JPH069617B2 - Biostimulator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention (Industrial field of application) The present invention provides a low frequency treatment in which an electrode is attached to a human body and a pulse current is applied to the human body to stimulate the human body for treatment. The present invention relates to a biostimulator such as a heartbeat device, and more particularly to a configuration for changing a pulse cycle.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, a biological stimulator that is controlled by a microcomputer or the like and is capable of stepwise changing the cycle of a pulse energized to the human body by pressing a push button switch is used. It was generated, and then the pulse was generated in the modified cycle of the next stage.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional biostimulation device as described above,
Since the pulse is generated at the same time when the switch is operated, the following problems occur. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, when changing the period of the pulse from T ₁ one step short period T ₂ from the T _1, before the stage of pulse period T
An unexpected pulse period T _x occurs between ₁ and the pulse period T ₂ of the next stage. Moreover, the cycle T _x has a large irregularity that changes from O to T ₁ depending on the timing of operating the switch, that is, the elapsed time from the time of generation of the last pulse generated in the cycle T _1. ing.
Then, T _x is often smaller than T ₁ and T ₂ , but in this case, the pulse period does not change smoothly, so that the user feels uncomfortable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when switching the pulse period, a period shorter than these periods does not occur between the period of the previous stage and the period of the next stage. The object is to provide a good biostimulator.

[Structure of Invention]

(Means for Solving Problems) A biostimulation apparatus of the present invention includes a pulse generation unit that generates a pulse at any one of a plurality of predetermined periods, and a pulse generated by the pulse generation unit. A pulse output means for energizing the human body, a cycle changeover switch for changing the set cycle of the pulse generated by the pulse generation means, a switch reading means for judging whether or not the switch is operated, and a switch for the switch reading means. Is provided with a cycle changing means for changing the set cycle to one cycle longer or one step shorter when there is an input indicating that is operated, and a time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time from the latest pulse generation time. , Comparing the elapsed time from the pulse generation time output from the time measuring means to the switch operation time with the changed set cycle, When the elapsed time from the pulse generation time to the switch operation time is smaller than the changed set cycle, wait until the elapsed time from the pulse generation time reaches the changed set cycle and issue a pulse generation command to the pulse generation means. It is provided with a comparison means for outputting a pulse generation command to the pulse generation means immediately when the elapsed time from the pulse generation time to the switch operation time is larger than the changed set period as a function of a microcomputer, for example. is there.

(Operation) In the biostimulation apparatus of the present invention, the pulse generated by the pulse generating means in any one of a plurality of predetermined cycles is energized to the human body through the pulse output means. When the cycle changing switch is operated to change the cycle, the switch reading means detects that this switch has been operated, and the cycle changing means sets the pulse by the input from the switch reading means to the effect that the switch has been operated. The cycle is changed to one cycle longer or one cycle shorter. Then, the comparison means compares the elapsed time from the latest pulse generation time output from the time counting means to the switch operation time with the changed setting cycle, and the elapsed time from the pulse generation time to the switch operation time. If it is smaller than the set period, it waits until the elapsed time from the pulse generation time reaches the changed set period, and then outputs a pulse generation command to the pulse generation means, while, from the pulse generation time to the switch operation time. If the elapsed time is greater than the changed set cycle,
Immediately output the pulse generation command to the pulse generation means. Therefore, when the cycle is switched, only a cycle having an intermediate length between both cycles occurs between the previous cycle and the next cycle, and a cycle shorter than both cycles does not occur.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the biostimulation apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the outline of the configuration of the present apparatus, and as shown in this figure, the control unit of the present apparatus comprises a one-chip microcomputer 1. The microcomputer 1 includes a central control unit (CPU) 2,
A read only memory (ROM) 3, a random access memory (RAM) 4, an input port 5 and an output port 6 are provided. Further, the input port 5 is connected to a cycle changing switch 7 for shortening the cycle and a cycle changing switch 8 for lengthening the cycle, which are normally open push button switches. The output port 6 has drivers 9 and 10 for amplification and the like.
A pair of electrodes 11 and 12 to be mounted on the human body are connected via the.
Constitute the pulse output means 13.

