JP3538992B2 - Electrode pad - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrode pad used for a low- frequency treatment device for treating an affected part by applying a low-frequency current to a human body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 31, a conventional low-frequency therapeutic device is provided with a power switch 2, a tap switch 3, a mom switch 4, and a display 5 on the upper surface of a case body 1. There is a case in which a “speed” adjustment volume 7 and a “strength” adjustment volume 6 are provided on the side surface of the case main body 1, and the conductor electrodes 8 and 9 are connected to the case main body 1 .

[0003] Used as a conductor electrode of this low frequency treatment device
FIGS. 32 and 33 show conventional bioelectrode pads.
The following are known. The electrode pad in FIG.
Insulating resin film 61 and conductive layer in order from the lower layer
Carbon 62, sticky conductive gel 63, reinforcing member 6
4. Adhesive conductive gel 65 is laminated and sticks inside
Conductive resin fill so as to be embedded in the conductive gel 63
And a conductive metal switch is provided to the outside.
Nap male 67 protrudes and is connected with the lead wire from the main body.
The snap knife to be continued is fitted
You.

The electrode pad shown in FIG .
3, consisting of a reinforcing member 64 and an adhesive conductive gel 65
Although not shown, an electrode made of insulating rubber and conductive rubber
Affixed to the pole base.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned conventional electrode
Is a metal film for current distribution on the lower surface of the insulating film.
Or a carbon layer was required. In addition,
Process and materials must be prepared separately during manufacturing
Had been up. In addition, about insulating film
Also suitable for metal or carbon deposition, sintering and printing
It was limited to those having heat resistance and elasticity.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems.
Offers low-cost, low-profile electrode pads
It is intended to be.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An electrode pad according to the present invention.
Is an adhesive that contains an adhesive conductive gel,
A metal or carbon layer with a concentration gradient
ing. In this electrode pad, the adhesive conductive gel
-The carbon powder etc. is not uniform and has a concentration gradient
Impregnated or mixed, the gel itself disperses current and adheres
Adhesive because it has both functions of conductivity
In addition to the conductive gel, a metal or carbon layer for current distribution
There is no need to provide it, and it is low-cost and thin
Is obtained.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are external views showing a low-frequency treatment device provided with an electrode pad according to an embodiment of the present invention. Low-frequency therapy device of this, the case main body 2
1 is provided with a power switch 22 and a display 23 on the upper surface, and conductor electrodes 24 and 25 are connected to the case main body 21;
Further, a controller 26 is connected to the case body 21. The conductor electrodes 24 and 25 are electrode pads having a specific structure described later.
It is a characteristic of this low-frequency treatment device that it comprises a controller and has a controller 26 . Incidentally, those 1 controller 26 and the case the body 21 separate, 2
Are those provided integrally with the case the body 21.

[0009] shows a circuit diagram of a low frequency treatment device of this are as in FIG. Battery 31, waveform control circuit 32, controller 34, step-up transformer 35, and conductor electrode 3
The controller 34 is capable of converting pressure into resistance, voltage, current, frequency or the like by applying pressure with a finger of a hand, for example, and inputting the converted signal as an analog signal.

The circuit of FIG. 3 can be functionally represented by the circuit of FIG. The controller 34 includes a sensor 41 and a detection unit 42
The waveform control circuit 32 has the functions of an A / D conversion unit 43, a memory 44, a control unit (CPU) 45, and an oscillation unit 33. In low-frequency electric therapy apparatus of this, such as by pressing the sensor 41 of the controller 34 in the fingers, given a pressure input, output having a pulse height, width corresponding to the sensor input is obtained (FIG. 5 a ). Then, this signal is converted by the A / D converter 43, and its waveform is stored in the memory 44 for a fixed length (b in FIG. 5), and this memory waveform is repeatedly output. ,
The rise time and the duration of the waveform are identified by fuzzy logic (an example will be described below) or the like, and a single or a plurality of drive pulses such as tapping and fogging are automatically output (c in FIG. 5). When the memory is not provided, the waveform is applied in real time according to the waveform of the press-in (FIG. 5B).
And a drive pulse may be output similarly as shown in FIG.

