctuation waveform. A waveform correcting means for correcting the constant level; a pulse generating means for generating a pulse; and a means for modulating the pulse to a level corresponding to the corrected waveform in which the period variation waveform is corrected. An output pulse corresponding to the output modulation pulse is output.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a waveform diagram showing an example of output pulses given to the human body. FIG. 2 shows the sensation of the human body pressed by the output pulse of the waveform of FIG. 1, (a) is a sensation during a period when a high level output pulse is given, and (b) is a low level output pulse. It is a sense of a given period. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a first embodiment of the electrotherapy massager of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram of each part in the circuit of FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an output pulse in a state in which the time constant of the charge / discharge circuit of FIG.
[0008]
First, in the first embodiment of the electrotherapy massager of the present invention, the difference from the prior art is that the level of the output pulse fluctuates periodically as shown in FIG. A certain level of output pulses is applied to the human body. That is, a pulse of 25 to 100 Hz having a pulse width of about 200 μS has a waveform having an envelope in which a constant level is superimposed on a periodic fluctuation level of a low frequency of 0.5 to 0.05 Hz. When such an output pulse is applied to the skin, a feeling that the hand appropriately presses the skin is obtained as shown in FIG. 2A in a period in which the level of the output pulse is large, and in a period in which the level of the output pulse is small, As in 2 (b), a feeling that the hand is lightly touching the skin surface is obtained. Therefore, it is massaged by the hand of a person, but it feels like a feeling and is freed from a sense of incongruity.
[0009]
Next, a specific configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the power Vcc is supplied to the timer circuit TM and the power display LED 1 via the power switch SW1. Of course, the power supply LED 1 is turned on when the power switch SW1 is turned on. The timer circuit TM sets an operation time after the power switch SW1 is turned on, and is set to 15 minutes or appropriately. The power supply voltage that has passed through the timer circuit TM is applied to the regulator REG and the timer display LED2. During the operation of the timer circuit TM, the timer display LED 2 is lit to indicate that it is in operation. The regulator REG converts a power supply voltage into a predetermined voltage and outputs it, and is applied as a power supply voltage for an IC circuit, a transistor, or the like as a pulse generating means described later.
[0010]
Then, three low frequency pulses of 25, 50 and 100 Hz with a pulse width of about 200 μS are output from the IC circuit IC as a pulse generating means, and a rectangular pulse with a duty of 50% at a further low frequency of 0.05 Hz. Is output. A rectangular pulse of 0.05 Hz is given to the charge / discharge circuit 10 via the transistor Tr1. The charge time constant and the discharge time constant of the charge / discharge circuit 10 are configured to be set separately, and a periodic variation waveform is generated that periodically varies the level at a low frequency as appropriate. The output (a) is, for example, a waveform as shown in FIG. This waveform is applied to the transistor Tr2 as a buffer. Also, any one of the three types of 25, 50, and 100 Hz output from the IC circuit IC is appropriately selected by the selection switch SW2, and is given to the Tr4 via the transistor Tr3. Then, the output of the transistor Tr2 is keyed by the ON / OFF operation according to the pulse of the transistor Tr4 and is given to the transistor Tr5. The operation of the transistors Tr2 and Tr4 is a so-called keying circuit, which operates as a modulation means 12 that modulates a pulse in accordance with the level of the period fluctuation waveform. The output (b) has a waveform as shown in FIG.
[0011]
Further, the pulse selected by the selection switch SW2 is adjusted to an appropriate level as shown in FIG. 4C by the variable resistor VR1 as the constant level setting means 14, and the transistor Tr5 is switched via the changeover switch SW3. Given to the emitter. A pulse modulated with a periodic fluctuation waveform is applied to the base of the transistor Tr5. The transistor Tr5 operates as the superimposing means 16, and its output (d) has a constant level as shown in FIG. A pulse modulated with a period fluctuation waveform is superimposed on the pulse. Then, the output of the transistor Tr5 is amplified by the transistor Tr6 as the amplifier 18, the size thereof is appropriately adjusted via the transformer TR and the variable resistor VR2 as the output adjusting means, and an output pulse is output to the output terminal. Is output.
[0012]
In such a configuration, if the time constant of the charge / discharge circuit 10 is increased, the level fluctuation of the periodic fluctuation waveform becomes gentle, and the pressing is gentle. Also, if the time constant is reduced, the level fluctuation of the periodic fluctuation waveform becomes steep as shown in FIG. Further, by adjusting the variable resistor VR1, it is possible to adjust the sense of the contact state in which the hand is in contact with the skin without being pressed. If the pulse is not selected by the changeover switch SW3, the user feels as if he / she has released his / her hand from the skin except in the pressed state as in the prior art. Further, the magnitude of the output pulse can be appropriately set by the variable resistor VR2. Of course, the frequency of 25, 50, and 100 Hz of the pulse may be appropriately selected according to the preference of the patient.
[0013]
In the first embodiment, the low frequency output from the IC circuit IC for forming the periodic fluctuation waveform is constant at 0.05 Hz. However, the low frequency may be changed. Of course. In addition, a rectangular pulse with a duty of 50% is outputted as the low frequency output, but this duty may be changed. The 25, 50, and 100 Hz pulses may be fixed to any one, or the frequency may be changed continuously. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the pulse width is not limited to 200 μS.
[0014]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a block circuit diagram of the second embodiment of the electrotherapy massager of the present invention and a waveform diagram of each part.
[0015]