Then, the pulse output from the output port 6 is supplied to the human body through the pulse output means 13 in any one of a plurality of predetermined cycles. When the switch 7 for shortening the period is pressed and operated, the pulse period is shortened by one step. Conversely, when the switch 8 for shortening the period is pressed, the pulse period is increased by one step.

Next, the software configuration of the microcomputer 1 will be described with reference to the functional configuration diagram of FIG.

The periodic table storage means 21 is a memory that constantly stores the plurality of predetermined periods, for example, 12-stage periods. The set cycle storage means 22 is a memory that can be rewritten at any time to store the current set cycle and the previous set cycle among the plurality of cycles. Of course, the set cycle storage means 22 may store not the cycle value itself but the address of the memory in which each cycle of the cycle table storage means 21 is stored.

Further, the switch reading means 23 determines whether or not the switches 7 and 8 are operated. Also, the cycle changing means 24
For example, when the contents of the period table storage means 21 are read and there is an input from the switch reading means 23 that the switch 7 for shortening the period is operated and the current set period is not the shortest period, the set period is set. When the current set cycle stored in the storage means 22 is rewritten to a cycle that is one step shorter, on the other hand, when there is an input that the switch 8 for lengthening the cycle is operated and the current set cycle is not the longest cycle, The set cycle is rewritten to a cycle that is one step longer. Incidentally. At other times, the contents of the set cycle storage means 22 remain unchanged.

Further, the clock means 25 has, for example, a memory in which the current set period is written at the pulse generation time, and the content of this memory is based on the oscillation of the oscillator and the like, and the elapsed time from the pulse generation time. It will be reduced along with.

The pulse generating means 26 outputs a pulse to the output port 6 when a pulse generating command is input from the timer 25 when the content of the memory of the timer 25 becomes 0 or less.

Further, the comparison means 27 receives the comparison command from the cycle changing means 24 after the cycle changing means 24 rewrites the contents of the set cycle storing means 22, and switches 7 and 8 from the latest pulse generation time. The time elapsed until the operation time is compared with the current set cycle, the pulse generation command is output to the pulse generation means 26, and at the same time, the current set cycle is written in the memory of the clock means 25. That is, the comparison means 27 receives the comparison command, and then the time measurement means 25
Contents of the memory input from the and setting cycle storage means
The elapsed time from the latest pulse generation time to the present is calculated based on the previous set cycle input from 22 and this elapsed time is compared with the current set cycle input from the set cycle storage means 22. To do. If the elapsed time is less than the set period, the elapsed time is newly calculated and compared again as described above, and if the elapsed time is not less than the set period, the pulse generation command is output.

Next, the outline of the overall operation of the above software will be described in the third section.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart in the figure.

The switches 7 and 8 are read (step), and it is determined whether or not the switches 7 and 8 are operated (step),
If the switches 7 and 8 are not operated, the content of the memory of the time output 25 is judged (step). If the content of this memory is larger than 0, that is, the elapsed time from the latest pulse generation time is less than the set cycle. If so, go back to the step. If the content of the memory of the timekeeping means 25 is 0 or less, that is, if the elapsed time from the pulse generation time is more than the set cycle, the set cycle is written in the memory of the timekeeping means 25 (step) and the pulse Is generated (step), the process returns to the step. Further, if it is determined in step that the switches 7 and 8 are operated, the set cycle is changed, and then the changed set cycle is compared with the elapsed time from the latest pulse generation time. If the elapsed time is less than the changed set cycle, the steps are compared again, and if the elapsed time is greater than the changed set cycle, the changed setting is stored in the memory of the timekeeping means 25. At the same time the period is written (step), a pulse is generated (step) and then the step is returned to.

After all, in the step, if the elapsed time from the latest pulse generation time to the operation time of the switches 7 and 8 is less than the changed set time, until the elapsed time from the pulse generation time reaches the changed set time. The pulse is generated after waiting, and if the elapsed time from the pulse generation time to the operation time of the switches 7 and 8 is equal to or longer than the changed set time, the pulse is immediately output.

Next, this action will be described more specifically with reference to the timing chart of FIG.