Rise speed of fuzzy logic waveform: v Connection time of waveform: t [1] IF v = large and t = large then [2] IF v = large and t = medium then tap [3] IF v = Large and t = Small then tap [4] IF v = Medium and t = Large then Mom [5] IF v = Medium and t = Medium then Mom [6] IF v = Medium and t = Small then tap [7] According to the iF v = small and t = massaging large then [8] iF v = massaging small and t = medium then [9] iF v = small and t = small then rub the low-frequency electric therapy apparatus, the controller By changing the strength or width of the pressure at 34, the conductor electrode 2
The combination pattern of the low frequency pulses applied to 4, 25 can be freely changed. The treatment pattern can also be programmed using the memory function.

FIG. 6 is an external view showing another low-frequency treatment device. Low-frequency electric therapy apparatus of this is, integrally with pressure sensitive film sensor 28 body portion 21 or attached detachably,
And the conductor electrodes 24 and 25. The circuit diagrams are shown in FIGS.
It is similar to that of As shown in FIG.
4 and 25 are attached to the affected part, and the pressure-sensitive film sensor 28 is attached to a site different from the affected part.
By operating the, it is possible to perform a treatment such as striking or tapping the same sense as the site.

FIG. 8 is an external view showing still another low frequency treatment device. Low-frequency therapy device of this includes a case body 21,
EMG electrodes 28 and 29 are provided in addition to the conductor electrodes 24 and 25. As shown in FIG. 10, the circuit configuration includes an electrode unit 37 and a detection unit 38 in place of the controller 34 in FIG. 3, and the functional configuration thereof is as shown in FIG. Other than the electrode section 37 and the detection section 38, there is no difference from that shown in FIG. At the time of treatment, as shown in FIG. 9, the conductor electrodes 24 and 25 are attached to the affected part, and the myoelectric potential measuring electrodes 28 and 29 are attached to the myoelectric potential detection points of the living body. When the myoelectric potential waveform shown in FIG. 12A is obtained by the electrode section 37, a pulse having a pulse height and width corresponding to the myoelectric potential and the displacement time is output from the detecting section 38 (b in FIG. 12). And the control unit 4
In FIG. 5, a signal shown in FIG. 12c in which the pulse is A / D converted is created, and the rise time and the duration time of this waveform are identified by fuzzy logic (an example will be described next).
Automatically without modulation, or outputs a pulse from the oscillation unit 33 in a modulation there. In the low-frequency electric therapy apparatus, when generating the spontaneously electromyogram position like in other parts than the affected area, resulting in the affected area to experience accordingly.

[0014] of the fuzzy logic waveform frequency: sustainable time of f waveform: t [1] IF f = massaging large and t = large then [2] IF f = hit large and t = medium then [3] IF f = Large and t = Small then tap [4] IF f = Medium and t = Large then Mom [5] IF f = Medium and t = Medium then Mom [6] IF f = Medium and t = Small then tap [7] ] IF f = small and t = massaging large then [8] rub IF f = small and t = medium then [9] IF f = small and t = small then rub 13, yet another low-frequency therapy It is an external view which shows a container. Low-frequency electric therapy apparatus of this is, myoelectric potential measuring electrode 28 in FIG. 8,
Instead of 29, acceleration sensors 49 and 50 are provided. The circuit also has the electrodes 28 and 29 shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 replaced with acceleration sensors 49 and 50.

In use, as shown in FIG. 14, the guide electrodes 24 and 25 are attached to the affected part, and the acceleration sensors 49 and 25 are attached.
When the user grips 50 with both hands and swings and taps, the affected part can be treated with an output corresponding to the acceleration. FIG.
5 and 16 are views showing the appearance of still another low frequency treatment device. It has an inelastic pressure-sensitive sensor 51 instead of the electrode 37 of FIG. This inelastic pressure sensor 51
Are independently formed in two regions, a left hand portion 51a and a right hand portion 51b. The circuit may replace the electrode 37 of FIG. 10 with the inelastic pressure sensor 51. FIG. 15 shows the inelastic pressure-sensitive sensor 51 separate from the case body 21, and FIG. 16 shows the inelastic pressure-sensitive sensor 51 integrated with the case body 21.