In FIG. 6, a periodic fluctuation waveform with a low frequency of 0.05 Hz as shown in (a) output from the periodic fluctuation waveform generating means 20 and a constant level as shown in (b) outputted from the constant level setting means 22 are added. Addition is performed by the means 24, and an addition waveform obtained by adding a constant level to the periodic fluctuation waveform as shown in (c) is output. Then, any one of 25, 50, and 100 Hz pulses with a pulse width of 200 μS output from the pulse generating means 26 is modulated by the modulating means 28 into the added waveform from the adding means 24, and the level as shown in FIG. Modulation pulses are output, amplified appropriately by the amplifier 30, and output as output pulses.
[0016]
Although the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is different from the first embodiment in the output pulse forming process, the same output pulse is generated and the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.
[0017]
Furthermore, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram of the third embodiment of the electrotherapy massager of the present invention and a waveform diagram of each part. In FIG. 7, the same or equivalent members as in FIG.
[0018]
In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a periodic fluctuation waveform such as (a) outputted from the periodic fluctuation waveform generating means 20 is outputted through a diode in the forward direction and from the constant level setting means 22 (b). A certain level such as is given to the modulation means 28 via a diode in the forward direction. Here, as shown in (c), the waveform applied to the modulation means 28 is such that the section in which the level of the periodic fluctuation waveform is lower than the constant level is corrected to a constant level. Is working as. Then, the pulse from the pulse generating means 26 is modulated by the modulating means 28 with the corrected waveform as shown in (c), and the modulated pulse as shown in (d) is output, and is appropriately amplified by the amplifier 30 and output as an output pulse. Is done.
[0019]
Even in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a pulse having a constant level and a fluctuation level is output, and the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.
[0020]
In the above embodiment, the periodic fluctuation waveform is a charge / discharge waveform. However, the waveform is not limited to this, and any waveform may be used as long as the level varies periodically such as a sine waveform, a rectangular wave, a trapezoidal wave, or a triangular wave. May be.
[0021]
The electrotherapy massager according to the present invention has a fluctuation level in which any one output pulse such as 25, 50, and 100 Hz having a pulse width of about 200 μS periodically fluctuates at a low frequency as its envelope. Any means may be used as long as a certain level is superimposed on the output signal, and the means for forming the output pulse is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, a program is configured so that a desired low-frequency pulse is output to a microcomputer at a desired envelope level, and an amplifier circuit using an analog circuit is provided only at the output stage of the final output pulse. It may be configured by.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, since the electrotherapy massager according to the present invention is configured, the following effects are achieved.
[0023]
In the electrotherapy massager according to claim 1, a sense that the skin is pressed is obtained by an output pulse having a large fluctuation level, and the hand is lightly touched by releasing the press by a small constant level output pulse. However, you can get a sensation as if you were massaged with human hands. In addition, it is possible to configure an output pulse having an envelope in which a section with a large fluctuation level is corrected to a small constant level by a simple circuit.
[0024]
In the electrotherapy massager according to claim 2, since the periodic fluctuation waveform in which the level periodically fluctuates is formed by the charge / discharge circuit, the configuration thereof is extremely simple, and the period can be set by appropriately setting the time constant. The rising and falling edges of the fluctuation waveform can be arbitrarily set, and the pressing and releasing thereof can be arbitrarily set softly or roughly.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a waveform diagram showing an example of output pulses applied to a human body.
2 shows the sensation of the human body pressed by the hand with the output pulse of the waveform of FIG. 1, (a) is a sensation during a period when a high level output pulse is given, and (b) is a low level output pulse. It is a sense of a given period.
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a first embodiment of the electrotherapy massager of the present invention.
4 is a waveform diagram of each part in the circuit of FIG. 3;
5 is a diagram showing an example of an output pulse in a state where the time constant of the charge / discharge circuit of FIG. 3 is set small and the level fluctuation of the periodic fluctuation waveform is steep. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a block circuit diagram of a second embodiment of the electrotherapy massager according to the present invention and waveform diagrams of each part.
FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram of a third embodiment of the electrotherapy massager of the present invention and a waveform diagram of each part.
FIG. 8 is a waveform diagram showing output pulses applied to a human body as an example of a conventional electrotherapy massager.
9 shows the human body sensation by the output pulse of the waveform of FIG. 8, (a) is the sensation of ON time of FIG. 8, and (b) is the sensation of OFF time of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
IC IC circuit 10 Charging / discharging circuit 12, 28 Modulating means 14, 22 Constant level setting means 16 Superimposing means 18, 30 Amplifier 20 Period fluctuation waveform generating means 26 Pulse generating means 32 Waveform correcting means

Claims (2)

  Period fluctuation waveform generating means for generating a periodic fluctuation waveform whose level fluctuates periodically at a low frequency, waveform correction means for correcting a section lower than a certain level of the period fluctuation waveform to the constant level, and a pulse for generating a pulse Generating means, and modulating means for modulating the pulse to a level corresponding to the corrected waveform in which the periodic fluctuation waveform is corrected, and outputting an output pulse corresponding to the modulated pulse output from the modulating means An electrotherapy massager characterized by comprising.   2. The electrotherapy massager according to claim 1, wherein the period fluctuation waveform generating means is constituted by a charge / discharge circuit having a low-frequency rectangular pulse as an input.

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