It is assumed that the pulse cycle is switched from T ₁ to a cycle T ₂ that is one step shorter than T ₁ . At this time, if the elapsed time I ₁ from the generation time of the pulse immediately before the operation of the switch 7 to the operation time of the switch 7 is smaller than T ₂ (I ₁ <T ₂ ), T ₂ from the generation time of the pulse described above. Pulse is generated,
Thereafter, pulses are generated at the cycle T ₂ until the switches 7 and 8 are operated. Also, from the cycle T ₂ , 1 from this T ₂
It is assumed that the cycle is switched to the cycle T ₃ which is short. At this time, if the elapsed time I ₂ from the pulse generation time immediately before the operation of the switch 7 to the operation time of the switch 7 is T ₃ or more (I ₂
T _3), immediately pulses after the operation of the switch 7 is generated,
Thereafter, pulses are generated at the cycle T ₃ until the switches 7 and 8 are operated. At that time, a cycle T of T ₂ or more and T ₃ or less is provided between the cycle T _{2 of the} previous step and the cycle T _{3 of the} next step.
₂₃ (T ₂ I ₂ = T ₂₃ I ₃ ) will occur.

When the cycle is switched to a cycle that is one step longer, an intermediate-length cycle does not occur, and the set cycle of the previous step always shifts directly to the set cycle of the next step.

According to the above configuration, when the pulse cycle is switched, an irregular cycle shorter than both cycles does not occur between the cycle of the previous step and the cycle of the next step, so that the user feels uncomfortable when switching the cycle. There is no such a case, and usability is improved.

Further, even if the switches 7 and 8 are continuously pressed, the operation of the switches 7 and 8 from the first operation of the switches 7 and 8 to the pulse generation immediately after this operation is ignored, and the switches 7 and 8 are Since the pulse is output only after the set period changed at least from the pulse generation time immediately before the operation of (1), the period is not suddenly changed, which is safe.

Further, in particular, the period of the previous stage as shown in FIG. 4 T ₂
When a period T ₂₃ having an intermediate length occurs between the period T _{3 of the} next stage and the period T _{3 of the} next stage, the period change becomes very smooth, and the user does not feel the stage difference of the period change, and the It is comfortable.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, if the elapsed time from the latest pulse generation time to the cycle changeover switch operation time is smaller than the changed set cycle, the elapsed time from the pulse generation time reaches the changed set cycle. If a pulse is generated after waiting, and if the elapsed time from the pulse generation time to the switch operation time is larger than the changed set cycle,
Since a pulse is generated immediately, when switching between cycles, between the set cycle of the previous stage and the set cycle of the next stage, not only a cycle larger than both cycles but also a cycle shorter than both cycles does not occur. The person does not feel uncomfortable when switching the cycle, and the usability is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of a biostimulator of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the same as above, FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the same as above, FIG. 4 is a timing chart of pulse generation above, and FIG. It is a timing chart of pulse generation in the conventional biostimulator. 7, 8 ... Cycle change switch, 13 ... Pulse output means, 23 ... Switch reading means, 24 ... Cycle changing means, 25
...... Timekeeping means, 26 …… Pulse generation means, 27 …… Comparison means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pulse generating means for generating a pulse in any one of a plurality of predetermined cycles, a pulse outputting means for supplying a pulse generated by the pulse generating means to a human body, and the pulse generating means. A cycle changeover switch for changing the set cycle of the pulse generated by the means, a switch reading means for determining whether or not the switch is operated, and the setting when the switch reading means indicates that the switch is operated. One cycle longer cycle or one
Cycle changing means for changing to a short cycle, time measuring means for measuring the elapsed time from the latest pulse generation time, and elapsed time from the pulse generation time output from this time measuring means to the switch operation time and the change When the elapsed time from the pulse generation time to the switch operation time is smaller than the changed set cycle, the pulse is waited until the elapsed time from the pulse generation time reaches the changed set cycle. A pulse generating instruction to the generating means, and a comparing means for immediately outputting the pulse generating instruction to the pulse generating means when the elapsed time from the pulse generating time to the switch operating time is larger than the changed set period. A biostimulation device characterized by the above.