In use, as shown in FIG. 17, the guide electrodes 24 and 25 are attached to the affected part, and the left hand part 51a and the right hand part 51b are gripped with the left and right fingers, respectively, and pressure is applied so as to squeeze. Add. If the pressure is increased strongly, the contact area increases (see FIG. 18 (a)), or if it is moved while applying pressure, the area increases as the moving distance increases [see FIG. (B)),
The affected part can be treated according to the pressure felt by oneself. The non-elastic pressure sensor can include a semi-elastic pressure sensor having elasticity and the above-described configuration.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are views showing the appearance of still another low-frequency treatment device. While the controller 26 of FIG. 1 obtains a pulse having a high and a width corresponding to the pressure,
Here, only the switches 52a and 52b are provided. FIG. 22 shows a block diagram of the functional circuit configuration. Here, the controller 34a differs from the controller 34 of FIG. 4 in that the controller 34a includes a switch 39 and a detection unit 40, but the waveform control circuit 32 does not include an A / D conversion function.

In use, as shown in FIG. 21, the guide electrodes 24 and 25 are attached to the affected part, and the switches 52a and
By shortening or lengthening the ON time by holding the 2b with the left and right fingers, respectively, for example, if the waveform a shown in FIG. 23 is obtained, a short ON corresponds to one hit and one hit. However, a long ON state is a state in which modulation is applied, which corresponds to “fuzzy”. Note that the switch can include an optical switch such as a photoelectric switch.

As shown in FIG. 24, simply generating a low-frequency output linearly in proportion to a sensor input does not provide a sensational intensity with linearity. In addition, it is not possible to output a waveform having variations such as tapping and fogging. The waveform control circuit of each of the low-frequency treatment devices described above,
Solving the above problems, based on the sensor input of the operator, the type of output waveform, frequency, pulse width, pulse height, modulation frequency
The number , the modulation time width, the modulation waveform to the output timing, and the like are comprehensively determined and controlled so that a comfortable low-frequency treatment can be performed as desired by the operator.

As a specific process, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, a sensor input signal is detected, and the waveform of the signal is "hit", "repeated hit", "vibration", "relax", and "mum". , "Male", "grab"
In the case of, set the output pulse width, output pulse height, and output timing, and in the case of "continuous hit", "vibration", and "relax", output frequency, output pulse width,
Set the output pulse height and output timing,
In the case of "Os" and "Grasp", corresponding to each,
The output frequency, output pulse width, output pulse height, modulation frequency, modulation time width, modulation waveform, and output timing are set. Output waveforms corresponding to the respective modes are shown near the output timing sets in FIGS.

Next, a biological electrode pad used as a conductor electrode of each of the low- frequency treatment devices will be described. The bioelectrode pads used in these low-frequency treatment devices may, of course, be the well-known ones shown in FIGS. 32 and 33 . However, the conventional electrode pad requires a metal film or a carbon layer for current distribution on the lower surface of the insulating film. In addition, the steps and materials for that have to be separately prepared at the time of manufacturing, which increases the cost. As for the insulating film, the deposition of metal or carbon, sintering, heat resistance suitable for printing was a stretch is limited to lifting <br/> one thing.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional electrode pad, the inventors of the present application have impregnated or impregnated the adhesive conductive gel with a metal or carbon powder or the like so as to have a non-uniform concentration gradient. We have developed a new electrode pad that mixes and makes the gel itself have both functions of current dispersion and sticky conduction. If this electrode pad is used for a low-frequency treatment device, it is effective in terms of cost and thickness. However, this electrode pad can also be used as another biological electrode pad, such as for detecting an electrocardiogram. Hereinafter, this electrode pad will be described in detail.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing one of the conductive <br/> pole pad according to the embodiment newly developed. This electrode pad 70
The adhesive conductive gel 7 is formed under the insulating resin film 71.
2 and a high-density metal or carbon-impregnated layer 72a and a low-density metal or carbon-impregnated layer 72b from the side closer to the insulating resin film 71. Thinner. The high-density metal or carbon impregnated layer 72a functions as a conventional conductive metal or carbon layer (current dispersion). The connection to the case body is made by placing the conductive resin film 73 in the adhesive gel layer 72.
Is embedded, and a conductive metal snap male 74 is protruded outside. A metal snap knife 75 is attached to the snap male 74.

FIG. 28 is a view showing another embodiment of the electrode pad developed this time. The electrode pad 80 is composed of a high-density metal or carbon non-impregnated layer 81a and a low-density metal or carbon non-impregnated layer 81b. As an example of this use, as shown in FIG. A metal electrode 83 is formed on a surface of a sheet 82 made of a film, and an electrode pad 80 is attached to the metal electrode 83.

FIG. 29 is a view showing still another embodiment of the electrode pad developed this time. This electrode pad 90
The adhesive conductive gel 92 is a non-impregnated gel portion 92 at the center.
b, a metal or carbon impregnated gel portion 92a at both end edges,
Each of the metal or carbon-impregnated gel portions 92a and 92c has a high-density metal or carbon-non-impregnated gel portion 92a ₁ , 92c ₁ and a low-density metal or carbon-non-impregnated gel portion 92a ₂ , 92c ₂ are formed, and the high-density metal or carbon non-impregnated gel portion 92a ₁ ,
92c ₁ has also played a role of a conventional conductive metal or carbon layer.

The high-density metal or carbon-unimpregnated gel
Insulating resin films 91a and 91c are provided on the upper surfaces of the portions 92a ₁ and 92c ₁ except for a part of the central portion. On the upper surface of the non-impregnated gel portion 92b, the main body 93 of the low-frequency treatment device is placed and attached. The main body 9 is arranged such that the low frequency output portion 94 of the main body 93 and the exposed portions of the high density metal or carbon non-impregnated gel portions 92a ₁ and 92c ₁ are in contact with each other.
3 is stuck.

FIG. 30 shows an electrode pad according to still another embodiment, in which a main body 101 having an insulating resin film 102 adhered to an adhesive conductive gel 100 similar to that shown in FIG. 29 is attached. .

[0028]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) There is no need to provide a conductive layer such as metal or carbon for current distribution on the lower surface of the insulating film, so that steps such as vapor deposition, sintering, and printing are not required, and a simple step of simply attaching a gel is achieved. In addition, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. (2) without any constraints of manufacturing an insulating film, can be freely selected, texture, flexibility, stretchability, can be adjusted such a freely thickness. (3) only adhesive, an electrically adequate bonding, for example, since during electrocardiography measurement and low frequency stimulation can be satisfaction to the extent not interfering, binding members such as snap or clip is not required.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing the appearance of a low-frequency treatment device provided with an electrode pad according to one embodiment .

FIG. 2 is a view showing the appearance of another low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of the low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 5 is a waveform chart for explaining the operation of the low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 6 is an external view showing another low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a use state of the low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 8 is an external view showing still another low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a use state of the low- frequency treatment device.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of the low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 12 is a waveform chart for explaining the operation of the low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 13 is an external view showing still another low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a use state of the low- frequency treatment device.

FIG. 15 is an external view showing still another low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 16 is an external view showing still another low frequency treatment device.

17 is a diagram illustrating the use state of the shown to low-frequency electric therapy apparatus in FIG.

FIG. 18 is a view for explaining the operation of the inelastic pressure-sensitive sensor of the low- frequency treatment device.

FIG. 19 is an external view showing still another low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 20 is an external view showing still another low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a state of use of the low frequency treatment device of FIG. 12;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the low frequency treatment device of FIGS. 19 and 20.

FIG. 23 is a waveform chart for explaining the operation of the low- frequency treatment device.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a relationship between a low-frequency output according to a sensor input and a bodily intensity of the low-frequency output.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of each mode of the waveform control circuit in each low- frequency treatment device.

26 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of each mode of the waveform control circuit in each low- frequency therapy device, together with FIG . 25.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing one embodiment of an electrode pad used in a low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 28 is a view showing another embodiment of the electrode pad used in the low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 29 is a view showing another embodiment of the electrode pad used for the low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 30 is a view showing still another embodiment of the electrode pad used for the low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 31 is an external view showing an example of a conventional low frequency treatment device.

FIG. 32 is a view showing an example of a conventional low-frequency bioelectrode pad.

FIG. 33 is a view showing another example of a conventional bioelectrode pad for low frequency.

[Explanation of symbols]

21 Case main body 22 Power switch 23 Indicator 24, 25 Conductor electrode 26 Controller 72a High density metal or carbon impregnated layer 72b Low density metal or carbon impregnated layer 81a High density metal or carbon unimpregnated layer 81b Low density metal or carbon unimpregnated Layer 92a Metal or carbon impregnated gel part 92c Metal or carbon impregnated gel part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Makida 24th Yamanouchi Yamanoshitamachi, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan Omron Life Science Research Institute, Inc. (56) References JP-A-7-67842 (JP, A) Hei 6-63157 (JP, A) JP-A-56-89270 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61N 1/04

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electrode pad containing an adhesive conductive gel, wherein a metal or carbon layer having a concentration gradient is formed in the adhesive conductive gel.